With respect to export commodities, our results lend support to the findings of Hara
and Shuto (2005) that the exports of Laos comprise largely of some cash crops and
unprocessed agricultural products (e.g. raw hides and skins, coffee, spices); resource-based
commodities (e.g. wood and wood products, copper); and products of labor-intensive
industries (e.g. apparel and clothing industry). At the product-level, coffee, wood and wood
products are the leading export commodities, both in terms of value and competitiveness.
During this period, Laos‟ revealed comparative advantages have moved from agricultural
commodities to light and labor-intensive industries reflecting some outcome of the outwardlooking
and FDI promoting policies of the government at the current stage of the
industrialization process. Among the industries gaining comparative advantages, the clothing
industry has proved to be one of the most dynamic industries.