THE COMPANY

Burapha Agro-Forestry Co., Ltd is a Lao Swedish plantation and wood products manufacturing company, with its own sawmill, processing facilities and plantations. Burapha is the oldest foreign direct investment company in Laos and has an extensive knowledge of Laos and a wide regional network. The company is committed to managing and developing the business in a sustainable manner.

Burapha believes that balancing the economic, environmental and social responsibilities is necessary for sustainable business and beneficial to all stakeholders. In 2011 Burapha Agro-Forestry was acquired by Silvicapital through their subsidiaries SilviLao AB and Bafco AB. After the acquisition Burapha’s objective is to build a timber plantation asset in Laos large enough to be the core wood supplier for a major industrial operation. Burapha has planted ~6,000 ha  and have signed land concessions for  ~68,000 ha of plantable land.. The company has recently initiated the second step in its expansion by establishing a state of the art Plywood Mill and supplying integrated plantations. 

Burapha overview

OUR VISION

Burapha Agro-Forestry is planting eucalyptus for the green future of Laos.

By utilizing the beneficial arrangement of Silvicapitals financial strength and forest industry knowledge combined with Burapha’s local network and knowledge we are creating a plantation base large enough for Laos to have the potential to become an forest industry nation. In return, generating income to local farmers, to Laos as a nation and to the investors.

OUR CODE OF CONDUCT

Affiliation to the Code of Conduct is our guarantee of quality. We comply with all applicable laws and regulations. Our operations is in line with generally accepted business practices. Read more about our Corporate Code of Conduct here.

HISTORY

Burapha was founded by two Swedish entrepreneurs and a Lao shareholder back in 1990. They first started out with the plantation operation and then its wood processing operation in 2000. Today, the company operates the only FSC certified plantations and the only FSC-certified wood processing industries in Laos.

Burapha holds a unique position in Laos as much of the country’s timber policy was developed in partnership with the company. Burapha was the first company in Laos to establish commercial plantations at a time when natural forests were the only, and threatened, source of tropical hardwoods in the country. In accordance with Burapha’s environmental policy, the company is only dealing with plantation wood.

Burapha is one of the world leaders within the concept of Agroforestry, with first development work being done already in 2005. Agroforestry is a land use system in which timber plantations are integrated with farm crop in the same area and it offers significant environmental, social and financial benefits. Proven agroforestry systems in combination with funds for rural development strongly supports the Government goal to eradicate poverty in remote rural areas.

INVESTORS

In 2011 Burapha Agro-Forestry was acquired by Silvicapital through their subsidiaries SilviLao AB and Bafco AB. After the acquisition Burapha’s objective is to build a timber plantation asset in Laos large enough to be the core wood supplier for a major industrial operation.

Burapha is 95% owned by Bafco AB, which in its turn is 90% owned by SilviLao. 5% of Burapha is owned by Deputy CEO Souphayvanh Thiengchanhxay. The SilviCapital team, the manager of SilviLao and Bafco, have been responsible for establishing and managing some of the most cost efficient plantations in Brazil exceeding more than 300,000 ha. The team has a broad and extensive record in every phase of industrial-scale forestry development and operations.