Valerie Kirk, Head of Textiles at the Australian National University, was invited to attended the National Handicraft 2004 Festival in Loa PDR at the Exhibition Center of the Ministry of Commerce as a guest speaker in the one day forum, part of the week long festival program. She has lead textile tours to Vietnam and Laos for ten years.

The Lao Handicraft Association (LHA) was established to support and strengthen the small craft producers of Lao PDR. There were thirty member businesses in the first year, 1998 and this has increased to ninety six representing textiles, bamboo and rattan, wood, silver, ceramics, paper and blacksmithing. The businesses vary in size from small groups to several villages involved in the craft production. The LHA develops collaborative opportunities, runs educational programs to work on common problems such as design for the national and international market, quality control, marketing and promotion. It has close links with the government as craft production is a major part of the Lao economy, so much so that last year the government endorsed the 1st of November as National Handicraft Day.

The National Handicraft Festival is a major event organised by the association. The objectives are to bring craftspeople together for networking, sharing information and exchanging ideas educate people to understand issues of cultural heritage, the value of representing the country through its traditions reinforce the importance of environmental concerns in producing organic products, promote the use of sustainable natural resources and environmentally friendly practices promote quality through a prestigious competition, fashion shows, exhibition and direct marketing raise the standard of work and their market value to enhance the economic value and financial return to the community register copyright of product design educate the international audience, teaching them about the value of Lao culture, the meaning and language of craft present the craft products to the national and international audience in one focused event, bringing groups from the remote regions together in one place

The event is held in November each year in Vientiane.

It has the strong support of the Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LNCCI), The Ministry of Industry and Commerce and the Prime Minister's office. In 2004 Distinguished His Excellency Bounyang Vorachit, Member of Politburo- Party Central Committee, Prime Minister opened the festival. There is also a growing interest in Lao craft from outside the country. Koblenz Handicraft Chamber from Germany supported the LHA and the Handicraft Design Center and the LHA as one of four skill units in the National Vocational Council is supported by the German Government. The Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) is a major sponsor and through cooperation with JETRO a Japanese expert is working on draft regulations and standards for CHAILAO Trademark. Under a program with UNIFEM , an international organisation setup to strengthen the capacity of women, countrywomen are targeted in development projects planting Mulberry, raising silkworms to produce silk and weaving. Marketing from the remote regions to the city and beyond is part of the UNIFEM project.

Valerie Kirk, artist and Head of Textiles, ANU School of art.