Deputy Prime Minister Dr Sonexay Siphandone and his delegation recently paid a working visit to Savannakhet and Khammuan provinces, advising authorities to continue maintaining political stability and paying attention to socio-economic development.
During the visit to Savannakhet province on October 10, Deputy PM Dr Sonexay Siphandone was provided a report on the province’s socio-economic development situation and potential by Governor of Savannakhet province, Mr. Santiphap Phomvihane.
Mr. Santiphap reported that Savannakhet province has continued to maintain political stability, social order and peace while continuously progressing socio-economic development for the previous nine months, with its economy growing by 10.34 percent and GDP per capita reaching US$1,805.
The province has collected more than 1.1 trillion kip in the revenues, or 75 percent of its annual target. The rate of poor families in the province is 5.38 percent, poor villages remain at 14.6 percent, cultural villages 52.41 percent, rate of electricity access is 91.29 percent of all families, and coverage of the telecommunications system is 96 percent. The Deputy PM called on all sectors to work harder to pursue goals in the resolution of the 10th Congress of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party as well as to effectively implement the Eight Five-Year National Socio-Economic Development Plan and legislation.
He stressed Savannakhet authorities on focal works of the province such as maintaining political stability especially increasing harmony and equality under the law; implementing the country’s security directions; combating and preventing strategies of bad elements; improving security forces; creating government governed by law; and increasing effectiveness and improving government administration at all levels.
In addition, authorities should pay attention to rural development and poverty eradication, business improvement, special and specific development zones, advancement of women, mothers and children, and forest resources and mining management.
They should also pay attention to overseeing migrant workers in the province and strive to continually boost the province’s economy in line with green and sustainable guidelines.
On October 11, Deputy PM Dr Sonexay and his delegation also visited Khammuan province where he was briefed on the province’s socio-economic development plan by the provincial Deputy Governor Mr. Bounmy Phimmasone.
Mr. Bounmy added Khammuan was able to build large villages into a small district such as Poungneua village, Hinboun district, which became the first of its kind in the province and third of the country.
In addition, the province approved 69,999 families as model development families, or 92.09 percent of the total, and 396 villages as model development villages, or 68.39 percent of all villages.
Currently, the poor village rate remains at 12 or 2.06 percent, while poor families remain at 1,151 or 1.53 percent.
Source: Vientiane Times
