Prime Minister of Laos, Sonexay Siphandone, instructed the Ministry of Public Works and Transport on Thursday to set up immigration booths at train stations along the Laos-China Railway to accommodate the increasing demand for rail travel.
The booths will facilitate inbound and outbound travel and help manage the increased demand for rail travel. The Prime Minister’s directive was issued during an extraordinary cabinet meeting held from 15-16 March.
On busy days, over 10,000 people travel on the railway, which began operations in December 2021. The government hopes the railway will boost tourism and the economy and alleviate ongoing financial and economic difficulties.
During the two-day meeting, the cabinet also discussed measures to stabilize the economy, which has been adversely affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. The Prime Minister urged the cabinet to focus on addressing the country’s chronic debt and take steps to regulate currency exchange rates and manage inflation.
The cabinet also approved three new draft laws on public health, compensation, and labor recruitment and draft amendments to six existing laws. These drafts will be revised and submitted for deliberation at the National Assembly’s upcoming 5th Ordinary Session.
