32 homes have been destroyed in Xieng Khouang Province after a fire broke out, believed to be caused by an electrical problem.
The fire, the biggest recorded this year, began at around four o’clock on Monday evening in Sanfaen Village, and quickly spread from house to house due to strong winds.
The structures that burnt down were all wooden, with 32 families losing their homes and much needed livestock and equipment. Fortunately, none were injured or killed by the fire.
Much of the population in the affected area belong to the Lao Phong ethnic group, and the village is 100 kilometers from the provincial capital, with difficult road access.
The fire occurred as villagers were returning from their work in nearby fields, and had unfortunately spread too quickly for them to suppress.
While local authorities continue to assess the damage caused by the fire, victims now require food, clothing, and temporary accomodation.
A temporary camp is being set up by local authorities and the military, and district authorities are providing food and medicines, however stocks are low and authorities are calling upon the public to make donations.
Donations for Fire Victims
Donations can be made with the following authorized organizations:
The Lao government has issued a notice warning members of the public against investing in bogus investment broker, financial.org, and calling on those who have invested to declare their losses.
The company, already on several international watch-lists, is the latest in a number of Ponzi scheme style businesses to set up shop in Laos, aimed at duping members of the public into making investments for supposedly quick and profitable returns.
A British news report by Reuters drew the attention of the Lao government, in which it came to light that the company, describing itself as an education company, would be struck from the UK registrar of companies for failing to file accounts.
Financial.org operates in several Asian countries, including China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and Laos. According to the Reuters report, individuals were handing over anything from US$ 3,000 to US$ 400,000 to the bogus company for investments.
The company is already on an investor alert list created by the Monetary Authority of Singapore, and similarly Malyasia’s Securities Commission placed Financial.org on a list of unauthorized companies and websites last year.
A Gala dinner in Vientiane hosted by Financial.org
Under a Ponzi scheme, those who invest first are provided returns stemming from funds invested by newer members, rather than through actual stock market investments as promised. Earlier members are encouraged to bring new members into the scheme to provide a continual source of income for the scheme. While the earliest members can make money quickly, newer members face huge losses, and eventually the scheme falls apart.
To make itself more believable, Financial.org has attempted to register in the UK, and has even sponsored a Formula One team.
The Lao government is now calling on the public to declare their losses with the hope of exposing the scheme and halting further investment.
According to a Vientiane Times report, the central bank told the National Assembly in 2016 that there were 24 entities illegally soliciting deposits from the general public.
The central bank has warned that tough measures will be taken against companies offering such services.
Executives of some companies in question have already been prosecuted, including those at PS Lao Enterprise and Asianface Company. The case against Laokham is ongoing, and the government is now investigating Financial.org.
Who’s who in the current government (the 8th administration) led by Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith?
Thongloun Sisoulith has arguably made more headlines locally and internationally in both official and unofficial media than any other Prime Minister of Laos. But have you heard of the other leaders of government? The other cabinet ministers? The ones who enforce and implement policies set by prime ministerial power? Let’s take a look at their names and pictures:
Thongloun Sisoulith is the Prime Minister (PM), which is the head of the executive branch of government.
Thongloun Sisoulith, Prime Minister
The Prime Minister currently has 3 Deputy Prime Ministers (DPM).
(Left to right) Bounthong Chitmany, Sonexay Siphandone, Somdy Duangdy
They are Bounthong Chitmany, who also occupies the position of Head of the State Inspection Committee, Sonexay Siphandone and Somdy Duangdy who is also Minister of Finance.
Each Deputy Prime Minister oversees the affairs of several ministries and ministry-equivalent bodies. The following are key ministerial level figures who make up the Government of Laos.
(Left to right) Lt. Gen. Chansamone Chanyalath, Major General Somkeo Silavong, Khammanh Sounvileuth, Chaleun Yiapaoher
Lieutenant General Chansamone Chanyalath, Minister of National Defense (military)
Major General Somkeo Silavong, Minister of Public Security (police force)
Khammanh Sounvileuth, Minister of the Interior
Chaleun Yiapaoher, Minister to the Prime Minister’s Office
To support the Lao government in its endeavors to place Hin Nam No National Protected Area (Hin Nam No NPA) under UNESCO World Heritage protection, the GIZ-Hin Nam No component of the German Development Cooperation Programme Protection and Sustainable Use of Forest Ecosystems and Biodiversity (ProFEB) organized a 8-day technical field mission.
The mission, led by Professor Emeritus Paul Williams, an international expert in geomorphology and hydrology with the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), set out on April 25th to assess the area’s geologic and geomorphologic features in relation to other tropical karst (limestone) regions.
This evaluation is part of the technical work on the nomination process of Hin Nam No as part of a transboundary UNESCO World Heritage site with Phong Nga Ke Bang National Park (PNKB NP) in Vietnam.
The technical work required for the nomination of Hin Nam No NPA as an extension to PNKB NP officially launched in March with the first meeting of the Hin Nam No NPA UNESCO nomination Technical Taskforce.
Its key challenge is to demonstrate the area’s contribution to the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the soon-to-be transboundary World Heritage site.
The exploratory mission, conducted from April 25th to 30th, highlights Hin Nam No’s diverse landscape against the backdrop of other karst formations in the region and worldwide.
Oday Soudaphone, Governor of Khammoune, joined the team’s exploration of Xe Bang Fai cave, one of the largest active river cave passages in the world. During his visit, he emphasized the importance of Hin Nam No’s anticipated UNESCO nomination for Laos and Khammouane in particular.
“Becoming a Natural World Heritage Site will ensure the conservation and protection of the area and its outstanding universal value. Tourism-wise, the remarkable features of Hin Nam No’s karst formations and its biological diversity will attract both local and international tourists, which will in turn generate income for local communities,” said Governor Soudaphone.
Jens Lütkenherm, German Ambassador to Laos, who accompanied the technical mission on a helicopter flight over the karst landscape, highlighted Germany’s backing regarding the UNESCO nomination process.
A view of the downstream entrance of the Xe Bang Fai cave. The Xe Bang Fai river runs through this limestone cave for 12 km, making it one of the longest river caves in the world. Photo credit: GIZ/Lucas Wahl
“We fully support the Lao government in its efforts to attain UNESCO World Heritage status for Hin Nam No in order to protect its biodiversity and to strengthen Laos’ international profile as an eco-tourism destination. The status as a UNESCO World Heritage site would undoubtedly promote effective conservation of the region’s spectacular flora and fauna, and the geo-heritage of Laos. Laos as a member of the global community will contribute outstanding universal value for all citizens around the globe if Hin Nam No gains UNESCO World Heritage protection,” said Ambassador Lütkenherm.
Hin Nam No NPA, as part of a transboundary UNESCO World Heritage site with the Vietnamese Phong Nga Ke Bang National Park, would receive recognition by the international conservation community under the World Heritage convention.
However, there is still much work required to prepare for the submission of the nomination to UNESCO, particularly with respect to increasing knowledge about Hin Nam No and its values through baseline research.
As Professor Emeritus Paul Williams concluded his mission, Dr. Leonid Averyanov, a well known botanist and orchid specialist, started his 2-week vegetation survey from May 2-17 in Hin Nam No.
Scenic landscapes, rugged karst mountains, highly biodiverse flora and fauna and lovely people. That is how this unique National Protected Area in central Laos could be briefly described. Of course, there would be much more to mention and even more to explore, the latter being a continuous process here in this part of the Annamite mountains. Due to the specific topography consisting of steep mountains, unreachable hilltops, hidden valleys, unknown caves, countless streams and springs, Hin Nam No NPA is still a very well conserved place on earth harboring a huge quantity of hidden treasures.
But it is not only the biodiversity that makes Hin Nam No a real unique place. Also, the people surrounding and guarding the NPA are quiet distinct. It is the first NPA in Laos where villagers are directly involved and engaged in the sustainable use and protection of the NPA, making their living out of it. The flora and fauna are as diverse inside the NPA as the people around it. The fact that there are different ethnic groups speaking different languages and dialects proves that a joint effort and strong willingness to change will lead to strong governance and ownership, thus, conserving not only the habitat of flora and fauna, but their own natural resources.
The Vientiane State Bus Enterprise has raised the price of bus tickets for bus routes within the capital city due to constant hikes in fuel prices in recent months.
The raised ticket prices apply to the following routes, from/to Kuadin Bus Station (old price/new price):
Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge: 6,000 kip/8,000 kip per person
Thangon Village, Xaythany District: 5,000 kip/7,000 kip per person
Sangthong District: 15,000 kip/20,000 kip
Phontong Village, Chanthabouly District: 3,000 kip/4,000 kip per person
Donpamai Village, Sisattanak District: 3,000 kip/4,000 kip per person
Dongdok Village, Saythany District: 3,000 kip/4,000 kip per person
Nongtheng Village, Sikhothabong District: 4,000 kip/5,000 kip per person
Thongpong Village, Sikhothabong District: 4,000 kip/5,000 kip per person
Dongkhamsang Village, Saysettha District: 4,000 kip/5,000 kip per person
Sangthong District: 15,000 kip/20,000 kip per person
Namsuang Village: 10,000 kip/12,000 kip per person
Phialath Village, Sangthong District: 15,000 kip/20,000 kip per person
The recent hike of bus fares is the first of its kind since 2011, according to a senior official of the Vientiane State Bus Enterprise.
Notice document announcing bus ticket increases
After having released the announcement to the public, many bus goers immediately took to social media. Their comments were mainly focused not on the price hike but the lack of enforcement of bus rules. They highlighted several inappropriate behaviors exhibited by certain people including eating and drinking on the bus, conversing disrespectfully loudly, putting one’s feet up on the chairs, panhandling, and even selling goods.
One social media user, however, spoke for many when she remarked that the price was expected because the national minimum wage had been recently adjusted from 900,000 to 1,100,000 kip per month.
“What’s the point of an increase in our minimum wage if all the price of necessary goods and services go up with it?”
An economic update released last month by the National Economic Research Institute (NERI), a government body led by former Prime Minister Bouasone Bouphavanh, stated that the mining sector’s contribution to the country’s economy will continue to drop over the coming years as a lower output is predicted for this natural resource-based sector.
NERI did not identify the factors contributing to the lower productivity of the mining sector. However, it is widely recognized that the mining sector, particularly two major mining operations, has seen a fall in the production of raw materials. One of these is the Sepon mine, the operations of which are expected to close in 2020 due to the exhaustion of resources.
Despite the mining sector’s lower contribution to the economy, economists at the institute remained confident that Laos’ overall economic growth rate would fall between 6.5% and 7% in 2018, already a comparatively high rate in Southeast Asia.
According to NERI’s report, another major driving force for the economy is electricity generation. A number of hydropower facilities have launched commercial operations, including the Hongsa Lignite power plant, Nam Ou 2 and 5 hydropower plants, Xekaman 1 and Nam Mang 1 hydropower plants.
Apart from hydropower, the construction industry will play an essential role in reinforcing strong economic growth, according to the economists. They cited the construction of the Laos-China Railway as a key driver of this sector’s development. Additionally, the services sector, particularly retail sales, will make a significant contribution to the economy.
International banks such as the World Bank and Asian Development Bank recently released their own economic forecasts, and their findings were consistent with those of the National Economic Research Institute.
These international development partners have repeatedly advised the Lao government to diversify its economic base and to cease its dependence on natural resources – a perspective that is viewed as unsustainable. They also want the government to pay greater attention to the development of agriculture, in which a majority of the population is employed. They said the emergence of this sector as a key economic driver will lift a larger number of people from poverty.
The government has taken note of the current situation and has embarked on a mission, spearheaded by the current Prime Minister, to improve the business climate to attract more investment in non-resource sectors. However, observers said this mission is very challenging and will take time.
Texas Chicken, the American fried chicken chain, has officially opened its second branch in Vientiane Capital, marking the expansion of the brand in Laos.
The branch opened on 2 May on Francois Ngin Road, in a location popular with tourists and local people along the Mekong River.
Texas Chicken says it hopes to expand to seven branches within Laos in future, creating employment and offering job opportunities and professional training for unskilled Lao people.
The opening event was attended by Mr. Mickael Frangin, General Manager of Express Food Group Laos,
representatives of Express Food Group, shareholder Mrs Chanthachone Vongxay, and members of the press.
Texas Chicken is an American chain of restaurants specializing in fried chicken, which trades inside the United States as “Church’s Chicken.” The chain was founded as Church’s Fried Chicken To Go by George W. Church Sr. in 1952, in San Antonio, Texas.
The company now has over 1,700 locations in 25 countries, and is the third largest fried chicken chain in the world.
The first Texas Chicken restaurant to open in Laos was the That Luang branch, which was opened in 2016 by Express Food Group, a subsidiary of RMA Group, which also operates pizza and ice-cream restaurants throughout Southeast Asia.
The Texas Chicken restaurants in Laos have a core menu of classic Texas Chicken favorites, including hand-battered, freshly prepared original and spicy flavored spicy fried chicken, with honey-butter biscuits.
The second Vientiane branch of the fried chicken chain is located here.
The Dao Heuang Group, one of the biggest producers of coffee in Laos, is expanding its overseas sales network to China, where coffee consumption has been increasing by 15-20% per year.
Dao Heuang and Kunming Kanglin Food Import and Export Trading Company reached an agreement on buying-selling and dealership authorization of Dao coffee products in China.
The contract was signed by Vice President of the Dao Heuang Group, Boonheuang Carol Litdang, and a representative of the Kunming Kanglin Food Import and Export Trading Company, Khamseng Xayapheng, on April 28 in Champasak.
The agreement will enter into effect for three years until 2021.
General Manager of Kunming Kanglin Food Import and Export Trading Company, Li Lin He, said that the export of Dao coffee to China made sense because the latter is a huge country with a huge population and rapid and strong economic growth. These conditions provided the commercial rationale for the expansion of Dao products to consumers in China.
He added that his company recognized that Dao coffee was sourced from the Bolaven Plateau in the south of Laos. The plateau has a special climate and geography that provides a high quality yield and the coffee crop is processed by Dao’s own coffee plant. It is a big processing industry that uses modern technology of high standards.
Recently, there are some in China, where the tradition for many years has been to drink tea, have changed their drinking culture and are now consuming more coffee.