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Foxpress Service Delivers 2017 Road Tax Stickers to Your Door

Road Tax 2017 Stickers Delivered By Foxpress Service
Road Tax 2017 Stickers Delivered By Foxpress Service

Thanks to a local delivery company named Foxpress, obtaining 2017’s road tax stickers has just gotten easier. For a small fee of only 15,000 KIP, Foxpress will collect up to three of your registered road tax stickers from a BCEL bank branch, and deliver it right to your doorstep.

As previously reported by The Laotian Times, road tax stickers for 2017 are now available for purchase through any BCEL bank branch. Road users who utilize the BCEL One application, can conveniently pay their road tax fees online by selecting the Road Tax icon (to the right of the SmartVAT icon), inputting the vehicle license number, selecting the color of the license plate, and then proceeding to pay. After payment has been confirmed, a unique barcode will be automatically generated. Users are advised to screenshot this barcode and send it to Foxpress. Foxpress staff should deliver customer’s road tax stickers within 1-2 working days.

Available on Facebook Messenger, Whatsapp and Line, please contact 02058448868 for additional info on the Foxpress service. Find out more information on the 2017 road tax here.

NA Addresses Rising Jail Population

The National Assembly has raised concerns about the rising number of arrests and inmates in Lao jails, with many of them being young citizens.   

The Deputy Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism and NA member for Saravan province, Mr Savankhone Razmountry stated, “The number of arrests and the jail population has increased in many provinces. A lot of those incarcerated are young people who should be in the workforce and contributing to national protection and development.”

He added, “Additionally, youngsters are increasingly the victims of road accidents, resulting in many becoming disabled and being killed, which is a great loss to the nation.”

Mr Savankhone indicated that by implementing appropriate policies to guide incarcerated young people based on humanitarian principles and presenting them with opportunities, the country will instead mold good citizens that can help assist in the nation’s development.

Prosecutors were urged to take into account the livelihoods of those arrested and consider the growing rate of incarcerations.

The Deputy Minister highlighted that it is necessary to review the approach to rehabilitation and provide effective training programs to ensure inmates can be reintegrated into society, and that Vocational and life skills training for inmates is consistent with the needs of the labour market.      

During the debate, Mr Savankhone congratulated the Supreme People’s Prosecutor, People’s Supreme Court and the Ministry of Justice for performing their roles and responsibilities based on the laws and resolutions of the NA over past years.

NA members have insisted that the law enforcement sector strictly comply with the country’s legislation to better address legal cases and ensure more justice is delivered to the Lao people.     

The contributions of these three sectors have resulted in the resolution of legal cases and societal conflicts in past years.

NA member for Xieng Khuang province, Mr Vilaysouk Phimmasone, urged law enforcement agencies to investigate whether proceeds and properties confiscated from drug trafficking and other crimes had been added to the national budget.

Mr Vilaysouk indicated that the responsibilities of prosecution officials, particularly at the provincial level, were not strictly followed and were sometimes inconsistent with the law.

For instance, arrests have been made without warrants and authorities are obliged to free suspects within 48 hours if there is insufficient evidence to make a case against the accused. However, authorities frequently fail to follow this rule and suspects are kept in custody for more than the legally stipulated time.

Govt Acquires Beeline for 22 Million USD

Government of Laos Buys Beeline

In a USD $22 million deal purchased from a Russian investor last week, the government has acquired full ownership  of the telecom operator VimpelCom Lao Co., Ltd. also known as Beeline.

Deputy Minister of Finance, Mr Sila Viengkeo, a government representative, signed the deal with VimpelCom Lao Co., Ltd. Representative, Mr Richard James, procuring the remaining 78 percent of the telecom’s shares.

According to the Director General of the Planning and Cooperation Department, Ministry of Post and Telecommunications, Mr Phoukhong Chithoublok, the takeover was based on the company’s debt-free status.

The buyout was in response to a proposal made by the investor as part of a plan to  withdraw from the region, with the investor already withdrawing operations in Vietnam and Cambodia. The purchase now means the Lao government holds a 100 percent stake in the company.

Payment will be completed over two periods, with the first payment of US$13 million to be paid within 60 days after signing the deal. The remaining USD $9 million will be made within 120 days.

Once all payments are made, the government will take over the administration and operation of the company.

Currently, the company’s network covers 11 out of the country’s 18 provinces and plans to expand its network coverage to all provinces.

As of September 2017, the company had more than 260,000 registered mobile phone users and 2,200 cable internet users.

The takeover of the company comes as the government is making reforms in state-owned enterprises while in contrast seeking joint ventures by selling stakes in other enterprises.

A Chinese investor recently purchased a 51 percent stake in Enterprise of Telecommunications Lao (ETL) Public Company with the Lao government holding the remaining share. The company was then named Enterprise of Telecommunications Lao (ETL) Co., Ltd.

The government is also seeking a business partner to create a joint venture in the state-owned Lao Airlines.

Except for VimpelCom Lao Co., Ltd., and Sky Telecom, which provides only internet services, all three remaining telecommunication companies are joint ventures.

Lao Telecom and Star Telecom have 51 percent stakes each held by the government, while Enterprise of Telecommunications Lao (ETL) Co., Ltd. is 49 percent owned by the government.    

Visit Laos Year 2018 Officially Kicksoff

‘Visit Laos Year 2018′ has been officially launched by Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith during a ceremony last Saturday at That Luang Stupa.

The launch of ‘Visit Laos Year 2018’ coincides with the start of the annual That Luang festival which features a trade fair, a display of traditional houses, cultural performances and activities relating to traditional worship rituals at That Luang Stupa as well as cultural, religious and spiritual events.

During the ceremonial kickoff the PM struck a gong nine times to signify to invited guests from around the globe that ‘Visit Laos 2018’ had officially begun.

The Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism Professor, Dr Bosengkham Vongdara also spoke at the event stating, “In recent years, the government of the Lao PDR has likewise come to regard tourism as a priority sector for driving socio-economic development.” 

“Tourism brings spending on goods and services that can boost currency reserves and money flow and create more job opportunities for people in the service and production sectors, particularly agriculture and handicraft production.”

However, critics raised questions about how the government can best promote Laos to the rest of the world when the amount of information available is limited.  

Though Laos has potential in offering experiences to international visitors, the country needs to improve accessibility (visa facilitation) and ensure more information is available, says Editor-in-Chief of e-Global Travel Media, Stephen Morton.

As an example, the event calendar related to festivals and activities must be readily available so that travelers can plan on attending those events.

Improvement of infrastructure and services including road access to tourist attractions and internet speed is also critical. The government has organized Visit Laos Year on two previous occasions – once in 1999-2000 and again in 2011-12 to encourage more tourists at home and abroad to visit sites within the country.

In 2000, tourist arrivals amounted to 737,208 people and generated income of US$113,898,285.

The figure jumped to 4,684,429 people in 2015, generating an estimated  USD $725,365,681 in revenue. It is projected that tourist arrivals will reach about 6,206,423 visitors by 2020 and generate revenue amounting to USD $993,427,000.

With the launch of ‘Visit Laos Year 2018’, officials seek to attract at least 5 million tourist arrivals,  generating an estimated USD $900 million in revenue.  

The trade fair features more than 1,000 booths at two venues: Lao ITECC (460 booths) and That Luang Esplanade (640 booths).

TEDx Celebrates Women with TEDxLaneXangAveWomen Event

Following the phenomenal success of last year’s first ever TEDx event, the Vientiane Global Shapers will organize the second TEDx event in Laos. This year, TEDxLaneXangAveWomen will focus on the theme Reimagine with the objective of empowering and celebrating women nationwide. The event will be part of the official worldwide TEDxWomen 2017 Conference and will take place on Saturday, November 4, 2017 at Crowne Plaza Hotel in Vientiane Capital.

Tickets to the event sold out on the first day, testifying to the immense popularity that the TEDx brand has in the country.

Benjamin Soo, Vientiane Global Shaper (an initiative of the World Economic Forum) Curator, explains the the rationale for hosting the event.

“If you step back into history and look at the very fabric of Lao community and history, you’ll see that Lao women had a lot, if not everything, to do with the progress we’ve made as a country today. We’re thrilled to organize an event that not only empowers but also celebrates women all over Laos because of the role they play in our community. I’m so proud to be leading my team at Global Shapers Vientiane because of everything they stand for and want to cultivate in our communities to make this city a better place for the future generations to come and this event is a step forward towards that direction.”

“We are extremely excited to host the first of its kind female empowerment forum in Laos. Speakers from culturally and professionally distinct backgrounds will take the stage and share groundbreaking ideas and inspiring stories. This event will put the spotlight on dedicated Laotian women who have worked tirelessly to tackle local pressing issues such as human trafficking and mental health. It will serve as a platform to allow these women to voice their messages and share their experiences with our community. In addition, we will also hear from inspiring women in the fashion and textile industries who have, in an endless effort to preserve Lao culture, brought global recognition to Lao textiles. The involvement of these speakers in the Lao community is truly inspirational. Each of these women lead by example and serve as role models to women worldwide,” adds Vientiane Global Shaper, Mary Bounthalath.

This year’s TEDx event will showcase the following incredible women and their motivational journeys: the founder and designer of Naree Handbags, Ms Manothip Siripaphanh; National Project Coordinator for the UN action against Human Trafficking, Ms Xoukiet Panyanouvong; Co-Founder and Co-Director of OckPopTok Textiles, Ms Veomanee Douangdala; psychiatrist and program manager at Basic Needs Org, Ms Chantharavady Choulamany and the first and only horror film director in Laos, Ms Mattie Do.

The Vientiane Global Shapers have partnered with the Office of the Embassy of Canada and British Embassy to host the TEDxLaneXangAveWomen event in Vientiane.

TED is a nonprofit devoted to spreading ideas, usually in the form of short, powerful talks (18 minutes or less). TED began in 1984 as a conference where Technology, Entertainment and Design converged, and today covers almost all topics — from science to business to global issues — in more than 100 languages. Meanwhile, independently run TEDx events help share ideas in communities around the world.

To learn more about the TEDxLaneXangAveWomen event, please visit their official facebook page.

2017 Road Tax Now Available

road
road

The questions surrounding the delay in the 2017 road tax stickers have finally been clarified. Road users are now able to pay road tax for 2017, which will be valid from October 2017 to March 2018. The road tax for 2018 will then need to be repurchased again in March, due to the massive delay for 2017’s road tax.

The Ministry of Finance has authorized BCEL to officially start collecting road taxes and distrubiting stickers as of last Thursday.

Deputy Director General of the Tax Department, Mr Khampien Boupphavong stated, “ Tax collection has now commenced and tax stickers for display on windshields can be received at BCEL only.”

Those who bank with BCEL can pre-purchase their road tax stickers using the BCEL One App on their computers, smartphones or at an ATM. Those who don’t, can purchase the stickers directly from any BCEL branch.

Those who utilize the BCEL One app will receive a code after the sticker has been paid for, the user can note the confirmation number or snap it on their smartphone or computer, then swing by any BCEL with their yellow technical inspection book and vehicle documents. Bank clerks will then issue car owners their 2017 road tax stickers.

Payments can also be made directly to any BCEL branch.

According to the Tax Department, Laos has an estimated 1.8 million vehicles utilizing its roads, however only 30 percent have been reported to pay road tax every year. Authorities expect an estimated 30 billion kip coming from road tax for 2017, up from the reported 10 billion kip last year.

 

2-3 Wheeled Motorbikes

Engine Type

Fee

<110cc

15.000 KIP

111cc-150cc

20.000 KIP
151cc-200cc

30.000 KIP

>200cc

100.000 KIP

 

Privately owned Sedans, SUVs, Vans and Pickups

 

Engine Type

Fee

<1000cc

100.000 KIP

1001cc-1600cc

150.000 KIP

1601cc-2000cc

200.000 KIP

2001cc-2500cc

250.000 KIP

2501cc-3000cc

300.000 KIP

30001cc-4000cc

350.000 KIP

4001cc-5000cc

  400.000 KIP

>5001cc

500.000 KIP

Transport Vehicles

Truck Type

Engine Type        OR               Weight

Fee

Small

<2500cc

<3.5 Tonnes

150.000 KIP

Medium

2501cc-5000cc

3.5-15 Tonnes

200.000 KIP

Large

>5000cc

15-30 Tonnes

300.000 KIP

Large

>5000cc

30-50 Tonnes

400.000 KIP

Large

>5000cc

>50 Tonnes

500.000 KIP

 

Passenger Vehicles

Vehicle Type

Engine Type         OR

    Seats

Fee

Tuk Tuk or Jumbo

50.000 KIP

Small Van

>2500cc

<9

150.000KIP

Medium

2501cc-5000cc

10-35

200.000 KIP

Large Bus

>5000cc

>35

400.000 KIP

Lao Government Buys Beeline

Government of Laos Buys Beeline

VimpelCom Lao Co., trading as Beeline, has officially entered an agreement to sell its 78% stake to the Government of Laos for gross proceeds of USD 22 million, making the Lao government the sole owner of the telecommunications company.

A source has confirmed that the sale of Beeline will be fully executed 120 days from signing. The change in ownership is said not to affect company operations, and the company will continue to operate under the Beeline brand.

The sale comes as Amsterdam-based Veon Ltd, owner of VimpelCom Lao, moves to sell off its non-core assets.

Transfer of ownership of VimpelCom Laos to the Government of the Lao PDR is pending the satisfaction of certain conditions, including receipt of necessary corporate and regulatory approvals.

As at 30 June 2017, VimpelCom Lao had 289,000 customers.

France to Assist in Mekong Hydro Resource Coordination

In attempt to develop the energy sector and improve the management of water resources on the Mekong River, Laos and France have enhanced cooperation by signing an agreement to build a new Coordination and Monitoring Centre (CMC).

The centre will be equipped to monitor hydroelectric power project (HPP) development on the Mekong River in Laos.

The Coordination and Monitoring Centre will play a role in coordinating “run-of-the-river” HPPs developed by different Independent Power Producers on the Lao stretch of the Mekong River.

An agreement to build the new centre was signed in Vientiane this week between the Director General of the Department of Energy Policy Planning, Ministry of Energy and Mines, Dr Chansaveng Boungnong, and chairwoman and CEO of CNR Engineering, Ms Elisabeth Ayrault.

Dr Chansaveng stated that the objective was to provide a global overview and the information needed for the coordinated management of HPPs along the Mekong.

Feasibility studies, chiefly financed via the French Development Agency will allow for the defining of the objectives, needs and future operation of the CMC.

Under the agreement, the two parties will implement feasibility studies for an 18-month period from January 2018 to June 2019, he said. The CMC is a government body essential for the coordination and joint management of HPP development on the Mekong mainstream and its main tributaries.  

The CMC’s planned scope of action covers five main areas, being governance and capacity building, dialogue and coordinated management, water resources management and climate change adaptation, environmental and social management, dam management and safety, he added.

It seeks to develop and share reference databases regarding all water used for hydroelectric power production, navigation, irrigation, tourism, flood and low water forecasting, sediment management, the protection of biodiversity, fish migration monitoring and more.

The planned centre fulfills the stipulations of the new Lao laws on both water and electricity for integrated water resource management, coordinated from upstream to downstream between independent operators of different HPPs.

According to the CNR, the collaboration between the centre and the Ministry of Energy and Mines solidifies efforts based on the MoU signed by CNR in 2015 to provide and share with Laos and CNR unique know-how in run-of-river hydroelectric and river engineering, in the framework of the country’s integrated water resources management for the sustainable development of the Mekong.