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Laos and Thailand Build One Map to Improve Resource Management

gis
gis

With the vision of “one map, one community, one nation,” government and private sector representatives from Laos and Thailand have exchanged information on a geographic information system (GIS) with the goal to construct a single map for improved natural resources management.

The Minister of Science and Technology, Prof Dr Boviengkham Vongdara, chaired a meeting organised by the Technology and Innovation Department, Thepsymeuang Trading Company and companies from Thailand in Vientiane on Monday.

One map via GIS will be beneficial in natural resources management by saving time and funds for investments on information surveys and mapping. GIS will also enhance communications and collaboration between government and private sectors.

The meeting emphasized the versatility of GIS, enabling the user to discover and share maps from any device from anywhere and at anytime. It also highlighted that in order to better understand, exchange and develop natural resources from both countries, it is imperative to build an online system for a closer partnership between governments and private sectors.

The advantage of a single shared map includes authoritative data, high-quality mapping, improved visualizations, spatial analysis and models and rich applications.

Furthermore, GIS allows greater sharing and collaboration for government operation centers and clarifies administrative boundaries, transportation, hydrology, land parcels, forest boundaries and other topographic features.

Government Plans to Settle Debts by Second Quarter

dam
dam

Government officials are planning to settle over 400 billion kip on balances owed to companies, for completing State investment projects by the end of the second quarter.

Officials are planning to clear their debt for development projects that were pre-approved by the National Assembly (NA), to enable private companies to maintain their financial stability so they can continue contributing to the growth of the Lao economy.

According to the government’s report, completed construction projects and debts belonging to completed projects from 2012 and earlier will be placed on the first priority list for payment. Meanwhile, projects completed between 2013 and 2016 will be placed on a second tiered priority list.

Debts owed to companies that performed flood relief and recovery projects from the Nock Ten storm in 2011 and other storms will also be allocated for payment.

A senior economist from the National Economic Research Institute, Dr Leeber Leebouapao, stressed that paying off balances owed to companies that completed construction of NA approved projects was critical. He stated, “The government’s delays to pay out debts not only affects the financial liquidity of companies, but also affects commercial banks’ business.”

Dr Leeber also emphasized the importance of inspection standards for State investment projects, and those who met met the required standards should be given priority for payment.

According to the Ministry of Finance, as of April, 2017, 245 billion kip out of the 400 billion kip state budget had been compensated to 1,451 State investment projects, representing 61 percent of the total budget.

Projects executed by 16 ministries/ministry equivalent organizations and three provinces have now received money owed. The Ministry of Finance expects to disburse the remaining 155 billion kip to seven ministries/ministry equivalent organizations and 14 provinces by the end of June.

Minister of Planning and Investment, Dr Souphanh Keomixay, recently revealed that the debts owed to private companies who performed State investment projects was as high as 13,118 billion kip.

Last year, the government allocated 963 billion kip to clear debts incurred by State investment projects and requested the NA to approve an additional 700 billion kip during the fourth quarter.

Although the money allocated will not meet the financial needs of all entrepreneurs who invested in State investment projects, the government is committed to making debt payments in a transparent manner and in line with financial principles.

Lao Drug Lord Maintains ‘Not Guilty’ Plea

xaysana
xaysana

Notorious Lao drug baron, Xaysana Keopimpha, has plead not guilty to smuggling 1.2 million methamphetamine pills into Thailand last September.

As previously reported by The Laotian Times, the 42 -year-old Lao national was arrested  by Thai police at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport in January and had plead not guilty to all charges brought against him in April. The alleged international kingpin has been linked to several of Thailand’s rich and high-profiled but has consistently denied being a major player in the regional narcotics trade.

On Monday, the accused drug lord continued to deny all charges before the Criminal Court in Bangkok, where the pre-trial examination of the case’s evidence was held. Mr Xaysana is charged with colluding to import a Type-1 drug and possessing drugs with the intent to sell, though he maintains that he has nothing to do with the 1.2 million ‘ya ba’ pills that were caught being smuggled into Thailand.

Prosecutors on Monday submitted evidence to the court, claiming that 9 witnesses were prepared to testify, including investigators, intelligence officers and a detainee at a prison, who implicated the king pin himself.

According to the indictment filed in April, on September 30, 2016 Mr Xaysana and six other alleged accomplices conspired to smuggle 1.2 million ya ba pills into Thailand from Laos through the Nong Khai border checkpoint.

It is speculated that members of the drug ring were going to transfer the pills to other members in Mr Xaysana’s network in the south of Thailand, who were then going to attempt to smuggle the drugs into Malaysia.

Police arrested several members of the network who were identified to be in possession of the drugs on October 1, 2016. After a thorough investigation, Mr Xaysana was arrested at Suvarnabhumi airport on arrival from Phuket on January 19, 2017.

The court has scheduled the first hearing for February 13, 2018.

More as this story develops.

Police Regulate Unauthorized Street Traders

vendors
vendors

In an effort to declutter the streets of Vientiane, authorities took to the footpaths along Khouvieng Road, surrounding areas of Kuadin market and several other various locations around town last week, ordering unsanctioned street vendors and traders to vacate the premises.

The crackdown was issued by the Vientiane Public Works and Transport Department, in relation to the ongoing “Clean Vientiane” campaign.

Director of Vientiane Public Works and Transport Department, Dethsongkharm Thammavong declared on June 16, that the removal and relocation of street vendors from busy roads to designated areas will be completed by this week.

With an attempt in providing constant traffic flow, better transportation for both domestic and foreign visitors along with maintaining a cleaner city, tuk-tuks have also been ordered to relocate to the assigned areas, otherwise risk being fined in accordance with traffic laws.

There are several areas in and around the capital that are notoriously known to be gridlocked during rush hour. By restricting street vendors and tuks-tuks from parking themselves in the middle of chaotic traffic, officials hope to alleviate the amount of congestion and blockage within the city.

16 Human Trafficking Cases Reported in 5 Months

human trafficking in lao villages

Despite the spotlight that has illuminated the dark world of human trafficking the past decade, the crime of bartering people against their will is still one of the most extensive transnational crimes women and young girls and boys fall victim to. It involves denying people of their rights as humans and forcing them to be exploited by using deception, violence or any other means necessary.

At a meeting held in the capital last week, the National Committee for Prevention and Control of Human Trafficking revealed that just between January to May of this year, sixteen young women ,the majority of them under 18, have been sold and  traded by human trafficking networks.

According to the General Police Department, from January 1 to the end of May,  16 human trafficking cases were reported, resulting in the arrest of 21 suspects, including 9 women.

The meeting focused on implementation measures against human trafficking with the committee primarily concentrating on areas at risk.  

The victims of trafficking are often young women, and girls and boys under the age of 18. In most cases, human trafficking victims come from destitute, low-income, countryside households who illegally enter neighboring countries looking for work  to support their families back home.

In a 2012 report, statistics from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime showed a collective 27 million people from 127 countries are trafficked annually, with 70-80 percent of the victims being women and children.

Laos and its surrounding countries have reaffirmed their commitment to cooperate with one another in an effort to combat human trafficking more effectively.

In an attempt to hinder the illegal trade, the six lower Mekong countries – Cambodia, China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam – signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the Coordinated Mekong Ministerial Initiative against Trafficking (COMMIT) in 2004. The Lao government is concentrating on preventing human trafficking, especially to protect women and children from criminal gangs involved in the heinous trade.

Daewoo E&C Infiltrates Laos Infrastructure Development

daewoo E&C
daewoo E&C

On June 15, in attempt to win future bids on developing Lao infrastructure projects, Daewoo Engineering and Construction Co. (Daewoo E&C) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Lotte Engineering & Construction, the KDB, and Korea Trade & Insurance Corporation with Petroleum Trading Lao Public Company (PTL) .

The strategic partnership will actively pursue bids on future projects such as the Mekong River Hydro Power Project, the Deep Sea Port Project, and the SEZ Projects .

Daewoo E&C first arrived on the scene in 1994 and completed the Howeiho Hydropower Project in Laos, the first IPP project by a Korean company. Since then, Daewoo E&C has focused on strengthening its capabilities as a global infrastructure and energy developer, making an effort to expand its business bases markets.

A Daewoo E&C spokesman stated, “This partnership is expected to gain momentum through smooth financial support and close cooperation with local governments, as large Korean construction companies, the KDB and a large oil company in Laos were involved in the project. This project will lead to the expansion of IPP and infrastructure projects in Laos.”

Laos has recently emerged as a front contender to potentially provide electricity for neighboring countries, as the Lao government is moving aggressively to develop energy-related infrastructure facilities.

POS Launch Party at Naked Espresso Khamkhong

Fourleaf POS App

Owner of popular Naked Espresso cafe franchise, Mr Ariya Khamvongsa, emphasized the importance of cooperation and camaraderie among cafe and restaurant owners, at a launch party for a new FOURLEAF POS system held on June 9 at Naked Espresso Khamkhong Branch.

Mr Ariya said that connecting and evolving together is important, and that in order to thrive in the café, restaurant or hotel industry, one must rely on technological assistance to alleviate the workload that comes with opening multiple cafes.

The aim of the event was to introduce the audience to a smart POS system, which was presented by the representative and the co-founder of the FOURLEAF firm.

 

 

Fourleaf POS Appa

FOURLEAF Restaurant POS App

Venturing into the restaurant or cafe business is a feat for anyone, particularly for those with little to no experience in the field and for those who want to quickly expand their brand. Before an establishment reaches its grand opening day, extensive research and investment is required- from selecting and purchasing all the necessary equipment and furniture, to hiring staff, to calculating daily expenses.

We live in an era where technology is thriving and, in some cases, necessary. With mobile devices influencing our daily lives personally, we aim to apply the same influence directly to daily business as well.

FOURLEAF was established in 2014, with the ambition of applying cloud computing  in connecting owners to their businesses in real-time. We believe that the FOURLEAF system will allow users to navigate the app confidently and with ease.

FOURLEAF has gained recognition by these global awards:

  1. Silver Awards: iTex – Malaysia
  2. Winner: Thailand ICT Award – Thailand
  3. Merit Award: APICTA 2014 (Asia Pacific Information and Communication Technology Alliance) – Hong Kong
  4. Finalist: APEC Accelerator Network Summit – Taiwan

Hundreds of restaurants in Thailand, Japan and the Netherlands have now integrated  FOURLEAF into their businesses and rely on the cutting edge technology to accurately and efficiently handle customer orders.

FOURLEAF has joined forces with Second Crack Company in Laos, launching them as our official dealer.

“We believe the system and services provided by our hardworking team will assist Lao owners in managing their businesses with little effort,” says a Fourleaf representative.

Product list:

  1. FOURLEAF: Restaurant Operating System App, helps owners track their inventory, capable of sending orders to the kitchen wirelessly and efficiently, compatible with wireless printer and cash drawers. (this is a complete restaurant operating system app.)
  2. FOURLEAF Menu:  Eye-catching, modern digital menu on an iPad. Easy to operate menu details and images.  Beautiful presentation for hotels/restaurants/cafes.

 

 

For more info, please contact via:

Website: www.afourleaf.com/laos

Facebook: www.facebook.com/afourleaf

Twitter: @FOURLEAF_APP

Instagram: @FOURLEAF_APP

Contact number (Vientiane Laos)

020 5999 9224

020 5622 2269

State Departments Ordered to Regulate Civil Servant Numbers

payroll
payroll

In an effort to cut unnecessary expenditures and lower the country’s growing debt, officials have shifted their attention to state departments and the excessive number of civil servants on the government’s payroll.  

A senior government official has stated that to ensure that civil servant numbers,  salaries and supporting allowances are accurate, inspections have been performed and will continue to be carried out.  

Last month, Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith directed all state departments to confirm the number of civil servants currently employed to avoid issuing duplicate salaries, ensuring that funds and supporting allowances are only being paid to  actual employees and not just names on a list.

Director General of the Civil Servant Management Department, Ministry of Home Affairs, Mr Souvanny Lattanavong, stated that inspections carried out in May has indicated that as many as 184,268 civil servants are on the national payroll.

According to Mr Souvanny, previous inspections have been based solely on reports, causing loopholes in the system. To rectify and regulate the number of civil servants being reported, state departments have been ordered to carry out inspections routinely, and update civil servants numbers and policies quarterly.

He explained that the number of civil servants can potentially be reported inaccurately, in cases where the state departments fail to properly verify employees, resulting in ex-employees continuing to receive wages even after leaving their positions.

In an attempt to resolve this issue, officials plan to launch a first-hand inspection, issuing civil servant ID cards scheduled to be launched at the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Organizing and Personnel Committee of the Party Central Committee then further expanding to other central-level organizations.

A proposal has been submitted to the Prime Minister seeking guidance and once the Prime Minister gives approval, the civil servant ID cards can be issued. The ID card issuance to central-level organizations is expected to be completed by 2018, with local departments to follow.

To inspect and ensure accurate numbers of civil servants, Mr Souvanny said his officials would distribute the ID card personally.