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IFC Gives Support to Aanandi Riverview Apartments

Aanandi Apartment

The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, will lend US$ 2 million to property developer Aanandi Lao Ltd for the construction of a multi-level serviced apartment building.

The apartment building, or condominium, will be located along the bank of the Mekong River in Vientiane Capital. The condominium will provide quality housing and facilities for a growing number of foreign and domestic investors that demand international standards.

The Aanandi Riverview apartments will be comprised of 76 service apartment units. Construction will take 24 months, and the apartments are expected to open in 2020.

IFC Agreement

“We greatly appreciate IFC’s long-term financing commitment and it is aligned to our group’s long-term vision to raise Laos real estate market to an international playing level,” said Sue Ma, Business Development Director, Aanandi Group.

“Furthermore, with IFC’s and our Japanese partner, Toshihiko Muneyoshi, it will add creditability and bring in global knowledge as well as technical and industry expertise to this project that prepares us for more future housing projects in the Lao PDR.”

The project will generate employment for Lao workers, offering training programmes to employees, and drawing from the local labor pool. The project also aims to support local suppliers by sourcing Lao materials.

IFC will offer its support to Aanandi in terms of adoption of international best practices, and undertaking environmental and social impact assessments.

This apartment building will comply with IFC green building standards, in hopes of reducing energy, water, and materials consumption by 20 percent.

“With the construction of one of the first international standard serviced apartment complexes in Vientiane, the project demonstrates the potential for growth in the sector – at this standard level -helping to make a market for future similar projects and enhancing the competitiveness of the Lao PDR as an investment destination,” said Kyle Kelhofer, IFC Country Manager for the Lao PDR, Cambodia and Vietnam.

Photos: Aanandi Group

Low Tourist Numbers Have Little Impact on Tourism Income

North Asian tourists
North Asian tourists

Tourism is one of Laos’ major income earners. And it is said that Laos was drastically affected by the sudden drop in tourists coming in to the country. However, The Laotian Times has discovered based on a source from the Tourism Ministry that despite the decline in the amount of visitors (some estimates say by as much as 10 percent), the total revenue gained from tourism has merely dropped by no more than 1 percent.

The drop in visitor numbers were attributed to fewer nationals coming from Thailand (13 percent decrease), Vietnam (16 percent decrease) and Cambodia (20 percent decrease).

The government plans to launch several tourism awareness campaigns targeted at high spending travelers, namely in countries such as Germany and Japan.

In 2015, Laos received 4.6 million visitors, which helped generate USD$725 million but dropped slightly a year later (2016), making US$724 million with only 4.2 million tourists.

While the number of nationals from its neighboring countries has dropped, Laos was quite fortunate to have received larger swathes of Chinese (7% increase), Japanese (12% increase) and Korean (5% increase) tourists. These North Asian tourists are considered to be comparatively bigger spenders. Interestingly enough, Taiwanese have more than doubled their visitors to Laos (from slightly over 6,000 to approximately 14,000). Europeans, on average, are traveling more and more to the country, with a total of a 2 percent increase over the past year.

Chinese Tourists
Chinese Tourists

This year, the Lao government expects a total of 4.8 million people to visit Laos, contributing to the country a total of USD $843 million.

With the Visit Laos Year 2018 national campaign, the Lao government hopes to attract at least 5 million people and rake in USD $900 million.

World Trade Center Fire Caused by Welding Accident

WTC Fire

A fire that broke out at the construction site of the World Trade Center in Nongchanh Village, Vientiane Capital, was caused by a welding accident, according to local news sources.

The incident occurred on the afternoon of 3 December, causing widespread panic as shoppers at the nearby Vientiane Center mall fled the scene. Smoke billowed from the fire at an alarming rate, although firefighters were quickly able to extinguish the flames.

Mr Chanthaboun Keomanivong, Head of the Vientiane Capital Fire Brigade said, “the incident occurred at 16:30 on 3 December.”

“The fire was caused by a welder who allowed sparks to light nearby plastic pipes on fire. The fire began to spread, however the fire brigade was alerted and sent three fire trucks to the scene. The fire was extinguished within 15 minutes. Luckily, nobody was injured or killed.”

Source: Lao Post

First Aid Workshop for Parents to Offer Valuable Training

Panyathip First Aid Japan Heart

Japan Heart will hold a free workshop on first aid as part of Panyathip International School’s ongoing monthly series for the parenting community at its Nonsavanh campus this Saturday.

The workshop includes two sessions by Akiko Matsuura and Zain Iqbal of Japan Heart, an international non-governmental organization which delivers medical care in the developing world. The first session is a lecture and discussion followed by a hands-on activity for applying techniques.

The second of a series of free events associated with the launch of a new online resource for parents in Laos sponsored by Panyathip International School, the workshop is a way to build community and provide much needed information.

“Our aim is to provide a forum for parents to discuss issues related to parenting in Laos,” said Natalie Taylor, who is coordinating the workshops. “We know that it is often difficult for parents to find reliable sources with the latest information.”

The Parenting Community seeks to empower parents with knowledge on topics ranging from health and safety, learning styles, behavior, counseling, nutrition, and many others.

The series, offered in both English and Lao, is open to the public and childcare with plenty of activities led by qualified teachers is available during the workshops to enable parents to participate. The one of a kind website in Laos is also in Lao and English text.

“We are thrilled to host these workshops at our new Nonsavanh campus,” said Greg Dolezal, head of school. “The facility is conducive to public events and the children can enjoy the green space and play area guided by our teachers while their parents attend.”

The previous workshop, presented by Dr. Soulivanh Pholsena, Director of Foreign Relations at the Lao Ministry of Health, addressed strategies for prevention of the spread of Dengue and other diseases which can endanger children.

“This series is an indispensable resource,” said Pholsena, a regular contributor to the Parenting Community website. “It’s very important for parents to have access to up to date information. I’m proud to be a part of this project and give back to the community.”

With limited information available in the Lao language for parents seeking advice, what often happens is that those who can afford assistance have few issues, however the vast majority in Laos lack access.

“Fortunately, many Lao people now have access to the internet on their phones,” said Taylor, “although much of what they find is not relevant in Laos or can be difficult to understand in English.”

The event is this Saturday, December 9th, from 9am to 11am at Panyathip’s Nonsavan campus. More information can be found on the parenting community website (www.panyathipparenting.com).

Contact: Natalie Taylor, natalie.taylor@pislao.com, 030 981 8999

Laos Expresses Concern Over North Korea Nuclear Program

North Korea Nuclear Program

A senior Lao diplomat has expressed grave concern over North Korea’s recent test of an intercontinental ballistic missile, and joined concerned nations in calling on Pyongyang to end its nuclear missile programs.

Deputy Foreign Minister Khamphao Ernthavanh also stated that she hoped the situation on the Korean Peninsula could be resolved through peaceful negotiations.

Khamphao Ernthavanh

“Laos sees this as a concerning matter. We hope North Korea abandons its nuclear and missile development and that the Korean Peninsula will be denuclearized through talks as soon as possible.”

Deputy Minister Ernthavanh made the statement on Thursday when interviewed by South Korean journalists.

“If the situtation becomes more serious, it could inflict huge damage not just on the Korean people but also those in the ASEAN region,” she went on. “I personally hope that things will be resolved peacefully through talks.”

The comment came after North Korea announced that it had conducted an ICBM test.

While Laos has enjoyed long and close relations with North Korea, establishing diplomatic ties and opening an embassy in 1974, the country has joined the international community in expressing concern over nuclear missile tests.

When asked if Laos will take steps to restrict North Korea from sending its workers to the country in accordance with UN resolutions, the minister said responded in the affirmative.

“As a UN member, Laos has an obligation to enforce UN resolutions,” she said, “so we will make efforts to excecute such measures in cooperation with the international community.”

Source: Korea Herald

New Lao National Museum Building Officially Complete

Lao National Museum

Construction of the new site of the Lao National Museum has been completed. A handover ceremony was held on 1 December at the site of the new museum, presided over by Deputy Prime Minister Sonxay Siphandone.

The construction project for the new Lao National Museum began in 2013 at the site located on Kaysone Phomvihane Road, in Saysettha District, Vientiane Capital. Construction was undertaken by Khamphayxana Construction.

The new, four storey museum building replaces the original building on Samsenthai Road in central Vientiane. The original building was constructed in 1925, and was built as the French governor’s residence.

The Fate of the Original Lao National Museum Building

Original Lao National Museum

The fate of the original building remains unknown, although a 2013 article by the Vientiane Times states that both the original National Library building and the original museum site are slated for redevelopment.

Photos: Lao Post

Russia Becomes 11th Country to Offer VISA Exemptions to Lao Nationals

Prime Ministers Sisoulith and Medvedev shakes hands
Prime Ministers Sisoulith and Medvedev shakes hands

In an attempt to promote tourism in their respective countries, Laos and Russia have enacted a VISA exemption for their ordinary passport holding (as opposed to service and diplomatic types) citizens, starting on the 2nd of December. This agreement, however, had been signed by Prime Ministers Dmitry Medvedev and Thongloun Sisoulith during Laos’s reign as ASEAN chair back in 2016, and was one of the cornerstone accomplishments of the Russian Prime Minister’s visit.

The agreement permits ordinary passport holders of both countries to enter each other’s country for up to 30 days without an entry visa. With regard to traveling, Lao citizens can now treat Russia as they would any other ASEAN country.

During any period of 180 days, ordinary passport holders from either country may stay in the other country for a maximum of 90 days with multiple entries. Each entry must not exceed 30 days, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith meets with Russian counterpart Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev at the 2017 ASEAN Summit, Manila
Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith meets with Russian counterpart Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev at the 2017 ASEAN Summit, Manila

With the addition of Russia as a bilateral VISA exempt partner, Laos currently has visa exemption agreements with a total of 11 countries, namely Mongolia, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Laos currently offers unilateral visa exemptions to ordinary passport holders from Japan, the Republic of Korea, Switzerland and Luxembourg. Nationals of these aforementioned countries with ordinary passports can enter Laos without entry visas.

Laos is beginning to see more and more Russian nationals traveling to Laos for leisure purposes. According to the Lao Tourism Ministry, approximately 13,000 Russians visit Laos per year.

China Southern Airlines Opens Vientiane-Guangzhou Flight

China-Southern-Airlines-Vientiane-Guangzhou

China Southern Airlines has officially launched its Vientiane – Guangzhou flight, which is hoped will bring greater numbers of tourists to both cities.

The flight was launched on November 29.

Deputy General Manager of China Southern Airlines in Bangkok, Zhao Yang, said that 160-seater Boeing 737-800 aircraft will fly the Vientiane-Guangzhou route on Wednesdays, Friday’s and Sundays. The flight lasts 2 hours and 25 minutes.

The launch of the flight coincides with Visit Laos Year 2018, and it is hoped that Chinese tourists from Guangzhou will take advantage of the new route to visit Laos. A possible Visit Laos-China Year may even be held in 2019.

China Southern Airlines is the world’s fourth largest airline.