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Laos to Experience Early Cold Snap, Rain

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Laotian Times
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Laos to Experience Early Cold Snap, Rain

A cold snap is set to hit most of Laos this week as the result of a high-pressure system over the northern and central parts of the country.

According to the Meteorology and Hydrology Department, the forecast for November 7-10 will see cooler temperatures in northern and central areas, with lows of 13C, and highs at 27C.

Super Typhoon Halong, a Category 5 Super Typhoon tracking along the coast of Vietnam, is among the strongest storms ever recorded by satellite, according to the Washington Post.

Super Typhoon Halong (Weather Underground)
Super Typhoon Halong (Weather Underground)

While it is not likely to hit land, it is affecting weather patterns in the region, causing the wet weather in southern Laos.

Rain and fog is in the forecast for central and southern Laos, while Vientiane will see temperatures ranging from 24C to 26C.

Laos to Regulate Imports to Promote Domestic Production

By
Laotian Times
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Laos to Regulate Imports to Promote Domestic Production

Laos plans to regulate imports of consumer goods, in a move to promote domestic production while curbing rising exchange rates.

Lao products are struggling to compete in terms of price and production amid increasing goods imported from neighboring countries, both legally and illegally, Vientiane Times reported.

The trend is also driving up the exchange rate of foreign currencies against the Lao kip, especially Thai baht, said Deputy Minister of Industry and Commerce, Mr. Somchith Inthamith.

To tackle the issue, the Lao government has set up a task force led by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Mr. Somdy Duangdy.

The task force will work with Vientiane authorities to strictly inspect imported products according to Lao regulations, using technology and license certification when checking at border crossings.

This is because trucks that bring in consumer goods from Thailand to Laos do not always have import licenses, according to Mr. Somchith.

He stressed that the government’s move is not designed to ban imports altogether but is aimed at determining what kind of products should be limited and those whose import is essential.

When it comes to promoting domestic production, the task force will focus on the organic and clean agriculture sector, which has little competition.

In addition, the government will use funding intended to support food security and commercial production, as well as push for collaborative projects both in Laos and overseas.

The government plans to launch the initiative in Vientiane first and will introduce it in other areas if it is successful.

S Korean President Vows to Continue Support for Dam Collapse Victims

By
Laotian Times
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S Korean President Vows to Continue Support for Dam Collapse Victims

South Korean President Moon Jae-in, on a state visit to Laos, has vowed to make every effort to assist those affected by the catastrophic dam collapse in southern Laos last year.


A saddle dam of the Xe Pian-Xe Namnoy hydropower project collapsed, in which a joint venture between SK Engineering & Construction and Korea Western Power is participating. The incident killed dozens of residents and displaced thousands of others.

“The South Korean government will continue to do its best to help the people in the affected areas return to their stable lives,” President Moon said at a meeting with the Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith.

Is response, PM Thongloun thanked the South Korean government and businesses for their support for the recovery and called for continued attention from South Korea on the matter.

He added that Laos hoped cooperation between the two countries in the hydropower sector would further develop, including one dam which is due to be completed this year.

Separately, President Moon also had a meeting with his Lao counterpart President Bounnhang Vorachith, where the issue of dam collapse was among topics discussed.

At that time, President Bounnhang noted that the South Korean government offered humanitarian aid and support for mid to long-term reconstruction work right after the incident.

In response, Moon expressed his gratitude for the Lao authorities maintaining trust in South Korean companies despite the case.

The South Korean government provided USD 2 million in humanitarian aid and 1,000 tons of rice right after the dam collapse and is also working on a project to restore the state’s integrated reconstruction through the Korea International Cooperation Agency, or KOICA.

In addition, the two countries agreed to strengthen development cooperation that contributes to the improvement of the quality of life and economic development of the Lao people, including the “comprehensive management project along the Mekong River” under the “EDCF Agreement” signed on September 5 to provide USD 500 million for the 2020-23 period.

In addition, the two sides agreed on the importance of utilizing the abundant water resources of Laos in bilateral cooperation to create co-prosperity in the region and agreed to push for necessary measures actively.

What’s discussed among leaders of two countries and remarks made by President Moon look promising, but it is still unclear what they can do in terms of resolving an ongoing dispute between the Lao government and SK Engineering & Construction.

The Lao government and the South Korean firm are currently making conflicting claims over the cause of the dam collapse.

The National Investigation Committee (NIC) of Laos announced its findings that the dam collapse was not a “force majeure” event, and it could have been prevented by adequate treatment measures.

At that time, SK Engineering immediately issued a statement and refuted the findings of the NIC, saying that the finding lack scientific evidence.

Meanwhile, SK Engineering said the company is and will be focusing on support to Laos regardless of what’s said or discussed during President Moon’s visit to Laos.

Drug Counseling Center in Vientiane Receives Upgrade

By
Laotian Times
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Drug Counseling Center in Vientiane Receives Upgrade

A counseling center in the Lao capital Vientiane that treats people with drug use disorders has been expanded, a move that would accommodate the increasing number of people who require counseling and treatment.

The facility, which is located at Sisattanak Hospital in Sisattanak district, offers free advice and community-based therapy, according to Vientiane Times.

The upgrade work was supported by the International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs Section of the United States Embassy to Laos through the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime with more than LAK 200 million (USD 22,640) invested.

“It’s a private counseling room to protect people from the stigma associated with drug use and can provide treatment by specialists that meet international standards,” said Health Office Head of Sisattanak district, Dr. Khonesavanh Thepphavong.

Between 2014 and October 2019, a total of 321 people visited the facility for advice. It first opened in 2014.

Most of those who seek help are aged between 18 and 25, and about 95 percent of drug users are addicted to amphetamines, Vientiane Times added.

Lao Airlines to Launch New Routes to Japan’s Kumamoto in March, 2020

By
Laotian Times
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Lao Airlines

Japan Civil Aviation Bureau has given a green light to Lao Airlines to launch two new routes connecting the Lao capital of Vientiane and the resort town of Luang Prabang with the Japanese city of Kumamoto.

New routes will be launched on March 18, 2020, according to a statement by Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.

The route between Vientiane and Kumamoto will run on Wednesday and Saturday, while that between Luang Prabang and the Japanese city will run on Monday and Friday.

An Airbus A320 aircraft with 158 seats will be used for two round trip services.

Lao Airlines first laid out its plan to launch such routes in August.

At that time, President of Lao Airlines, Mr. Bounma Chanthavongsa, said the economy airfare for the new flights would be around USD 750, presumably for a return ticket.

Mr Bounma added that the company would be applying for the approval of launching new routes to the Japanese authorities in August.

Laos Among Remote Countries with Best Internet

By
Laotian Times
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Laos Among Remote Countries with Best Internet

Berlin-based online travel website Tourlane has named Laos as one of the most remote countries with the best Internet.

Laos took 3rd place in the ranking, for which the company used its data to create a shortlist of top vacation destinations for German travelers that are further than 4,000 km away from Germany.

This shortlist was then cross-referenced against each country’s internet connectivity. The final shortlist of 11 countries is based on three factors: Speed of mobile Internet, the cost of mobile Internet, and distance from Germany, according to a statement by Tourlane.

Mobile Internet speed per destination is based on data dated August from a leading online speed test site that displays the average download speed per country, while data from a leading price comparison site for Internet and telecommunications was used to determine the average cost of mobile Internet in each country.

In addition, the company used a “leading online mapping service” to determine the distance of the destinations from Germany.

Fiji crowned the ranking, followed by Chile.

Meanwhile, closer to home, Indonesia ranked 4th while Thailand ranked 5th.

The ranking result is a boon to Laos, which is currently bolstering its efforts to increase Internet accessibility.

The country launched a project in September to offer free Wi-Fi at landmarks in its capital Vientiane in a move to cater to not only the general public but also foreign visitors.

The project, supported by the Asia-Pacific Telecommunity will enable visitors to use the internet at frequently visited locations such as Wattay International Airport, Namphou Fountain, and Hor Phrakeo.

LOCA to add Minivan Drivers to its Ridesharing Fleet

By
Laotian Times
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LOCA to add Minivan Drivers to its Ridesharing Fleet

LOCA and the Vientiane-based Minivan Association have signed an MOU to welcome 240 minivan association members to the LOCA platform, increasing ease of access to minivan services in Vientiane.

LOCA, which is Laos’s first ridesharing application, hopes to make city transportation accessible and transparent for its customers, both foreign and local.

“Given our current success with the lightweight vehicle service, we now would like to welcome a minivan service to our platform to provide additional services and choice of transportation in Vientiane,” says Souliyo Vongdala, CTO of LOCA.

The tentative service that LOCA will introduce in collaboration with the minivan association will be charged at an hourly rate. The service will give customers an affordable option for group travel.

Tentative packages will start from 3 hours, 4 hours, and 7 hours, and all options come with a seat capacity of 8 people.

3 Hours/80KM Priced at 290,000 KIP

4 Hours/100KM Priced at 390,000 KIP

7 Hours/150KM Priced at 520,000 KIP

Both the Minivan Association and LOCA share the same vision to digitize the transportation service. Both parties are willing to collaborate to improve the standard of minivan services in Vientiane Capital.

“This cooperation is a big milestone and will represent a good example of collaboration between a startup company and the existing business,” said Mr Souliyo.

“Additionally, with the recent cooperation between LOCA and the Lanexang Assurance public company, we will also introduce a new standard for the protection in the transportation services soon, which has never been done before in Laos.”

Government to Crack Down on “Ghost” Civil Servants

By
Laotian Times
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Government to Crack Down on “Ghost” Civil Servants

The Lao government is currently in the process of clarifying the actual number of civil servants amid growing public concern over the possibility of payments made to “ghost” civil servants who do not exist.

“This process is part of procedures to ascertain the true number of civil servants in Laos,” said Director General of the Civil Servant Management Department, Mr. Souvanny Rattanavong, as quoted by Vientiane Times.

Among concerns, some say it is possible for the government to continue paying salaries into the bank account of civil servants who no longer hold a government position.

The government began to pay salaries for civil servants via bank transfer a few years ago in an effort to simplify the process.

Currently, each ministry has to submit a list of names of civil servants and their bank account information to the central government before salaries are transferred.

This process allows the Ministry of Home Affairs to confirm the number of civil servants who are eligible to receive salaries, but it cannot prove the existence of each official.

In order to tackle the issue, the government has authorized the Ministry of Home Affairs to partner with the Banque pour le Commerce Exterieur Public to issue new ID cards to civil servants in 2018, which can be used to withdraw salaries from ATMs.

The ministry has distributed the new ID cards to 37 central state agencies as part of the process to double-check the true number of civil servants while it plans to distribute the cards to nine other central state agencies and complete such distribution in the provinces in 2020.

The Civil Servant Management Department will request the cancellation of payments if they learn about the existence of “ghost” civil servants. Those who abuse the current loophole would also face punishment in accordance with the law.

Earlier this year, the Prime Minister issued a new decree on the ethics and morals of civil servants, including a revised code of conduct. The decree prohibits civil servants from abusing their power for personal gain or the benefit of their relatives and people associated with them. Those who fail to abide would face disciplinary action.

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