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ALO Technologies Ambushes Lao Smartphone Market

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Laotian Times
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ALO, the world’s first Lao smartphone, will make its debut in stores around Laos later this month.

The ALO brand of smartphone is part of a larger group of electronic products offered by ALO Technologies Laos. The company hopes to become the number one choice in technology products and services for Lao people, and has made students and the education sector its primary focus.

ALO Techology, which is a 100% Lao owned company, reached an agreement with Microsoft for updates to software and programs after signing an official OEM Master License agreement with Microsoft in April last year.

Two products are to be released initially, the ALO! M5 (4G) and the ALO! Tab7A 2 SIM 3G.

The M5, which runs on the Android 6.0 operating system, will retail for 1,100,000 kip, although the company has announced a special promotion price of 999,000 kip.

 

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The first set of ALO! Branded smartphones feature a 1.3G Quad-core MT735 CPU, with 1GB RAM,  multi-touch sensor, and 1280*270 pixels display.

The M5 features Bluetooth functionality, front and rear cameras with HDR support, GPS positioning, dual sim-card input, and a 1900mAh battery. Both ALO! Models are currently only available in white.

The ambush of the low-end market by the ALO Lao Smartphone will likely present quite a challenge to competitors in Laos, with the market traditionally ruled by Chinese brands Oppo and Vivo.

Like its direct competitors, ALO! Phones are manufactured in China, however its products are produced specifically for the Lao market. With Microsoft overseeing upgrades and software, it is likely that ALO will become the number one consumer choice before too long.

The company has stated that its mission is to provide quality, affordable electronic devices for the Lao market, with a focus upon the education sector, and hopes to expand further into ASEAN in the coming years.

Land Use Right Holders on 450 Year Road Reject Compensation

By
Laotian Times
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Land Use Rights 450 years Rd

Owners of land use rights for the remaining 167 plots along the 450 Year Road in Vientiane are still refusing to accept the compensation offered in return for the land they lost to the US$104 million highway, an official told the Vientiane People’s Council yesterday.

The government approved the construction of the 20.3km road, which was completed in 2010, to mark the 450th anniversary of Vientiane as the capital of Laos. The road links the Dongdok traffic lights in Xaythany district to Dongphosy village in Hadxaifong district.

To finance the road, a 50-metre section of land along either side of the route measuring more than 1 million square metres was reserved for sale to raise the necessary funds.

Compensation has been offered to those who lost their land, a member of the committee in charge of resolving land issues, Mr Bounlap Soutthavong, told the Assembly during its ongoing meeting.

He added that the committee has already awarded compensation of more than 77.4 billion kip for 369 plots of land.

However, the owners of the land use rights to the remaining 167 plots have still not claimed the money owed them, even though the authorities have issued several notices telling them to do so. The deadline for the payment of compensation has now passed.

Given that the remaining owners have not cooperated, Mr Bounlap recommended that the land use rights for the 167 plots be revoked and new land titles issued so the land use rights could be sold to raise money.

He said most of the people involved were not the original owners as they had bought the land from the original owners with the intention of reselling it and making a profit. Since the purchases took place after a regulation was issued to prohibit the sale of land and any construction after the building of the 450 Year Road was announced, this meant the parties had violated the regulation.

However, Mr Bounlap recommended that compensation be paid for the remaining plots, even though the deadline had passed.

In addition, he suggested charging a transport fee on the 450 Year Road in line with the Prime Ministerial Decision No. 66 issued in 2008.

Compensation payouts ranged from 15,000 kip to 500,000 kip per square metre plus 30 percent of the land value. The original owners of the land use rights were given priority in the repurchase of the land use rights, but would have to pay the amount decided by the government.

This amount was calculated by the government after the 450 Year Road was built, with prices ranging from US$120 to US$150 per square metre.

New title deeds have been issued for land for which compensation was paid and these were given to the Bank of the Lao PDR in part payment of the loan and interest owed by the developer which had borrowed money to build the road.

The project developer still owes the central bank more than US$20 million including interest.

Vientiane Mayor Dr SinlavongKhoutphaythoune told the Council that the building of the 450 Year Road was significant for Vientiane’s socio-economic development and in easing traffic congestion.

Source: Vientiane Times
Photo: Lao GMS Map

Asia Peak Aims High in Nong Khai

By
Laotian Times
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Asia Peak, a mega-development tourism complex is in the plans for Nong Khai. Asia Peak will be a huge wholesale, retail, and entertainment center located behind the Asawann Shopping Complex and behind the Nong Khai Provincial Administration Office, covering an area of 48,000 square meters.

Several Thai investors saw the natural tourism potential in Nong Khai, as well as its strategic location near Vientiane, and pooled their resources to invest in a 30 year lease on the land. The entire project is expected to cost 1 billion baht (approximately US$28 million).

Asia Peak in Nong Khai

During the day, it will be a wholesale, retail and restaurant space of over 400 shops, while in the evening there will be a night market. One section of market will have a retro vibe created entirely of shipping containers, hoping to attract young people and hipsters alike. An amusement park is also planned with four primary attractions: an 80m Ferris wheel (the tallest in Thailand), a swinging ship ride, a grand carousel, and a chair swing ride. There will also be a beer hall with 400 tables and there are plans to host monthly concerts at the venue.

The investors hope to open in February of 2017 and aims to attract at least 1000 visitors per day. They will primarily target Thai and Lao tourists, with a focus on Lao traders who will come to purchase foreign and domestic goods to take back to Laos and sell.

Asia Peak is looking to position itself to become a tourism landmark well-known throughout both Thailand and the AEC.

Source: Manager

Attapeu International Airport Shuts Down

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admin
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This Facebook link thumbnail image template was created by Christian Karasiewicz, owner of www.christiankonline.com

After flights between Vientiane-Attapeu ceased since October 2016, the Attapeu airport has been temporarily shut down.

Passenger numbers were continually low, and flights were infrequent, with only 139,600 people living in Attapeu Province.

Authorities of Attapeu province revealed that Lao Airlines decided to stop offering flights from Vientiane to Attapeu from October 2016 without releasing any official notice, and had not yet announced this matter to the public.

In addition, local authorities stated that the population of Attapeu is small, although it shares borders with Vietnam and Cambodia. The main economic activities of Attapeu Province are power production, mining, and industrial plantations.  Few tourists visit the province. 

The Attapeu International Airport was opened in 2015 and the total value of the construction was more than 289 billion Kip, or approximately US $36.9 million.

Vientiane Sustainable Urban Transport Project Underway

By
Laotian Times
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vientiane sustainable urban transport project

An official in charge of the Vientiane Sustainable Urban Transport Project has said that financial support has been obtained that will help establishment of a BRT (Bus Rapid Transport) system, which is one major goal of the project.

The Asian Development Bank approved a loan of US $35 million to spearhead the project, while a further US $35 was provided by other donor organizations.

The Vientiane Sustainable Urban Transport Project is a large-scale project with the aim of improving transportation systems in the congested capital city.

The project has five main components, beginning with the establishment of a sustainable urban transport management agency for Vientiane, which will bring traffic and transportation management under the control of one unique entity. The next phase of the project is the development of the BRT system for Vientiane Capital, followed by improved traffic management, paid parking systems, and better accessibility for pedestrians and non-motor traffic in the core of the city.

Under the project, an 84-km section of Vientiane Capital will be covered by the BRT network, including a dedicated bus lane of 11.5km running from Wattay International Airport to Nongbone Village, in Saysettha District.

The bus rapid transit system will feature over 11km of dedicated bus corridor lanes, 24 enclosed stations, and new low-carbon emitting buses. BRT buses are to utilize rail-like systems and dedicated lanes, which will ensure faster services and reduce traffic congestion. 

Planned Vientiane Bus Loops

Paid parking systems and an upgrade to the national vehicle registration system are also in the planning stages, with more pedestrian crossings, overpasses and walkways also in the works.

Construction of the project is set to begin next year, while the government seeks a consulting firm to oversee the project.

The Vientiane Sustainable Urban Transport Project will help to create a friendlier traffic environment for pedestrians and non-motor transportation, and offer better public transportation services for Vientiane residents.

According to the ADB, public transportation in Vientiane Capital currently accounts for less than one percent of daily trips.

Images: ADB

PUM Netherlands Senior Experts Ready to Assist Businesses in Laos

By
Laotian Times
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PUM helps businesses in Laos
PUM Senior Expert Paul Van Den Berg posing next to Vientiane-based Kualao Restaurant staff before heading back to Holland

Does your business have an issue that you just cannot resolve? Or do you think your business can achieve more? Do you ever wonder how bigger and more experienced companies have succeeded? Many of us have most definitely given thought to these questions. Unfortunately, a majority of Lao SMEs either do not have the money to hire a professional business consultant or, in the case we do, there is simply no local consultant available with the required knowledge and experience.

Look no further: PUM can help.

What is PUM?

PUM is a non-profit organisation established in in 1978 by the Dutch employers’ federation VNO-NCW, with financial support from the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Since 1978, they have assisted over 40,000 organisations world-wide.

The PUM network includes some 3,000 senior experts who are available to share their knowledge on a one-on-one basis for free either through short-term and repetitive advisory missions, or through online coaching activities. These experts have been sent to many different countries around the world, including Laos, to lend a hand and help businesses and entrepreneurs grow and improve their businesses.

Why not invite a PUM Senior Expert to help you?

The magic word here is invite. When you invite a PUM expert to your country, you only have to pay for his/her board, lodging, interpreter costs (if necessary) and local transportation costs. PUM pays for the expert’s airplane ticket, insurance, visa costs, admin and other expenses. If you should request a follow-up mission you may be asked to contribute to those costs as well.

A PUM consultation mission normally takes two weeks. During this period, a PUM senior expert will work with you intimately and leave practical recommendations for you to follow up. Once she/he has returned home, the expert shall support you remotely with the implementation of the recommendations, via email or conference-call.

What fields/industries does PUM cover?

PUM has experts for the following sectors:

Agriculture & Horticulture

Arts, Crafts, Product Design, Culture, Sport & Mass Media

Building, Construction & Trade

Banking & Insurance

Business Consultancy

Chemical & Synthetic Materials

Food & Beverages Production

Government Services & Unions

Healthcare

Metal Industry

Energy, Water, Waste and Environment/CSR

Electro Technical Industry & Engineering

Paper & Packaging

Printing, Cross-Media & Publishing

Stockbreeding, Fisheries

Tourism, Hotels & Catering

Transport & Logistics

Trade

Textile & Leather

Vocational Education & Training

Wood Trade & Timber Processing

Recent Missions of PUM in Laos

The identity of Lao businesses that have chosen to work with PUM are kept confidential. One example of a recent successful mission is Kualao Restaurant, the owner (Mrs. Dalaphone Pholsena) of which was kind enough to share her experience:

“I think one of the best things about the PUM experience was that it gave us fresh insight into the inner workings of our own business that we otherwise would not have had. Our expert was able to notice both large and even the minutest of problems. We had issues across a host of fields and he was able to provide extremely useful recommendations that, when implemented, would not only increase our bottom line but also improve the efficiency of our restaurant. I just know that we’re going to have a great year, this year! To be very honest, when I first read his curriculum vitae, I was a bit skeptical and nervous to be hosting such an intelligent, worldly and experienced expert. But when he arrived, I found him to be patient, understanding and quite down-to-earth. The staff had a great time working with him,” states Pholsena.

How to apply?

For interested businesses, please contact an official PUM country representative.

For Vientiane Capital, please contact Aditta Kittikhoun.

For Paksé, please contact Chris Mulder.

For Luang Prabang: please contact Yoxa Dahm.

Once your application is approved, PUM will send a volunteer senior expert to your business straight from Holland.

Alternatively, one can visit the PUM website for more information.

A lao version of the article can be found here.

LAOS: Electricity Facts

By
Laotian Times
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Electricity Facts Laos (hydropower, dam)

Certain members of the foreign media have hailed Laos as the “battery of Southeast Asia,” with one of the nation’s economic development strategies centered on the export of electricity to Thailand and other neighboring countries.

With 42 power plants now operational, the country is poised to realize its electricity ambitions. With a current installed capacity of approximately 6,000MW, the Lao government expects to achieve 14,000MW by 2020.

Click to View Full Size

 


Laos plans to install: 54 more electricity transmission lines and build another 16 substations by 2020

Current number of high voltage electricity transmission lines: 53,000km

Current number of high voltage electricity substations: 53 substations

Transmission lines that connect with neighbouring countries: 14 carry power to Thailand, 2 to Vietnam, 1 to China, 2 to Cambodia, and 1 to Myanmar.

Households that have access to electricity: 92 percent of households nationwide

Alternative renewable energy sources being considered: solar power, biomass and wind turbines (12,789 families – 1.15 percent of all families across the country – are using solar power)

Current number of operational power plants: 42 (with installed capacity of 6,391MW; generating about 33,822 GWh annually (primarily for export)

Operation of power plants: 15 are managed by the Government (EDL and EDL-GEN) with an installed capacity of 738.5MW; 27 are managed by independent power producers and have an installed capacity of 5,652.45MW

Types of power plants: 39 hydropower plants, 1 coal-burn lignite plant, and 2 sugarcane-powered plants

Number of power plants soon to be completed in 2017: 12 (expected installed capacity of 468.45MW and will generate electricity at an average of 1,872.92 GWh per year)

Number of power plants soon to be completed by 2020: 53 hydropower plants under construction or in the planning stage, including those set to be completed this year; there will be more than 90 hydropower plants in Laos with a combined installed capacity of almost 14,000MW by 2020.

Source: Vientiane Times

Vientiane Capital Aims to Become More Livable City

By
Laotian Times
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Vientiane Capital Infrastructure Development

Authorities hope to make major improvements to infrastructure in Vientiane Capital with the aim of making it a more livable city.

Improvements are to be made in easing traffic congestion, road upgrades, construction of embankments, waste management, and a host of other issues.

Mayor Dr Sinlavong Khoutphaythoune made an announcement at the second session of the Vientiane People’s Council, which is being held from January 9 – 17.

Mayor Sinlavong stated that improvements to basic infrastructure is a major component of the government’s 8th National Socio-Economic Development Plan.

Dr Sinlavong went on to say that the improvements of roads will ensure road safety, and will help residents enjoy a more attractive place to live.

The road network has required expansion for quite some time, as narrow streets have caused frequent traffic jams. The Mayor mentioned that among other things, authorities needed to better enforce traffic regulations and construction laws within city limits.

In terms of planning, commercial properties have been constructed in areas without parking, which as left residents with no alternative but to park their cars on roadsides or sidewalks, and sometimes blocking smaller streets.

ADB Bus Station Artist Impression
Artist’s Impression of Improved Public Transport in Vientiane Capital

This people’s council session will also see discussion of the government’s strategic development policies for promotion of economic growth, stability, and developing human resources through improvements in the health and education sectors.

Anti-social behavior is also high on the agenda, including issues such as drug abuse and other crimes. Although law enforcement in many districts has improved, there are still may issues that need attention.

Drug abuse will be dealt with through public awareness campaigns that will target at-risk groups.

The people’s council meeting will consider the vision for Vientiane Capital until 2030, and the strategy for up to 2025. It will finalize the budget plans for the next five years, and the five-year plan of the council itself, including the drafting of new laws for administration of the capital city.

Images: ADB

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