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Switzerland Gives Further Boost to Poverty Reduction Fund

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Switzerland has agreed to contribute US$18 million to help Laos reduce poverty and achieve the targets set in the National Socio-Economic Plan.

A grant agreement for the funding was signed recently by the Director of Cooperation for the Mekong Region of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), Mr Tim Enderlin, and Deputy Minister of Finance, Ms Thipphakone Chanthavongsa.

The grant assistance was provided through the Poverty Reduction Fund (PRF) Phase 3 (2017-2020) and will be used to improve access to basic services for the country’s poorest communities, according to the SDC.

It is envisaged that the overall goal of the Poverty Reduction Fund will be achieved through inclusive community level and local development processes with an emphasis on ensuring sustainability.

The main objectives of the Fund are to improve the delivery of public services at the village level in remote upland areas, including providing access to health and education facilities, along with safe and reliable water for consumption and irrigation.

Other objectives are to strengthen citizen engagement in local development and encourage the adoption of responsive and accountable participatory planning, financing and implementation approaches for service delivery.

The project is designed to increase participation within communities, in particular among women and people belonging to certain ethnic groups, in local development processes. It operates in 1,820 villages in 43 districts of Huaphan, Xieng Khuang, Luang Namtha, Luang Prabang, Oudomxay, Phongsaly, Savannakhet, Xekong, Attapeu and Saravan provinces where the incidence of poverty is high.

Each village selected for PRF assistance will receive a financial contribution of between US$35,000-50,000 a year to support their community development priorities.

The Fund will also continue to develop the capacity of local authorities to plan, implement and monitor local development processes in partnership with the local population.

Since 2002, the PRF, with the support of the World Bank, has established itself as the Lao government’s main vehicle to reduce rural poverty and provide public infrastructure in rural areas through participatory processes.

The PRF is currently the largest community-driven development project in Laos with a total amount of about US$80 million, co-financed by the World Bank, Australia (DFAT), Switzerland (SDC), and the government of Laos.

Since 2008, Switzerland has contributed a total of about US$25 million to the budget of the Poverty Reduction Fund.

This contribution has allowed the Fund to expand its activities to new districts, to enhance its work to help the poorest people, and to promote the value of strong community participation in local development processes at the community and local and national levels.

By renewing Switzerland’s support, the PRF can expect to obtain meaningful development results on a large scale, to contribute to the scaling up of the Fund’s approaches into local government operations and ultimately support Laos’ effort to graduate from Least Developed Country status.

 

Source: Vientiane Times

Laos, China Cooperate on Media Development

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The Lao and Chinese governments have agreed to further cooperate on media development to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the establishment of China Radio International, broadcast in Laos on FM 93Mhz.

The two countries have agreed to partner in various projects including the Lao National Digital Radio and Television Network Project based on Digital Terrestrial Multimedia Broadcasting (DTMB).

The project is scheduled to gain pace from 2017-2019 based on the success of a trial that revealed good coverage and operation of a DTMB-based digital television network in Vientiane and the provinces of Savannakhet, Champassak and Luang Prabang.

The digitisation of radio and television will enable most people in Laos to listen to digital radio programmes and watch digitally transmitted television programmes. The project will speed up the development of the national DTMB wireless digital network and information provision, improve the management and operation of the network, increase audience ratings and enhance the quality of digital television programmes.

Representatives of Laos and China yesterday signed an agreement on several Laos-China media projects, during an event in Vientiane to mark the 10th anniversary of China Radio International.

A member of the Politburo of the Communist Party of China and Head of the Propaganda Department of the Central Committee, Mr Liu Qibao; Laos’ Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism, Prof. Dr Bosengkham Vongdara; and Head of the Propaganda and Training Board of the Party Central Committee, Prof. Dr Kikeo Khaikhamphithoun attended the ceremony.

The Lao National Digital Radio and Television Network Project agreement was inked by Deputy Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism Mr Savankhone Razmountry and Deputy Director of the Yunnan Radio and Television Station Mr Yulei.

Under the agreement, Yunnan digital media is entrusted by Laos’ Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism to build a national broadcast system with television coverage in all 18 provinces. This will enable state-run television stations to enhance the capacity of independent programme production.

China Radio International began broadcasting in Laos in 2006 and has since introduced a radio channel and various forms of print and online media.

 

Source: Vientiane Times

BCEL-KT: Trade Summary (Dec 21, 2016)

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Trade summary

Lao stock index went down 2.38% or 24.54 points to 1,050.20 points on Wednesday, after closing unchanged for 2-day. As EDL-Gen decreased by 150 kip to finish at 4,950 kip, with trading volume of total 11,900 shares matched, while others were not matched. Market trading turnover worth around 59 million kip.

 

Market closing day

We would like to notify its market closing days on the occasion of ending the year 2016 and the beginning of the year 2017 as follow:

– 28 – 30 December 2016: Last 3 Business Days
– 02 January 2017: Compensate for New Year’s Day

LSX will resume to normal operation on 03-Jan-2017

VangVieng Music Festival 2 Sets Out To Make Entertainment History

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Laotian Times
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Those unlucky people who missed the Vangvieng Music Fest organized by Samart Event Organizer last week will get the chance to attend the Vangvieng Music Festival 2 hosted by Lao Bangfai and Lao Pride Records this weekend.

Taking place on December 23-24 at the Lom Cave in Vangvieng, everyone will get the chance to say goodbye to 2016 with a huge bang.

The festival features live bands and DJs from Laos and abroad.

Lao Bangfai Prime Association representative, Anousa Phothisan, said the festival will host Lao bands such as Leprosy, L.O.G., Neung Super One, and Thai bands such as Slot Machine and Tattoo Colour. Other acts include DJs and bands from beyond the Southeast Asian region.

Tickets are on sale for 70,000 kip at branches of Amazon Café and True Coffee.

Anousa said his team will provide an all new lighting system and special effects display on stage to max out the party atmosphere.

He expects the audience to exceed last year’s numbers and said he was confident the festival would be a boon for tourists visiting the area.

Other exciting entertainment activities provided by Lao Bangfai and Lao Pride Records are also on the schedule to make this festival an unforgettable one.

Major sponsors include Lao Brewery Company (Beerlao), Spy Wine Cooler, and other media partners.

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Source: Vientiane Times

Prime Minister Sisoulith Halts Vientiane Water Price Increase

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Laotian Times
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After a vocal public backlash against the planned fee increase of water announced by the Vientiane Water Supply Company, the Prime Minister’s Office has issued an order to stop the price increase that had been set for the beginning of 2017.

PM Takes Concerns of People Seriously

The PMO (Prime Minister’s Office) has taken the concerns of the people into serious consideration and has requested that the price hike be temporarily halted until a time deemed more appropriate. The order was issued to the Vientiane Administration Office, which subsequently relayed the directive to the Water Supply Company of Vientiane.

Money Needed for Supply Infrastructure

While many local residents are praising the fee suspension, a number of experts are of the opinion that the increase may perhaps be justified to reinvest in supply infrastructure.

Cooperation Project to Update Lao Land Management

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Land management across the country will become faster and more transparent after the Lao Land Management System and Modernisation Project Cooperation between Laos and China was approved.

A Memorandum of Understanding on the project was signed in Vientiane last week between the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment’s Land Management Department’s Director General, Mr Vongduan Vongsiharath, and Shanghai Huace Navigation Technology Ltd (CHC Navigation) CEO, Mr George Zhao.

Witnessing the signing were UniqTek Company Managing Director Mr Chandavong Southitham, Financial Department Director General Mr Siphandone Sihavong and Planning and Cooperation Department Director General Mr Xaynakhone Inthavong, along with participating ministry officials and company representatives.

The main project objective is to improve land management in Laos using the latest technology and equipment, and to prepare the project’s basic infrastructure for implementation.

It would also enhance human resource development, permanent land management stations or Continuously Operating Reference Stations (CORS) and other cooperation for project development, Mr Vongduan said.

The MoU will be current for one year then a project proposal will be put to the government for consideration.

The overall cooperation project will run for five years when the government approves its implementation, he explained.

CHC was fortunate to have the opportunity to make a contribution to Laos’ development and construction, and to share the benefits of that development, Mr Zhao said.

CHC is a leading company that researches and manufactures high-quality GPS/Beidou receiver systems. Altogether we have 10 product lines and 153 application solutions. We will pass on our extensive experience, first-class technology, plus excellent support and service to our partners, he said.

CHC will also be a bridge between Laos and China as we would like to seek and supply more resources from China, including financing and capital, Mr Zhao said.

The project is a good start and we could have more projects to undertake together and more opportunities to closely cooperate with each other in the future, he added.

The project would help improve land management systems so they’ll be up to date, faster and increase transparency for the public and government in order to contribute to socio-economic development, Mr Chandavong said.

The UniqTek Company had cooperated with the Land Management Department for two years in equipment supply, training, technical assistance and closely followed land surveying in the field, he said.

After the department trialled equipment supplied by the company, it showed that it was faster and more effective.

He strong believed the MoU would offer new equipment and better cooperation in land management assisting the issuing of land titles along with infrastructure development, technical training and human resource development through experience exchange between Laos and China.

On the same occasion, UniqTek Company handed over CORS equipment and computer servers worth 219 million kip to the Land Management Department.

Source: Vientiane Times

Phu Bia Mining Celebrates Long-Serving Employees

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Phu Bia Mining (PBM) has announced that 52 of its employees have achieved a Long Service Award for 10 years continuous service to the company.

The employees, many of whom are Lao-national, including eight female employees, were honoured at an awards ceremony at PBM’s Phu Kham Copper-Gold Operation on 8 December 2016.

At the awards ceremony in recognition of their service to PBM, each employee was presented a certificate of appreciation and a gold necklace from the Managing Director of PBM’s parent company, PanAust Limited, Dr Fred Hess and Phu Bia Mining General Managers, David Reid and Richard Taylor.

Now in its second year, PBM’s Long Service Award initiative recognises employees who have been instrumental to the company’s ongoing success. Those who received awards this year were from a number of departments across the company’s operations including: commercial, human resources and training, logistics, mobile and fixed-plant maintenance, mining, processing, and transactional services.

Reflecting on those employees who received a Long Service Award this year, PBM Chairman, Mr Chanpheng Bounnaphol said that their contribution to the company cannot be understated.

“One of the key strengths of our company is our people. Together this year, we celebrated the wealth of experience and expertise that 52 of our long-serving, devoted employees have brought to the company. Between them they have worked more than 30,000 hours over the past 10 years,” Mr Bounnaphol said.

 

Source: Vientiane Times

Fortnight of Fatalities as Over 50 Killed on Nation’s Roads

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Over 50 people were killed in road accidents over two weeks around the country with many more sustaining injuries, according to the Traffic Police Department.

The Traffic Police Department from the Ministry of Public Security reported that from December 5-18 there were 245 road accidents involving more than 400 people with the damage bill hitting over 3 billion kip.

In those incidents, 55 people were killed, 61 were left in a critical condition, 153 were seriously injured and 163 were slightly injured.

In the collisions, 19 vehicles were written off, 203 vehicles sustained moderate damage and 205 vehicles sustained minor damage.

Most of the accidents occurred as a result of drunken driving and speeding with the majority taking place in the evening and at night.

The most serious accidents occurred last week. In one incident on Friday morning, one person was killed and three people sustained injuries after two motorbikes were involved in a collision in Nongda village, Sikhottabong district, Vientiane.

A motorcyclist was also killed in Salakham village, Hadxaifong district, Vientiane, when his bike collided with a pickup truck.

Another incident occurred in Nongbeuk village, Sikhottabong district, when a van lost control and ran into a house, injuring four people.

Another dramatic incident involved a bus losing control and overturning at Km 16 in Xaythany district resulted in seven people sustaining moderate injuries.

Source: Vientiane Times

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