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NA Members Want New Law on Chemicals to Be Stricter

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Stipulations in the draft Law on the Management of Chemicals remain weak and will not prevent the continuing unregulated use of the substances throughout the country, NA members have said.

Almost all members of the National Assembly (NA) who participated in the debate on the newly drafted law at the NA session yesterday expressed this concern.

The Ministry of Industry and Commerce introduced the draft to the NA for consideration yesterday with the hope that its approval and promulgation will help the systematic management of chemicals.

The newly drafted law, which contains some 81 articles, will also set out provisions for the importation, exportation, transit, use, production, liquidation or treatment of chemical substances.

Articles 9 to 14 describe the classification and characteristics of chemicals, dividing them into four separate categories.

According to this law, the chemicals in the first category are very highly poisonous and dangerous, potentially having severe effects on health, life, property and the environment.

Those in the second category are also highly poisonous and pose a danger to health, life, property and the environment.

Chemicals in the third category are moderately poisonous and dangerous to health, life, property and the environment.

Meanwhile, chemicals in the fourth category are somewhat poisonous and dangerous to health, life, property and the environment.

The chemicals in the first category will not be permitted for trade and use. They will however be allowed to be used for studies, technological development, protection, prevention, liquidation and for stopping dangers to human and environmental health, or properties.

NA member for Luang Namtha province Ms Kesone Sengyavong said she wanted the level of poison and danger in each category to be determined if there is a measurement or unit for their identification.

Speaking at the debate, NA member for Xieng Khuang province, Mr Vilaysouk Phimmasone reminded the session about the dangers of chemicals and global trends of avoiding the use of such substances.

He gave his view on the draft to the law, which in his opinion appears to leave the door open for the use of most categories of chemicals rather than limiting their proliferation within the country.

Mr Vilaysouk said he wanted chemical substances in the first, second and third categories to be put under the management of the government, not allowing individuals, or legal entities to trade or use chemicals with the exception of cooperation projects between them and the government.

He also reminded the audience about the spreading use of herbicides, insecticides, and even highly toxic substances containing mercury and cyanide for cultivation and gold extraction.

Mr Vilaysouk told the meeting about the situation in his province, where he said the unregulated use of herbicides is causing many people to fall and die from misunderstanding and carelessness.

He asked the drafting sub-committee to make the law designed to limit the spread of chemicals.

The NA members asked the drafting sub-committee to make many points in this law clearer, suggesting that alternatively, specific second legislative regulations should be drafted to give more detailed descriptions to the articles which stipulate the classification and characteristics of chemical substances, and prohibitions, for example.

Source: Vientiane Times

Govt, Int’l Organisations Discuss SDG Strategies

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The government and international organisations with a presence in Laos have held a pre-consultation on the Sustainable Development Goals in preparation for the 2016 Round Table Implementation Meeting to be held from November 24-25 in Vientiane province.

The 2016 Round Table Implementation Meeting (RTIM) SDG Pre-consultation took place in Vientiane on Thursday and was attended by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Thongphane Savanphet, UNDP Resident Representative, Ms Kaarina Immonen, development partners and officials.

The main presentation during the meeting centred on the progress made in integrating the SDGs into the national development agenda, monitoring and statistical frameworks.

The purpose of the pre-consultation was to provide an important and timely platform for all national and international stakeholders to engage in dialogue on how the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) can be accelerated, beyond the ongoing SDGs integration into national plans and systems. It will help generate a common understanding of current conditions, challenges, priorities and the opportunities ahead.

The Round Table Forum serves as a forum for the government to receive feedback from various stakeholders on needs assessments and costing, monitoring, acceleration, institutional arrangements and issue-based partners.

The dialogue between the government and its development partners will help develop key messages to be conveyed by the government and lead development partners at the panel discussion and plenary dialogue during the RTIM2016.

It will also provide an opportunity for the government to launch the Development Finance and Aid Assessment, with its recommendations for effective management of development finance for sustainable development.

Speaking at the meeting, Mr Thongphane Savanphet said the adoption of the 2030 agenda for Sustainable Development last year was a historic milestone for the international community, reflecting the global commitment to eradicating poverty, fighting growing inequality, promoting inclusive and sustained economic growth, addressing a range of social needs and leaving no one behind.

He noted that it also took into account different national realities, capacities and levels of development and shows respect for national policies and priorities.

“I do believe that the 17 Sustainable Development Goals provide the blueprint for the international cooperation and development of countries around the world over the years to come,” Mr Thongphane said.

It is important to recognise that some goals and targets would be more applicable to the Lao PDR’s national circumstances than others, thus requiring more focus and priority, he added.

“Like the integration of the MDGs into our National Socio-Economic Development Plans over the past decade, we have mainstreamed the relevant SDG goals and targets into our eighth Five-Year National Socio-Economic Development Pl an (2016-2020), ten year socio-economic Development Strategy (2016-2025) and the Vision 2030.”

“In addition, given the reality on the ground, the Lao government has attached great importance to UXO clearance. Building on the progress made in the implementation of our country-specific MDG9 on reducing UXO impact adopted in 2010, the Lao government launched the national Sustainable Development Goal 18 entitled ‘Lives Safe from UXO’ on September 7, 2016 together with the United Nations.”

Source: Vientiane Times

Germany Lends Support to Sustainable, Inclusive Development

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The government of Germany will provide more than 407 billion kip (45.8 million euros) to support development in Laos in 2016-2017 in line with their commitment to sustainable growth.

A grant agreement on negotiations for development cooperation between the two parties was signed yesterday by the Head of the China, East Asia, Laos and Cambodia Division, Mr Klaus Supp, and Laos’ Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment, Dr Kikeo Chanthaboury.

This agreement on the amount of new commitments and core projects and programmes was reached during the Lao-German intergovernmental negotiations held in Vientiane from November 9-10.

Of the total funding, 18.8 million euros will be used for financial cooperation and 27 million euros for technical cooperation.

The funds come from the German government through the Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development.

Projects will be implemented through the main German implementing agencies Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit, German Development Bank (KfW), and the BGR institute, with a focus on sustainable economic development, rural development and ASEAN integration.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Dr Kikeo thanked the German government for the longstanding commitment to support Laos in its effort to graduate from Least Developed Country status by 2020.

“Our government highly values and appreciates the support and assistance from Germany in various areas of development in Laos and especially for improving the living standards of all Lao people across the country,” Dr Kikeo said.

Mr Supp said “With our very strong commitment to the development partnership with Laos, we want to assist in bringing the benefits of growth to as many people as possible.”

German support has been aligned with the 8th National Socio-Economic Development Plan and European Joint Programming. The right balance between using and preserving natural resources is essential for sustainable development in Laos.

“Both sides agree that better governance to help Laos is a key factor for the development of the country,” Mr Supp said.

The German delegation thanked the Lao government for entrusting Germany with the co-chairs of the sector working groups dealing with natural resources/environment and trade/private sector development.

Both sides highlighted that they look forward to continuing the fruitful cooperation in mutual trust and good partnership for the upcoming years.

Yesterday’s signing ceremony was witnessed by German Ambassador to Laos, Mr Michael Grau in the presence of senior officials and representatives from both parties.

Source: Vientiane Times

First Lao ICT Expo to Be Held in Dec

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The 1st International Lao ICT Expo will be held in Vientiane Capital from 14-18 December at the Km-6 National Convention Centre.

“The ICT Expo 2016 will promote telecom service providers and ICT innovation entrepreneurs by giving them an opportunity to display and sell their products,” Minister of Post and Telecommunications Mr Thansamay Kommasith said at a press conference on November 9.

This will be the biggest exhibition of the year displaying technology and telecommunication equipment, and exchanging the information and experiences in the development of the ICT sector.

The EXPO expects to draw more than 120 exhibitors of telecommunications operators, ICT, and accessory vendors including high-speed internet, smartphones, computers, notebooks and ICT materials, Mr Thansamay said.

During the expo, there will be a concert performed by Lao, Thai and international singers, a Lao ICT super vote model, an ICT expert competition, a super discount for smartphones and a lucky draw.

 

Source: KPL

Laos, Vietnam Armies Share Security Defence Experiences

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Deputy Head of the General Political Department of the People’s Army Le Hien Van met with Bunlieng Sengphachian, Head of the Lao respective body’s inner security department in Hanoi on November 8.

Mr Van acknowledged the progress of bilateral defence cooperation, saying its effective outcomes have helped boost mutual understanding and strengthened the military forces of the two countries.
He also lauded results of a recent meeting between his agency’s military security department and the Lao inner security department, expecting both sides to work closely together in the coming time.
Agreeing with his host, the guest considered the working session with Vietnam’s military security department a valuable experience for his agency to fulfil its duties, according to Vietnam News Agency.

Source: KPL

Six Killed in UXO-related Accidents This Year

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Some 40 people have been injured and six fatalities recorded in UXO-related accidents so far this year, according to a report from the National Regulatory Authority (NRA) for UXO/Mine Action in Laos.

The information was contained in a report presented at the UXO Working Group Meeting 2016 in Vientiane on Wednesday which was attended by Minister of Labour and Social Welfare Dr Khampheng Saysompheng, US Ambassador to Laos, Ms Rena Bitter, UNDP Resident Representative Ms Kaarina Immonen, NRA Director General Mr Phoukhieo Chanthasomboun, and other officials.

According to the NRA report, so far this year there have been 24 UXO-related accidents in which 40 people sustained injuries and six deaths had been reported (according to monthly progress data for the first nine months of the year).

Explosions typically occur during the transport, dismantling or burning of UXO, or while villagers are working in their fields.

In the first nine months of 2016, a total of 3,255 hectares of land was cleared. This included 2,214 hectares of agricultural land and 1,011 of development land. In the same period, more than 86,000 UXO items were destroyed, of which more than 70,000 were bombies.

Non-technical surveys were completed in 735 villages in 2016 representing 92 percent of the planned annual target within the sector’s five year plan. Technical surveys covered 12,993 hectares, establishing 8,138 hectares of Confirmed Hazardous Area. There are now a total of 29,103 hectares of Confirmed Hazardous Area.

The NRA has also set a target to reduce the number of UXO casualties to less than 40 a year and to provide assistance to at least 1,500 UXO victims from 2016-2020.

Risk education activities have been conducted in nine provinces across the country. As a result, the number of UXO casualties has steadily reduced from 119 in 2010 to 45 people in 2014.

In addition, UXO risk education will be included in the education curriculum, especially in primary and secondary schools.

Medical rehabilitation and work opportunities will be provided to UXO survivors, targeting 1,500 people by 2020.

One of the major challenges for the government is sourcing funding for clearance operations. NRA must continue to mobilise funds because the budget allocated to victim assistance is very limited at present.

However, during the ASEAN Summits in September the UXO sector announced contributions from the United States of US$90 million and US$7.2 million from New Zealand for clearance efforts and to assist UXO victims.

During the Indochina War from 1964-73 about three million tonnes of UXO were dropped on Lao territory, including about 270 million sub-munitions from cluster bombs and about four million aircraft bombs. Tests in the United States have found that these types of cluster munitions can have a failure rate of up to 30 percent. This means that land remains contaminated in Laos. The provinces in which contamination can be found constitute a total of 87 thousand square kilometres of the country’s land.

 

Source: Vientiane Times

Laos, Vietnam Extend Partnership to Combat Illegal Logging, Poaching

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Laos and Vietnam are furthering their cooperation with regard to tackling illegal logging and poaching, which continue to occur along their shared border.

Director General of the Department of Forest Inspection under the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, Mr Khamphout Phandanouvong, told Vientiane Times on Wednesday that the Lao and Vietnamese governments had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on forest protection that encompasses both illegal logging and illicit products made from wild animals.

The MoU will be ratified by Lao and Vietnamese provinces that share a border. The memorandum runs for three years, from 2017 to 2020.

“So far, Huaphan, Borikhamxay, Khammuan and Attapeu provinces have signed the agreement with their respective Vietnamese neighbours to guard against the export of illegally procured timber and animal life,” Mr Khamphout said.

Xekong and Saravan provinces have yet to sign the memorandum.

Laos and Vietnam are still implementing the previous memorandum which was signed in 2012 and ends in 2017.

Mr Khamphout said much progress had been made against illegal operations in the border area since the ratification of the memorandum in 2012.

In the past, the two countries did not directly cooperate with each other on the issue of illegal timber and wildlife exports.

A drop in the export of products illegally sourced from forests resulted from the cooperation of the two countries after the signing of the first memorandum.

Attapeu province in Laos and Kon Tum province in Vientiane signed the second MoU in Vietnam on October 19. The two provinces will cooperate closely on exchanging information and intelligence related to the prevention and elimination of illegal logging and poaching in their border area.

Each party also agreed to intensify strict monitoring of the importand export of timber and wildlife along their border.

The new MoU includes several provisions that improve upon the previous one. A cooperative awareness- raising campaign will be carried out to educate people living in the border area about the importance of protecting natural resources and conserving biodiversity.

The awareness campaign targets these groups because they often either participate in illegal activities or have valuable intelligence concerning perpetrators.

The increased cooperation will also include additional training for military personnel, police and customs officers along the border in addition to direct cooperation on handling cases.

 

Source: Vientiane Times

Project to Boost Cookstove Supply Chain through Revolving Fund

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Producers of improved, greener cookstoves in the Lao PDR often encounter challenges in securing capital to run their businesses.

According to the SNV Netherlands Development Organisation Laos office, many banks are unfamiliar with the product and seem to be uninterested in providing loans as the average amount is too small – sometimes only about US$500.

If producers have no money for labour or to buy raw materials such as metal buckets, then production halts. Retailers on their part are afraid of taking the financial risk of pre-investing in a new product and in turn fewer improved cookstoves end up in shops meaning that customers and end users lack access to improved cookstoves, which keeps the demand low and affects the income of producers.

The Improved Cookstoves Programme (ICS), implemented by SNV Netherlands Development Organisation, Oxfam, and The Association for Rural Mobilisation and Improvement (ARMI), and funded by the European Union (EU) Switch Asia Programme, seeks to help Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) stove producers to sustainably produce high quality ICS.

In recognition of this, SNV set up a revolving fund of US$10,000 to frontload costs of production and sales of improved cookstoves that would have been constrained by cash flow challenges.

While only producers can borrow money from the fund, it has benefits along the entire supply chain. Producers, with the availability of the working capital, are able to continue production and have the flexibility to sell improved cookstoves on consignment to retailers.

Retailers, in turn, stock their shops and shelves with Improved Cookstoves, increasing access and awareness for end users, who then reap the benefits of a more energy- and time-efficient stove.

Nine producers in Savannakhet and Champassak provinces and the capital Vientiane are making use of this facility with 50 short-term loans already having revolved over the past 12 months.

Thus far, this fund has contributed to 9,650 cookstoves that otherwise may not been made due to cash constraints.

An important benefit is that producers have learnt to better plan and manage their cash flow by distinguishing between working capital’ and private money. This has increased the resilience of their businesses, making them less susceptible to unexpected financial shocks and has helped to ensure a more balanced cash flow and income level.

A bucket producer in Phonsykhai village in Champassak province, Mrs Syfong said, In the past, cookstove producers were often unable to pay for the metal buckets upfront and would ask to pay later.

But now that the ICS producers are able to borrow money from the revolving fund, they are able to buy buckets for their cookstoves outright.

Mr Bounthieng, one of the programme’s star producers, who on average produces 500-600 cookstoves per month, noted, with the money from the revolving fund, I am able to buy raw materials more easily. I’m even able to buy raw materials in bulk during the dry season when they are cheaper, which allows me to lower my production costs for larger profits.

The ARMI, which is managing the fund, has seen a gradual uptake among producers. Producers were initially hesitant because they feared being in debt. However, as more producers are enrolling, it’s becoming more apparent that the fund helps them increase their production and eventually their income, says Khamleth Sengsoulichanh, improved cookstoves programme manager at ARMI.

We hope that with the fund, producers are able to improve their business on their own and will no longer need the fund but rather manage their capital wisely.

 

Source: Vientiane Times

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