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Lao Samsung Electronics Partners with WFP to Assist Deaf Students

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Laotian Times
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Lao Samsung Electronics Partners with WFP to Assist Deaf Students

Lao Samsung Electronics in cooperation with the World Food Program has created educational opportunities for deaf and speech-impaired students, equitable with the general public, through technology.

Because education and nutrition are important for everyone in society and everyone has the right to access these basic necessities, including the more than 90 students with speech and hearing problems at the Capital Special School.

Lao Samsung Electronics Sole Co., Ltd. joined the World Food Program of the Lao PDR to develop the Employee Volunteer Program on the morning of October 17, 2019. Employees from Lao Samsung Electronics, the World Food Program, and from distribution representatives of Samsung, such as LTH, Lao AC Telecom, and SCE, will involve deaf and speech impaired students in activities. These activities will include teaching sign language through an app in the Samsung Tablet, provision of books to the library and cooking competitions.

Thus far, Lao Samsung Electronics has developed a library for the school and donated more than 400 textbooks to increase learning opportunities for the students.

In addition to this, Lao Samsung Electronics has given six Samsung Tablets and the HANDME app (created by Lao people and further developed by Bizgital) to the school to aid the teachers in teaching sign language to the students.

At the same time, for the purpose of promoting nutrition, the World Food Program has provided assistance in the form of the School Meal Program, which provides three meals a day to the students. Each meal consists of 300 grams of rice, 120 grams of soy beans, 30 grams of vegetable oils, and 90 grams of canned fish. This program was established in 2018.

Samsung representatives, such as LTH, also donated luggage, backpacks, and athletic wear tops to the students of the school. SCE, or the Xok Xai Group Company, donated 20 cases of drinking water to the school.

During this volunteer experience, all of the volunteers learned a great deal about each other, especially the lives of students with hearing and speech disabilities who experience many social issues, such as with communicating with the outside world.

LOCA, Lanexang Insurance Join Hands for Better Protection Standard

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Laotian Times
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LOCA, Lanexang Insurance Join Hands for Better Protection Standard

Laos’s first ride-hailing service LOCA has signed a cooperative agreement with Vientiane-based insurance firm Lanexang Assurance Public Company in a move to enhance the protection standard of the service.

With the agreement, two companies will start providing standard insurance coverage for LOCA service, while exploring healthcare for its drivers.

“This cooperation will be the initiative to set a new standard for passenger transportation. LOCA wants to lift this standard to enhance public awareness about [the importance] of the protection when they are using public transportation service,” said LOCA founder Mr. Souliyo Vongdala.

Lanexang’s General Director Mr. Do Dang Khang also said this cooperation is only a small beginning, and the two firms will explore opportunities for further cooperation.

LOCA currently has more than 300 service vehicles, over 16,000 registered passengers. Its passengers have given the service a 4.87 satisfaction score out of a total of 5 so far, according to the company.

Lanexang is one of the leading insurance firms in Laos with more than 300 dealerships across the country.

Nine Border Checkpoints to Discontinue Visa On Arrival Services

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Laotian Times
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Laos visa

According to a notice issued by the Prime Minister’s Office on Wednesday, nine of Laos’s border checkpoints will discontinue providing visa on arrival services to tourists.

The notice orders the closure of visa on arrival units at nine border checkpoints:

– Pang Hok (Phongsaly Province) bordering Vietnam

– Nam Soy (Huaphanh Province) bordering Vietnam

– Nam Kan (Xieng Khouang Province) bordering Vietnam

– Nam Ngeun (Xayaboury Province) bordering Thailand

– Nam Heuang (Xayaboury Province) bordering Thailand

– Nam Phao (Khammouane Province) bordering Vietnam

– Na Phao (Khammouane Province) bordering Vietnam

– Savannakhet International Airport

– Phou Keua (Attapeu Province) bordering Vietnam

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been tasked with coordinating the closure of the visa units and is to ensure that no disruptions are caused at border checkpoints.

Laos launched an e-visa service earlier this year, but so far this is only available for use at three checkpoints; Wattay International Airport, The First Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge, and Luang Prabang International Airport.

Chinese Embassy, Lao Police Deport 137 Scammers

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Laotian Times
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Chinese Embassy, Lao Police Deport 137 Scammers
Chinese Embassy, Lao Police deport 137 scammers.

The Chinese Embassy to Laos has urged Lao people to be wary of groups of Chinese scammers after the deportation of 137 Chinese nationals on Tuesday.

Some 137 Chinese nationals were arrested and deported back to China on Tuesday after involvement in a “boiler room” type call center operation.

Chinese officials chartered two Lao Airlines planes at Wattay Airport to repatriate the fraudsters, in cooperation with Lao officers from the Foreigner Control Department, General Department of Police, under the Ministry of Public Security.

According to a warning issued by the Chinese Embassy, the most recent group of Chinese scammers to have infiltrated Lao society have been found offering food or cigarettes laced with sleep-inducing drugs. Victims report awakening to find their belongings and valuables stolen.

The embassy warns that all residents of Laos should exercise caution, and should not accept any gifts from strangers.

Chinese residents and visitors to Laos have been making headlines recently, after graffiti in Chinese language was found on several sacred sites in Luang Prabang, and a group of Chinese nationals beat a Lao motorist when a traffic disagreement spiraled out of control.

Lao Asean Leasing (LALCO) Listed on Lao Securities Exchange

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Laotian Times
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Lao Asean Leasing (LALCO) Listed on Lao Securities Exchange

The Lao Securities Exchange (LSX) has launched the trading of the shares of Lao Asean Leasing Public Company (LALCO), marking the 11th company registered on the bourse.

LALCO’s main business is to provide a credit line for individual and corporate customers to buy motorcycles and cars. The company currently operates branches in seven provinces, namely Houaphan, Xieng Khouang, Luang Prabang, Bolikhamxay, Savannakhet, Champasack and Salavanh.

On October 10, the first day of trading, the company shares were traded at LAK 3,000 (USD 0.34) per share, rising by LAK 300 from LAK 2,700 per share when it was announced for public booking early this month, Lao News Agency (KPL) reported.

KPL quoted LALCO Director-General Tomofumi Suematsu as saying that all 60.3 million shares were fully booked on the first of three days the company offered for booking.

Early last month the company announced to the public booking opportunities for the initial public offering (IPO) after its application was approved in August by the LSX and the Lao Securities Commission Office.

LALCO is expected to use the fund from selling shares to expand its leasing business in Vientiane Capital and all provinces nationwide.

Laos Falls to 113rd Place in Global Competitiveness Ranking

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Laotian Times
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Laos Falls to 113rd Place in Global Competitiveness Ranking

Laos has slipped down to a ranking of 113rd out of 141 surveyed countries in the annual Global Competitiveness Report 2019, while several neighboring countries, including Vietnam, climbed up on the list thanks to improvements in economic and business activities.

The report, which is compiled by the World Economic Forum, contains the Global Competitiveness Index that integrates the macroeconomic and the micro/business aspects of competitiveness into a single index.

It also measures the set of institutions, policies, and factors that set the sustainable current and medium-term levels of economic prosperity to analyze how productively a country uses available resources.

The index is organized into 12 pillars: Institutions; Infrastructure; ICT adoption; Macroeconomic stability; Health; Skills; Product market; Labor market; Financial system; Market size; Business dynamism; and Innovation capability.

Laos achieved its best score in the “Infrastructure” pillar with the ranking at 93rd place. In particular, Laos performed well in the “transport infrastructure” section that measures the quality, connectivity, and efficiency of roads, railroads, liner shipping, and airports, although it still lags behind its peers in the Asia Pacific region.

The country saw its worst score from the “Business Dynamism” pillar that measures the quality of a country’s overall business networks and the quality of individual firms’ operations and strategies. Laos ranked 137th in this pillar.

Within the pillar, the country ranked 140th in the “time to start a business” section, which was measured based on the number of days taken to begin businesses. The 141st place went to Venezuela.

Led by Singapore, East Asia and the Pacific region is the most competitive in the world, followed by Europe and North America, according to the report. Vietnam, in particular, is the country whose score improves the most globally from 77th place last year to 67th spot.

Vietnam performed well in the three pillars, namely “Health,” “Macro-economic Stability” and “Market Size”.

H5N6 Avian Flu Detected in Oudomxay Province, Laos

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Laotian Times
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H5N6 Avian Flu Detected in Oudomxay Province, Laos

The Oudomxay Department of Agriculture and Forestry has issued a notice stating that authorities have detected the H5N6 avian flu virus in ducks sold at a market in Xay District.

On October 8, a team from the Department of Livestock and Fisheries, together with officials from Xay District, collected 61 sample ducks and chickens from a market in Tin Village, Xay Province. The animals were tested in a laboratory and proved positive for the H5N6 virus.

Authorities said some 300-400 ducks and chickens were sourced from a neighboring country and imported through the international border checkpoint at Bokeo, before being sent to the market in Oudomxay for sale.

The H5N6 virus, known as bird flu or avian flu, is a subtype of the species Influenza A virus. It mainly affects birds, although there have been cases of the virus occurring in humans.

Oudomxay provincial authorities are prohibiting the import of ducks or chickens from any of the surrounding provinces or from neighboring countries until further notice.

Meanwhile, the Phongsaly Department of Industry and Commerce has issued a notice to its district-level offices, instructing them to closely monitor the import and sale of poultry across the province, prohibiting the sale and consumption of poultry in affected areas.

Of the four known cases of H5N6 occurring in humans, three were fatal.

Laos’s Major Telecom Operators Gear Up for 5G Network

By
Laotian Times
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Lao Telecom 5G System

Laos is gearing up to roll out a 5G network, with the country’s two leading telecom operators, Lao Telecom and Unitel, testing or planning to test such technology prior to commencing operations.

5G is the new fifth-generation cellular network technology, which is said to offer speeds 100 times faster than 4G. It is primarily used for smartphones and other similar devices. 5G is also expected to support new applications like remote medical procedures and autonomous driving.

Lao Telecom

State-owned Lao Telecom announced on October 8 that it began trialing its 5G system, becoming the first player in Laos to do so.

“This test of 5G technology is a significant step for the company, as well as users, who are keen to upgrade and be on a par with international standards,” said the company’s Deputy General Director, Mr Souphon Chanthavixay, as quoted by Vientiane Times.

Lao Telecom is the first integrated telecommunications provider in Laos. Since 1996, the company has offered wire-line and wireless services to 3.5 million people across the country.

In 2011, the company officially launched 4G network, becoming the first company to provide the system in the country and the second nation to do so in Southeast Asia.

The company also began operating 4.5G services in Vientiane at the beginning of 2017 and then expanded services to the provinces.

Unitel

Vietnam’s Viettel has also announced that it will test its 5G broadcast in Laos in the fourth quarter through its Laos subsidiary, Unitel.

Unitel has been active in Laos for 13 years and is now the biggest network operator in the country with over 3 million subscribers, which accounts for 56 percent of the country’s telecom market, the company said in a statement on October 8.

Viettel tested its 5G network in Cambodia and Myanmar in July and August, respectively, through its local subsidiaries.

Government’s effort

The Lao government has beefed up its efforts to speed up the introduction of 5G technology, with a view that technology is an important tool to drive socio-economic development and integrate with regional and international standards.

The Department of Radio Frequency under the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications, for instance, held discussions in May regarding frequency policy, network equipment and terminal equipment needs for the service.

At that time, Director General of the department, Mr Xayluxa Insisiengmay, said one of the key factors in determining whether Laos would develop a 5G network was market demand, and the ministry would be ready to support its provision if the market demands the service.

He added that the ministry was also considering the potential benefits of 5G for the education, health and agriculture sectors.

Several of ASEAN countries, including Vietnam and Thailand, have begun unofficial provision of 5G services in big cities. Thailand, for example, expects the full commercial operation of 5G services to begin next year, while Vietnam also plans to launch such service commercially next year.

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