Beer Drinkers Post-Halloween Hangover Risk Reduced as Prices Rise in Laos

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October 31, 2018

Beer price on rise — Lao Brewery Company, producer of Beerlao, announces price rises from October 29 to cover input costs, inflationary pressures.

Beer drinkers beware this Halloween!

Lao Brewery Company announced wholesale price increases to retailers of its flagship beverage Beerlao on Monday, October 29.

Suppliers and retailers were notified of the price increases for the popular beverage being implemented to offset higher production and distribution costs, according to the company’s public statement to its retail customers and distributors.

Lao Brewing Company announces price rises. — BeerLao price increases announced from October 29, 2018.

The noticed informed suppliers:

As inflation and production costs continue to rise, Beerlao has issued a new wholesale price, which limits the price of beer.

All customers and agents must comply strictly with the prices set to ensure that there is no impact on customers and consumers in the market.

Inflation pressures as currency, fuel oil price pressures bite manufacturers, distributors, consumers of products (including beer)

As usual, price rises in popular commodities can leave a bitter taste.

The impact is usually felt most by those folks persevering on the lower end of the socio-economic spectrum, while those consumers at the more prosperous demographics with a taste for the ever-popular brew should hardly be discouraged.

Price rises may be unlikely to deter many committed drinkers in either camp.

Regardless, those who enjoy the famed beverage can expect to pay more, particularly if retailers pass on the rises in the form of pricier (and less regulated) individual bottle or draft beer sales at the counter.

Price rises announced included:

Crates of Beerlao 640ml up from 90,000 kip to 93,000 kip per unit. Retail sale price of 108,000 kip.

Boxes of Beerlao 640ml up from 94,000 Kip to 97,000 Kip. Retail sale price of 103,000 Kip.

Boxes of Beerlao 330 ml bottles from 105,000 Kip to 115,000 Kip. Retail sale price of 125,000 Kip.

Boxes of Dark Lager Beerlao 330 ml bottles from 135,000 kip to 145,000 kip. Retail sale price of 155,000 kip.

Crates of Lane Xang Beer 640 ml up from 55,000 kip to 60,000 kip. Retail sale price of 75,000 kip.

Draft Beerlao rises from 11,000 kip per litre to 11,500 kip per litre. (Retail price not specified.)

Inequality, Disasters Risks to Development as Progress Pushed in Laos: UNDP

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October 30, 2018

Tackling inequalities essential to Laos' Least Developed Country graduation. — Tackling inequalities essential to Laos' Least Developed Country graduation says UNDP.

Inequality, disaster risk key factors to overcome in Laos’ aspiration to shed Least Developed Country status by the revised target of 2024, says UNDP.

“Graduation from LDC status can happen by improving the education levels among our people who are healthy, live in a sustainable manner and have the creativity that fuels the innovation process and inclusive economic growth”.

– Dr Kikeo Chanthaboury, Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment.

“The risk that unpredictable occurrences like natural disasters impact existing development gains is high. This pertains even to a high growth rate economy like Lao PDR”

– UNDP Deputy Resident Representative, Mr Balasubramaniam Murali.

Drivers of fancy sports cars in the latest fashion accessories rolling smoothly into the gated garages of elaborately-domed domiciles.

Thatched roofed bamboo shacks dwellers face long walks to everywhere on foot in flip-flops or perhaps a ride on the back of a tractor.

With a lot more in between, Laos’ certainly displays a wide range when it comes to material wealth.

While the gap in terms of goods is too not hard to spot in Laos, economic inequality also plays out critically in access to services including health and education.

The cumulative impact of inequality affects the opportunities available for the less prosperous in Laos.

Inequality is a key factor to overcome in Laos’ aspiration to shed its Least Developed Country Status by the revised target of 2024.

The country’s capacity to graduate from this status depends on the results of the efforts are being made to tackle these issues.

Fortunately, it seems the country is moving in the right direction in terms of better access to essential services.

Providing the latest on its internationally supported efforts to help the government address inequality in Laos, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has published a statement entitled:

“As Lao PDR prepares for LDC Graduation, inequality has to be overcome: UNDP’s annual statistical update points out challenges and successes”.

Vientiane, 29 October 2018 – In light of UNDP’s latest statistical update on human development indices and indicators, launched recently, Lao PDR appears to be continuing on its path towards graduation from Least Developed Country status in 2024.

According to the update, Lao PDR’s Human Development Index (HDI) value which is calculated based on the life expectancy, level of education and income per capita of a country’s people, has increased by over 50 per cent since 1990.

In 2017, the country’s life expectancy reached 67 years, while the Gross National Income (GNI) per capita reported in 2018 is US$1996.

In order to graduate from Least Developed Country (LDC) status, Lao PDR needs to pass two of three thresholds.

The country’s GNI per capita and Human Assets Index (HAI) has reached the required eligibility value, whereas the target for the Economic Vulnerability Index (EVI) remains to be met. Lao PDR’s low resilience to shocks and instability remains a concern, particularly during a time, when various parts of the country are suffering from severe flooding.

According to UNDP’s statistics, inequality remains one of the major challenges in Lao PDR. When Lao PDR’s HDI value is adjusted for inequality, it decreases by over 26%.

The average decrease for other countries in the region is slightly over 15%. Vast inequalities are particularly alarming in a disaster situation, as people with low incomes and difficult access to services often struggle the most with recovery.

“The risk that unpredictable occurrences like natural disasters impact existing development gains is high,” UNDP Deputy Resident Representative, Mr Balasubramaniam Murali said.

“This pertains even to a high growth rate economy like Lao PDR.”

Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Dr Kikeo Chanthaboury believes that the data concentrating on more than just economic scales is essential for sustainable and equitable development:

“UNDP’s human development data compilation and analysis helps us to forecast and plan a better future, especially when it comes to the quality of development,” Dr Kikeo said.

“If Lao PDR is to avoid the middle-income trap, among others, we have to find diversified avenues for growth, design strategies for continued economic transformation right from the start, and invest in transforming education and health systems in a way that will equip the labour force and whole population to continuously adapt.

“In particular, the graduation from LDC status can happen by improving the education levels among our people who are healthy, live in a sustainable manner and have the creativity that fuels the innovation process and inclusive economic growth”.

Currently, the inequality in education in Lao PDR is at 34%, which is close to the worldwide average for LDCs.

Lao PDR has, along with most of the developing world, taken major strides forward in almost all categories of human development over the past three decades.

Remaining gaps in opportunities, achievements and empowerment are a key source of inequality in many developing countries.

Lao PDR’s process of moving towards LDC graduation will be strengthened even further when economic growth can be complemented by high-quality human development interventions.

– United Nations Development Programme in Lao PDR

Princess Runs Half Marathon For Kids Hospital in Laos’ Luang Prabang

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Laotian Times

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October 29, 2018

Princess Beatrice of York in Laos (collage, credit HRHBeaofYork, UK in Laos)

Once a capital and always a storied cultural centre in Laos, the town of Luang Prabang has long welcomed princesses, but never before in running shoes!

Keen runners and spectators familiar with the UK in the recent Luang Prabang Half Marathon for Children could be forgiven for taking a second glance among the field.

If they did, they might have noticed a royal visitor from England in their midst.

One of the runners raising money for kids’health in Laos’ north was the United Kingdom’s Princess Beatrice of York.

Daughter to Prince Andrew, she is the granddaughter of the long-serving monarch Queen Elizabeth II of England, who is sovereign to the four countries of the United Kingdom and a bevy of historically connected yet independent post-colonial nations including Australia, Canada, New Zealand and more across the Carribean, Pacific and Africa.

Images and insights from her adventures in Laos were shared via a Facebook page dedicated to the Princess.

UK's Princess Beatrice Runs the Luang Prabang Half Marathon — UK’s Princess Beatrice Runs the Luang Prabang Half Marathon

Her visit to Luang Prabang included a trip to the neonatal ward of the Lao Friends Hospital for Children to see the work being done to ensure more of Laos’ children get the very best start to life.

The visit also took in the capital Vientiane. A United Kingdom festival was held at Vientiane Center shopping Mall showcasing the nation’s offerings with a strong focus on the education sector.

UK's Princess Beatrice in Laos at That Luang Stupa — UK’s Princess Beatrice in Laos at That Luang Stupa

Aluna Thavansouk and HRH Princess Beatrice in Laos (Aluna Thavansouk)

UK's Princess Beatrice and Laos' Tot Lina — UK’s Princess Beatrice and Laos’ Tot Lina performer and fashion model Tot Lina

During the trip, Beatrice experienced Laos’ culture including performances from contemporary artists Aluna Thavansouk and Tot Lina.

The extended visit to Laos is expected to provide dividends, raising the profile of the UK in Laos and vice versa to increase trade and investment in services, particularly education and tourism.

While the UK’s royal family is not permitted a participant role in the nation’s boisterous political debates in this modern era, the princess’ high profile yet relaxed visit could well be seen to be in keeping with the UK’s diplomatic efforts as the nation seeks to bolster relationships with the world as it navigates the choppy waters closer to home of United Kingdom’s proposed exit from the EU (commonly known as Brexit).

The UK’s assistance to Laos includes the prestigious Chevening Scholarship program.

Waters Refreshed, Wishes Released: Retreating Rain As Laos Lights Up

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October 26, 2018

Celebrations for end of Vassa (Rains Retreat/Buddhist Lent) — Seasons change as monsoonal rains yield to bluer skies, pleasantly cooler days with celebrations in Laos for finale of Buddhist Lent at temples, riversides.

Rain has made way for blue skies as annual festivities and devotions inside and outside the nation’s temples and on water for the finale of the annual Vassa (Buddhist Lent) brought the light and colour to both day & night in Laos again this week.

Ancient, atmospheric Luang Prabang saw its colourful annual procession captured by professional photographers and keen amateurs snappers alike.

In Vientiane, the focal point for the night was downtown temple Vat Ong Tue. Focus quickly moved to the annual boat racing festivities that provide a crescendo to the nation’s annual wet season.

Imperfectly analogous to Lent in the Christian faith (which it predates by at least half a millennia), Vassa is a three-month annual retreat observed by Theravada Buddhist practitioners who form a majority in Laos and many more beyond.

Taking place during the wet season, Vassa lasts for three lunar months.

For the duration of Vassa, monastics remain in one place, typically a monastery or temple grounds.

In some monasteries, monks dedicate their Vassa to intensive meditation while many but far from all Buddhist lay people choose to observe Vassa by adopting more ascetic practices, such as giving up meat, alcohol, or smoking.

Commonly, the number of years a monk has spent in monastic life is expressed by counting the number of vassas (or rains) since ordination.

Celebrations in Vassa in Laos included lighted sculptures and traditional boat races with 55+ member and 22 member crews in the capital.

Victorious in the men’s traditional boat race in the capital was the Nam Khan Resort crew, leaving the aspirations of the Noy-Itthilit crew, sponsored by the Joint Development Bank, in their wake and denying a third successive victory.

The modified boat race category for smaller crews was won by the Xangphet Company (Elephant Diamond) boat crew from Luang Prabang.

Plastic-free, Climate-friendly: Mekong Boat Race Crew, UN Hit the H20 in Laos

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October 24, 2018

The United Nations in Lao PDR supported Thapha village boat racing team is turning the tide against plastic pollution this Boat Racing Festival!

“The recent floods around the country have made it clear; Water is both a life resource and a threatening factor. The Thapha village team, in Vientiane province’s Hadxayfong district, takes a leap towards climate action, in urging us all to stop using single-use plastic bags, cups and bottles, to keep the beautiful Mekong river clean.“

– United Nations in Lao PDR,
October 24, 2018
#UNDay2018

With the full moon finale to Buddhist Lent Wednesday and annual boat racing events Thursday, Laos and its capital’s downtown riverside are alive with festive fever once again.

In a certain corollary with traditional New Year celebrations in April, water will once again be at the heart of the celebration in the Lao capital.

This time, the precious element will provide centre stage as crews of 20 odd battle for supremacy on the Mekong River in front of cheering multitudes once again.

Sadly, another similarity between this and other festivals will bin the tonnes of waste generated in the form of single-use plastics, some of which will end up in the famed waterway.

Reducing this is toll is a goal shared by policymakers and urban authorities in the capital with support from civil society groups and from the UN and its relevant agencies.

Of course, the boat racing celebrations are a popular release after three lunar months of Lenten “rains retreat” observed in various forms by the ordained monks and novices and a great many lay devotees among the majority Buddhist nation.

Amid celebrations sacred and civil, there is also a time to reflect upon the power of water to give and take.

The flash flooding disaster in Sanamxay district, Attapeu province as a result of a saddle dam collapse was the most damaging and high profile of several weather-related or exacerbated disasters in Laos this year.

Water was a major factor in the disasters that exerted costs on peoples lives. At the same time, water also makes life possible.

At the same time, single-use plastic is choking rivers and oceans, posing the water that we drink. Water-related disasters such as flash floods and tsunami lead not only to human losses but also the release of vasts amounts of plastic and other pollution.

Putting people at the heart of the solutions has seen the UN in Lao PDR put its shoulder behind a crew of rowers from a rural part of the rapidly urbanizing capital to help spread the message of individual and collective climate action and the reduction of single-use plastic, as captured in this video:

UN in Lao PDR supports Thapha village boat racing team
[Scroll down for English] ໄພນໍ້າຖ້ວມໃນທົ່ວປະເທດເມື່ອບໍ່ດົນມານີ້ ເຫັນໄດ້ຊັດເຈນວ່າ ນໍ້າເປັນທັງແຫຼ່ງຊັບພະຍາກອນສຳລັບການດຳລົງຊີວິດ ແລະ ເປັນທັງໄພຄຸກຄາມຕໍ່ການດຳລົງຊີວິດ. ການປ່ຽນແປງຂອງສະພາບດິນຟ້າອາກາດ ໄດ້ກໍ່ໃຫ້ເກີດເຫດການໄພພິບັດທາງທຳມະຊາດທີ່ຮ້າຍແຮງ ແລະ ພວກເຮົາທັງໝົດຕ້ອງມີສ່ວນຮ່ວມໃນການຮັບມືກັບການປ່ຽນແປງຂອງສະພາບດິນຟ້າອາກາດ.ປີນີ້, ອົງການສະຫະປະຊາຊາດ ໄດ້ໃຫ້ການສະໜັບສະໜຸນເຮືອຊ່ວງໜຶ່ງລໍາ ຕິດພັນກັບຂໍ້ຄວາມສຳຄັນທີ່ວ່າ: ທີມບ້ານທ່າພະ, ເມືອງຫາດຊາຍຟອງ, ນະຄອນຫຼວງວຽງຈັນ, ຮ່ວມສົ່ງເສີມການຮັບມືກັບການປ່ຽນແປງຂອງສະພາບດິນຟ້າອາກາດ ໂດຍຮຽກຮ້ອງໃຫ້ພວກເຮົາຢຸດຕິການໃຊ້ຖົງຢາງ, ຈອກຢາງ ແລະ ກະຕຸກຢາງທີ່ໃຊ້ໄດ້ພຽງຄັ້ງດຽວ ເພື່ອຮັກສາຄວາມສະອາດຂອງແມ່ນໍ້າຂອງທີ່ສວຍງາມ. ຂໍເຊີນທ່ານມາທີ່ທ່າວັດຈັນ, ນະຄອນຫຼວງວຽງຈັນມື້ອື່ນ ເພື່ອໃຫ້ກຳລັງໃຈທີມບ້ານທ່າພະ ແລະ ສະໜັບສະໜຸນໃຫ້ແມ່ນໍ້າຂອງກາຍເປັນແມ່ນໍ້າທີ່ປອດພລາສຕິກ! ແລ້ວພົບກັນເດີ້!The recent floods around the country have made it clear: Water is both a life resource and a threatening factor. Climate change exacerbates extreme weather events, and we all have our own stake in climate action. This year, the United Nations is supporting a boat racing team with a special message: The Thapha village team, in Vientiane province’s Hadxayfong district takes a leap towards climate action, in urging us all to stop using single-use plastic bags, cups and bottles, to keep the beautiful Mekong river clean. Come to the river bank in Vientiane tomorrow to root for the Thapha team and a river free of plastic! See you there!#MyChoiceOurFuture#BeatPlasticPollution#UNDay2018UN Environment Asia Pacific UNDP in Asia and the Pacific UNFCCC Global Environment Facility European Union in Laos U.S. Embassy Vientiane Ambassade de France au Laos / ສະຖານທູດຝຣັ່ງ ປະຈຳ ສປປ ລາວ UNV Regional Office: Asia & the Pacific UN Volunteers Programme in Lao PDR @Unicef Laos @World Bank Laos – ທະນາຄານໂລກ JICA Laos -ອົງການຮ່ວມມືສາກົນຢີ່ປຸ່ນ- KOICA 라오스 사무소 KOICA Office in Lao PDR YOUTH Development Center, Vientiane Capital STELLA – ສະເຕ່ວລ້າ Lao Youth Radio FM 90.0 Mhz Lao Youth Union GIZ Laos IUCN IUCN Water Programme Break Free From Plastic Greenpeace Southeast Asia Global Water Forum World Water Council – Conseil Mondial de l'Eau WWF-Laos Vientiane Times ໂທລະໂຄ່ງ TholaKhong Mahason Magazine Laos Briefly

Posted by United Nations in Lao PDR on ວັນອັງຄານ ທີ 23 ຕຸລາ 2018

The UN in Lao PDR on Facebook writes:

The recent floods around the country have made it clear; Water is both a life resource and a threatening factor.

Climate change exacerbates extreme weather events, and we all have our own stake in climate action.
This year, the United Nations is supporting a boat racing team.

The Thapha village team, in Vientiane province’s Hadxayfong district, takes a leap towards climate action, in urging us all to stop using single-use plastic bags, cups and bottles, to keep the beautiful Mekong river clean.

Come to the river bank in Vientiane tomorrow to root for the Thapha team and a river free of plastic! See you there!”

#MyChoiceOurFuture #BeatPlasticPollution #UNDay2018

Employment, Social Impact Has Samsung, Sustainable Straws Opening Doors for the Disabled in Laos

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October 23, 2018

Samsung Love & Care in Laos — Samsung Love & Care in . Laos

Samsung Love & Care Project a Success

An innovative sustainable drinking straw project has teamed up with Xonpao Lao Disabled People Working Group and Lao Samsung Electronics.

In order to create long-term income, the project held training on the production of bamboo drinking straws.

This was led by Ms Arounothay Khoungkhakoune, the founder of Bamboo Lao, who is an expert and has many years of experience in the production of bamboo straws, with regional recognition via MIST USD10,000 innovation grant as reported by Laotian Times on October 22.

In addition, Lao Samsung delivered 2000 bamboo straws made by the Xonpao Lao Disabled People Working Group to 10 cafes around Vientiane Capital in order to promote these products.

On the morning of October 22, 2018, some 22 employees of Lao Samsung, led by Managing Director Mr Seungho Choi, volunteered to assist the disabled people in crafting bags from paper, picture frames made from newspapers and magazines, earrings, and bamboo drinking straws, which are the main products the Xonpao Lao Disabled People Working Group creates to sell.

Besides the volunteering done by Samsung employees, both parties learned more about each other, their individual livelihoods, obstacles, and inspirations in creating handicrafts.

#SamsungLoveAndCare

Buddhist Lent, Boat Racing Festivities as Vientiane’s Riverside Roads Close

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October 22, 2018

Pedestrians & Cyclists rule! Road closures for Boat Racing Festival 2018 in Vientiane Capital

Vientiane’s Mekong Riverside Don Chanh & Fa Ngum roads are closed temporarily from 22-27 October to mark the end of Buddhist Lent and the annual Boat Racing Festival.

The Security Department of Civil Works and Transport announced affected areas as:

Donchanh Road (along the riverside from Pakpasak to Chao Anouvong Statue)
Chao Fa Ngum Road (from the Pakpasak traffic light to Hophakeo museum)

Road Closure announcement in Vientiane Laos

Vientiane’s City 2 Bus has also announced route changes during the festival.

Vientiane City 2 Bus Route Changes for 2018 Boat Racing Festival

Ride sharing App Loca advises passenger patience and a safe trip. Drive safely! Don’t drink!

Loca Advises Driver and Passenger patience during festivities.

Simple, Natural, Innovative As BambooLao Straws Slurp Up Tourism Award

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October 22, 2018

Luang Prabang’s very own BambooLao has captured the top prize and a US$10,000 Innovation Grant in the 2018 Mekong Innovative Startups in Tourism (MIST) challenge, which is described as “an elite travel startup competition, supported by the Australian Government and Asian Development Bank, (including) Asia’s most prominent travel-specialized venture capitalists among its advisors.

“BambooLao is on a mission to eliminate single-use plastics from hotels and resorts across Asia. They have produced more than 80,000 reusable bamboo straws and other bamboo utensils, using indigenous bamboo varieties and a proprietary natural treatment process.

“Their straws are used by Aman Group, Pullman, Rosewood Group, and Sofitel properties, as well as EXO Travel tours. BambooLao estimates their environmentally-friendly products have displaced the use of 5 million single-use plastic straws.”

MIST’s top prize comes with a USD10,000 innovation grant.

“The MIST innovation grant will help us scale–up production from one to three villages. We must invest in capacity to meet growing international demand,” said BambooLao founder Arounothay Khoungkhakoune was reported as saying.

Bamboo straw production a community process.

Vietnamese startup Ecohost reportedly captured MIST’s second prize and received a USD5,000 grant. Ecohost facilitates quality tourism experiences in the Vietnamese countryside, working with rural communities to develop tours and activities while improving the capacity of local homestays to serve international guests.

“BambooLao, Ecohost, and other MIST finalists demonstrate how the Mekong region’s bright, innovative entrepreneurs are finding practical solutions to solve industry problems while striving to make tourism more inclusive and sustainable,” said Jens Thraenhart, co-organizer of MIST and executive director of the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office.

According to the organisation, “MIST supports high-growth-potential emerging market startups in travel and hospitality, particularly startups that generate positive impacts for communities, culture, and the environment. The program’s five 2018 finalists refined their business acumen and pitching skills during MIST’s weeklong business fundamentals boot camp, five months of customized coaching by industry experts, and MIST pitch competitions in Ho Chi Minh City, Nakhon Phanom, Thailand, and ITB-Asia’s Mekong Travel Startup Forum in Singapore.”