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Minimum Wage Increase Planned for This Year

By
Laotian Times
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Garment Factory Worker
Garment Factory Worker

From 1991 to 2015, the minimum wage has increased a total of 7 times in Laos. According to the Department of Labor Regulation, an 8th change is set to happen within this year. The proposed minimum wage increase is substantial: from 900,000 kip to 1,200,000 kip per month.

Phongxaysack Inthalath, Director General of the Department of Labor Regulation, recounts the history of the Lao minimum wage dating before Asian Financial Crisis times.

“In 1991, the minimum wage was 26,000 kip per month. In 1997, it increased to 36,400 kip. In 2000, it became 93,600 kip. Then in 2005, it more than doubled to 290,000 kip. In 2009, it was 348,000 kip. In 2015, it was bumped up to 900,000 kip.”

Workers at a garment factory, Vientiane Capital (Photo Credit: KPL)
Workers at a garment factory, Vientiane Capital (Photo Credit: KPL)

After a three year stint at its current rate, the minimum wage is set to change once again. According to the collaborative findings of three governmental bodies, namely the LNCCI (Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry), the Lao Labor Union, the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare, and others, the primary factor that has led to this wage hike proposal is rising living costs due to the country’s relatively high economic growth. The aforementioned entities are currently discussing with other state bodies about the potential impact of such a hike on the country’s economy.

Seventy-seven officials have been appointed to inspect workers in select factories, large scale construction sites, power plants, and other businesses totalling 85,056 people, of which 67,524 are Lao and 17,532 are foreign. Of the businesses inspected, 2,787 were industrial, 425 were agricultural, and 1,963 belonged to the service sector. Industrial workers received an average of 1,200,000 kip per month. Agricultural labor received 1,100,000 kip per month, and service sector employees were paid an average of 2,500,000 kip per month.

Source: Lao Economic Daily

Plain of Jars to be Submitted for UNESCO World Heritage Status

By
Laotian Times
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Plain of Jars, Xieng Kuang
Plain of Jars, Xieng Kuang

The Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism plans to nominate the megalithic archaeological landscape known as the ‘Plain of Jars’ in Xieng Kuang for UNESCO world heritage status.

The documents and the master plan are expected to be submitted to the World Heritage Committee for consideration of the ‘Plain of Jars’ as a new UNESCO world heritage site, this year.

“The government and UNESCO have attached importance to the nomination of the ‘Plain of Jars’ as a world heritage since 1998. Both sides have collected data, deliberated on and planned the sustainable protection of this heritage site to ensure that this tourist attraction will best benefit the tourism industry in Laos,” said Bosengkham Vongdara, Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism.

Plain of Jars, Xieng Kuang
Plain of Jars, Xieng Kuang

Since 2015, the ministry has, in cooperation with local authorities, listed 11 sites of jars in Xieng Khuang for the world heritage application, formulated conservation and protection area plans and management rules for provincial, district and village authorities.

The chairman of the meeting asked relevant sectors to deliberate on the master plan and related documents making sure they are complete before they can be submitted to the World Heritage Committee for consideration.

“We plan to submit the application to UNESCO for the world heritage status for the ‘Plain of Jars’ this year so that it will be the third world heritage of Laos, and we will do the same for the Hin Nam No in Khammouane next year.

“All aim to fulfil the strategic plan of the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism 2016-2020,” said the Department of World Heritage Director General Khambay Phothisane.

The ‘Plain of Jars’ in northern Laos is home to a 2000-year-old mystery. It is a group of fields containing thousands of stone jars cut out from rock thousands of years ago.

Source: KPL and Bernama

4th Annual Japan Festival to Be Held February 2-4

By
Laotian Times
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Poster for Japan Festival 2018

The 4th Annual Japan Festival, which features events that highlight Japanese culture, will be held on 2-4 February at Lao ITECC.

Sideline events of the festival include Japanese Products Exhibition, One Piece Meet and Greet, Company Presentations, Sylvanian Families Characters Dance Show, Cool and Kawaii Japan 2018 (Cosplay & Anime Song Contest), J-POP Cover Dance Competition, Dance Man Concert (performance by Mortal Combat and Lao dancers), Kimono show, and Japanese traditional dance and Lao lamvong.

Poster for Japan Festival 2018
Poster for Japan Festival 2018

The Japan festival aims to promote relations and cooperation between the two countries of Laos and Japan. Meanwhile, it is expected that the Japanese Products Exhibition will provide Lao and Japanese companies the opportunity to network and build partnerships.

This upcoming cultural exchange event will be organized by the Japanese Embassy to Laos in cooperation with the Association of Japanese Residents in the Lao PDR, the Japan Alumni of Laos, the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Vientiane, the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) Vientiane Office, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Laos Office, the Japan Foundation Asia Center, the Vientiane Liaison Office and the Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

 

https://www.facebook.com/4thJapanFestival2018/videos/568895490119402/

 

For more information, please visit the official facebook pages of Japan Festival 2018 or the Japanese Embassy in Vientiane.

Source: KPL

Lao-Thai Railway to Begin Phase II (Thanalaeng to Khamsavath)

By
Laotian Times
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Lao Thai Railway Extension

The Lao-Thai Railway Construction Project, Phase II (Section II), which will run 7.5km from Thanalaeng Station in Hadxayfong District, to Vientiane Station in Khamsavath Village, Saysettha District, is to go ahead after a consulting company has been chosen to oversee the project.

A ceremony was held in Vientiane on Tuesday for the signing of a contract between Director General of the Railway Department, Mr Sengthavixay Malivanhon, and Chief Executive Adviser of the ASEAN Engineering Consultant Corp (AEC), Dr Sobchoke Srisakorn.

The ceremony was attended by the Lao Minister for Public Works and Transport, Dr Bounchanh Sinthavong, government officials from both Laos and Thailand, the Neighbouring Countries Economic Development Cooperation Agency (NEDA) of Thailand, the Lao-Thai Railway Project, and guests from the Lao-China Railway Project.

Construction of the next phase of the railway must be completed within 46 months. It is valued at about 235.6 billion kip.

The first phase of the railway project commenced in 2013 and was completed in 2015, officially opening in March 2017. It has seen trains run from Thanalaeng Station in Laos across the border to Thailand.

Source: Lao Post

La Khone Pheng to be Site of Sixth Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge

By
Laotian Times
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La Khone Pheng 6th Friendship Bridge

La Khone Pheng, a small town in Salavanh Province is to be the site of the sixth Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge, according to reports from Thai media.

A Thai committee appointed to select the location for the next bridge chose Tambon Natan in Ubon Ratchathani on the Thai side, which is close to large communities and can be easily linked to existing roads.

Meanwhile, Ban La Kone Pheng is one of the largest settlements in Salavanh Province, which neighbors Thailand to the west, and Vietnam to the east. The province also borders Savannakhet in the south, which now boasts the highest population in Laos.

No start date for the project has been yet been announced, however it has been stated that an environmental impact study will be unnecessary. 

Source: Nation Multimedia

Lucky Winners Take Home Special Prizes thanks to The Pizza Company

By
Laotian Times
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The Pizza Company

A lucky draw was held at The Pizza Company, Vientiane Center branch yesterday, in celebration of the new year, attended by the media and special guests.

Mr. Boutsavanh Vongpaseuth, Marketing Manager of The Pizza Company, said, “we have held this lucky draw to show our appreciation for our customers and as a new year’s gift.”

“We began with coupons for free meals starting from 07/12/17 until 15/01/18. There are over 20,000 coupons in total.”

The Pizza Company Lucky Draw

The names of the lucky draw winners are as follows:

1. Ms. Piyapha Phoumivong, from Hatsady Village, who won a TVS motorbike
2. Mr. Vansavang Phandanouvong from Phakhao Village, who won a Karcher vaccum cleaner
3. Mr. Wang Bin, who won a Karcher high pressure washer
4. Ms. Souphansa Tanlamany from Saphanthong Neua, who won a Karcher high pressure washer.
5. Ms. Ker Her Her from Nongniang, who won a 32″ television
6. Mr. Maxie Phanouvong from Phonepapao, who won a 32″ television

Digital Classifieds Group Receives AUD $2.25 million Investment From Strategic Private Equity Firm

By
Laotian Times
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Digital Classifieds Group
Digital Classifieds Group

Australian-based Digital Classifieds Group (DCG), a rapidly growing online classifieds business with operations in Cambodia, Laos, Papua New Guinea and Fiji, recently received a major equity investment of AUD $2.25 million from private equity firm Belt Road Capital Management (BRCM).

DCG CEO Mathew Care said the company’s major investments in its technology and core human resources had seen increased investor interest in recent funding rounds.

“We are presently reviewing a range of expansion opportunities, particularly in Southeast Asia, where we have seen a tremendous surge in internet penetration and rapid urbanisation. We believe that our experience, platforms and committed expatriate and local teams are capable of tackling almost any new opportunities – and this additional capital and partnership gives DCG the ability to do this,” Mr Care said.

“When we first commenced the business we undervalued the importance of our platform and bootstrapped every part of the business. With the benefit of hindsight, we have spent over 18 months developing a world class platform, based on proven Australian real estate portal technology, which is now delivering outstanding results.”

Mr Care said the initial approach from BRCM was unsolicited. “We have had a long association with Alex Odom, the Chief Investment Officer at Belt Road Capital Management, and we were flattered when he approached us about investing in our business,” he said.

Mr Odom said he believed DCG had a strong future in both the Cambodian market and internationally.

“I’m excited that BRCM will now be a part of this journey,’’ he said. “ Having seen the swift growth of DCG’s business in Cambodia, and a high level of professionalism across their local and international operations, I was more than confident to introduce the opportunity to the equity partners of Belt Road.’’

Tom O'Sullivan, CEO of Realestate.com.kh (left) and Alex Odem, Chief Investment Officer of BRCM (right)
Tom O’Sullivan, CEO of Realestate.com.kh (left) and Alex Odem, Chief Investment Officer of BRCM (right)

Mr Care said the additional funding was highly strategic, given BRCM’s unique focus on countries exposed to China’s One Belt One Road Initiative, particularly Mekong-based countries such as Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Myanmar and Thailand.

“The One Belt One Road Initiative has started in the Pacific and extended into Southeast Asia and the greater globe – which follows the trajectory of DCG’s history thus far. Alex and the team at BRCM have deep experience in our current markets, plus excellent connections into mainland China. Such expertise is both rare and invaluable to DCG moving forward,” Mr Care said.

DCG Director and former CEO of Allhomes.com.au (owned by Domain Holdings Australia Limited, ASX:DHG) Tim White, commented: “DCG does not have immediate plans to IPO. We are currently focusing on growing the business, with an emphasis on leadership in our current markets and expansion to new markets.”

About Digital Classified Group (DCG):

DCG has grown rapidly since its 2014 launch to create the dominant real estate portals in Cambodia (www.realestate.com.kh), Papua New Guinea (www.hausples.com.pg), and Fiji (www.property.com.fj). The group also owns leading general classifieds websites in Laos (www.yula.la), Papua New Guinea (www.marketmeri.com), and Fiji (www.market.com.fj).

DCG has taken leading positions in all of these markets through innovations such as sophisticated search technology, a localised approach to each market (languages spanning English, Khmer, French and Chinese), CRM and website solutions for real estate agents, and high-value real estate sales events.

For more information please visit DCG’s official site: http://digitalclassifiedsgroup.com

About Belt Road Capital Management:

Belt Road Capital Management is a private equity investment manager based in Phnom Penh, Cambodia which focuses on the Greater Mekong Sub-Region consisting of Cambodia, Myanmar, Lao PDR, Thailand and Vietnam. The company partners with promising small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to support the achievement of strategic goals, facilitate sustainable growth and expand access to new markets.

BRCM has launched its initial round of fundraising with value up to USD $50 million and has begun deployment and plans to launch subsequent investment funds in the near future.

For more information please visit BCRM’s official site: http://www.beltroadcap.com

Six Red Pandas Rescued from Wildlife Traffickers in Laos

By
Laotian Times
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Red Pandas Rescued in Laos

Six endangered red pandas were rescued from wildlife traffickers in Laos this week, according to a report by Free the Bears.

This is the first time authorities in Laos have been able to recover animals of this species from traffickers, although the trade has long been suspected.

The six red pandas were found during a routine inspection of a truck that was traveling from China, bound for Luang Namtha.

Sadly, only three of the red panda bears survived the ordeal, after being stored in substandard conditions.

free-the-bears-red-pandas

The surviving three red pandas are being kept at the Luang Prabang Reserve, which is operated by the Free the Bears organization.

Red pandas are an endangered species of which there are only 10,000 left in the world.

Photo: Free the Bears

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