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Russia Becomes 11th Country to Offer VISA Exemptions to Lao Nationals

By
Laotian Times
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Prime Ministers Sisoulith and Medvedev shakes hands
Prime Ministers Sisoulith and Medvedev shakes hands

In an attempt to promote tourism in their respective countries, Laos and Russia have enacted a VISA exemption for their ordinary passport holding (as opposed to service and diplomatic types) citizens, starting on the 2nd of December. This agreement, however, had been signed by Prime Ministers Dmitry Medvedev and Thongloun Sisoulith during Laos’s reign as ASEAN chair back in 2016, and was one of the cornerstone accomplishments of the Russian Prime Minister’s visit.

The agreement permits ordinary passport holders of both countries to enter each other’s country for up to 30 days without an entry visa. With regard to traveling, Lao citizens can now treat Russia as they would any other ASEAN country.

During any period of 180 days, ordinary passport holders from either country may stay in the other country for a maximum of 90 days with multiple entries. Each entry must not exceed 30 days, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith meets with Russian counterpart Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev at the 2017 ASEAN Summit, Manila
Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith meets with Russian counterpart Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev at the 2017 ASEAN Summit, Manila

With the addition of Russia as a bilateral VISA exempt partner, Laos currently has visa exemption agreements with a total of 11 countries, namely Mongolia, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

Laos currently offers unilateral visa exemptions to ordinary passport holders from Japan, the Republic of Korea, Switzerland and Luxembourg. Nationals of these aforementioned countries with ordinary passports can enter Laos without entry visas.

Laos is beginning to see more and more Russian nationals traveling to Laos for leisure purposes. According to the Lao Tourism Ministry, approximately 13,000 Russians visit Laos per year.

China Southern Airlines Opens Vientiane-Guangzhou Flight

By
Laotian Times
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China-Southern-Airlines-Vientiane-Guangzhou

China Southern Airlines has officially launched its Vientiane – Guangzhou flight, which is hoped will bring greater numbers of tourists to both cities.

The flight was launched on November 29.

Deputy General Manager of China Southern Airlines in Bangkok, Zhao Yang, said that 160-seater Boeing 737-800 aircraft will fly the Vientiane-Guangzhou route on Wednesdays, Friday’s and Sundays. The flight lasts 2 hours and 25 minutes.

The launch of the flight coincides with Visit Laos Year 2018, and it is hoped that Chinese tourists from Guangzhou will take advantage of the new route to visit Laos. A possible Visit Laos-China Year may even be held in 2019.

China Southern Airlines is the world’s fourth largest airline.

Thai Border Officials Get Tough on Borrowed Vehicles

By
Laotian Times
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Thai-Border-Crossing-Restricts-Borrowed-Cars

Thai authorities at the Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge border crossing are cracking down on borrowed vehicles.

According to a sign recently erected at the bridge, from 1 January 2018, any vehicle crossing into Thailand from Laos that is driven by an individual who is not the vehicle’s owner must provide documentation authorizing use of the vehicle.

Thai border sign borrowed vehicles

Documentation required will include a power of attorney signed by the owner of the vehicle, and the following supporting documentation:

1. A copy of vehicle registration documents

2. A copy of the identification card of the vehicle owner

3. A copy of the idenification card of the person using the vehicle

Further documentation will be required for persons using vehicles belonging to a business or organization.

The new regulations come on the heels of Thai authorities’ new “ASEAN Road Toll,” which imposes a fee upon foreign vehicles entering the country and using its roads.

On top of this, the Thai immigration authorities imposed new visa restrictions on foreigners from many nations entering the country by land last year, limiting the number of crossings available to only twice per year.

Photo: Facebook

BREAKING: Fire at World Trade Center

By
Laotian Times
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Fire at World Trade Center
Fire at World Trade Center

Dec 3 – A severe fire has broken out at the World Trade Center site near Kouvieng, Vientiane Capital. Firefighters are on the scene, based on eyewitness accounts, however the fire has made heavy damage to a major section of the unfinished shopping complex-to-be. The area affected is directly opposite the popular Vientiane Center Shopping Mall.

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Vientiane Water Utility Issues Public Announcement

By
Laotian Times
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Vientiane State Water Supply Enterprise
Vientiane State Water Supply Enterprise

Nov 30 – In response to shortfalls in revenue, the Vientiane State Water Supply Enterprise’s (VSWSE) issued an announcement to the general public, urging non paying customers to settle their water bills and mandatory water pipe checks.

The announcement, signed by Director-General Khampheuy Vongsakhamphuy, stated that the utility company would cut off water supply to those entities that have not paid their water bills in over two months.

The announcement also encouraged water users to cooperate with VSWSE employees who have been sent to perform routine water pipe inspections to ensure there are no leaks and no illegal water usages (bypassing official water meters).

Should anyone have concerns about the announcement, please call the VSWSE hotline at 1169.

Vientiane State Water Supply Enterprise Announcement
Vientiane State Water Supply Enterprise Announcement (Lao Language)

Source: Laopost.com

Dec 2 National Day Celebrations – Past & Present

By
Laotian Times
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Dec 2 Fireworks Celebrations
Dec 2 Fireworks Celebrations

If you’ve ever wondered what the Dec 2 National Day Celebrations looked like in Laos, here’s a video clip of the past spectacular displays of fireworks that the country had to offer. Brilliant!

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Diplomatic Corps Wish Laos a Happy 42nd Birthday

By
Laotian Times
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Ambassador John Williams, Dean of the Diplomatic Corps in Laos
Ambassador John Williams, Dean of the Diplomatic Corps in Laos

Friday, Dec 1 – On the occasion of Laos’ 42nd birthday, the diplomatic corps together with resident representatives of international organizations paid a visit to the Presidential Palace in Vientiane to wish their host country and its leaders and people the very best of wishes.

The distinguished group was received by President Bounyang Vorachit, Vice President Phankham Viphavanh, Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith, Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith accompanied by their spouses and other high ranking Lao officials.

President Vorachit, Prime Minister Sisoulith, Vice President Viphavanh and spouses receives guests from the international community at the Presidential Palace in Vientiane
President Vorachit, Prime Minister Sisoulith, Vice President Viphavanh and spouses receives guests from the international community at the Presidential Palace in Vientiane

Leading the group was Dean of the Diplomatic Corps was Australian Ambassador to Laos, John Williams. Ambassador Williams offered his congratulations to the government leaders and people on their accomplishments in advancing national progress and development over the last four decades.

Australian Ambassador John Williams gives speech as Dean of the Diplomatic Corps
Australian Ambassador John Williams gives speech as Dean of the Diplomatic Corps

“The people of the Laos have much to celebrate, and are right to be proud of how much this young country has achieved over the past 42 years, from very humble beginnings back in 1975,” Williams said. “A number of ambassadors and their spouses joined me on a visit to Xieng Khuang and Huaphan provinces a few weeks ago; a visit taking in the Viengxay Caves – the birthplace, in many ways, of this nation. We came away from that visit with a much better appreciation of the spirit and resolve of your founding fathers, and mothers, and the challenges they strove to overcome.”

“And we also left Huaphan, after many scenic hours on windy, mountain-top roads, with an even clearer sense of the challenges of geography the Lao government still faces today; how to deliver essential services and drive the socio-economic development of so many isolated, remote communities across this beautiful, diverse country,” he added.

ຜູ້ນຳເຮົາຕ້ອນຮັບ ບັນດາທູຕານຸທູດ ອວຍພອນວັນຊາດ ທີ 2 ທັນວາ ຄົບຮອບ…

ຜູ້ນຳເຮົາຕ້ອນຮັບ ບັນດາທູຕານຸທູດ ອວຍພອນວັນຊາດ ທີ 2 ທັນວາ ຄົບຮອບ 42 ປີ

Posted by ປະເທດລາວ Pathedlao on ວັນສຸກ ທີ 1 ທັນວາ 2017

 

President Vorachit expressed his tremendous and sincere gratitude to the embassy heads and international organization leaders for the overwhelming support that they’ve shown over the years since the country’s establishment.

In particular, the President emphasized the importance of the international community doing excellent work in the government and non-governmental spheres. He also took the opportunity to encourage everyone to do all they can to help make Visit Laos Year 2018 a success.

 

Source: KPL

Launch of the Nakai Plateau Livestock, Agriculture and Fisheries project

By
Laotian Times
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The French Agency for Development (AFD), the Nam Theun 2 Power Company (NTPC), the Khammouane Provincial Government, and the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry officially launched a 5-year project to support the development of agricultural, livestock and fishing activities on the Nakai Plateau in Khammouane Province. This project aims to sustain livelihoods access for households affected by the Nam Theun 2 hydropower project.

The construction of the Nam Theun 2 dam necessitated the resettlement of 6,289 people living in 17 affected communities on the Nakai plateau. A comprehensive set of compensation and development programs were implemented by the Government of Laos and NTPC to restore the villages’ livelihoods during this period of upheaval. The NP-LAF demonstrates a deeper and broader commitment to long-term development for these communities. The Nam Theun 2 project has brought the once isolated Nakai villages into much closer contact with the wider national economy, which brings with it both
challenges and opportunities.

The goal of the NP-LAF is to empower the Nakai villages with the skills to meet these challenges, and take advantage these opportunities. In complement to the achievements of the programs carried out as part of the Resettlement Implementation Period (RIP), the NP-LAF project will focus on developing livelihoods for people involved in farming, livestock and fishing activities. The program will be tailored to the Nakai Plateau’s unique context: its challenges and its opportunities. This includes the challenges of the plateau’s changed environment, the opportunities in terms of fisheries in the man-made reservoir, and the challenges of the plateau’s topography and soils, and both the opportunities and the challenges of the plateau’s innovative community resource management systems.

The project also seeks to help the villagers take charge of their integration into the province’s economy, with a particular focus on the contribution of women. The project will be financed equally by AFD and NTPC for a total grant of Euro 3 million over 5 years. The project implementation is being led by the Nakai District Government, with support from one
consultancy firm and one NGO. IRAM (the Institute for Research and Application of development Methods) is providing Technical Assistance, and the Comité de Cooperation avec le Laos (CCL) is supporting the District Agriculture and Forestry Office to implement the project in the field.

The operational monitoring will be conducted by AFD. According to Mr Frederic Hofmann: “This project is relatively unusual because it brings together the Government of Laos, a funding agency, a consultancy firm, an NGO and a private company. It was a long and difficult journey, but we did it.”

The project is made up of the following four components:
1. Analysis of the plateau’s agricultural potential and the setting out, on a participative basis
through the existing community land management institutions, of plans for land use, land
security, and the possible reallocation of certain areas of land.
2. Dissemination of agro-ecological practices and development of livestock in order to rehabilitate
soil fertility and increase yields.
3. Improved returns on fish catches (through processing and marketing of fishing products) and
support for the continued involvement of the village fisheries institutions in managing the
reservoir.
4. Capacity strengthening for the Nakai District Agriculture and Forestry Office regarding project
management and innovative approaches. On the occasion of the launch of the NP-LAF Project, a reception was organized at the French Embassy in Vientiane, hosted by Ms Claudine Ledoux, French Ambassador to Lao PDR with presence of Mr
Khammany Inthirath, Minister of Energy and Mines, and Dr Phouangparisack Pravongviengkham, Vice Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, and included representatives from the International Financial Institutions as well as the Panel of Experts (POE), IRAM and CCL.

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For more information about the NP-LAF Project, contact AFD at afdvientiane@afd.fr

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About NTPC
The Nam Theun 2 Power Company (NTPC) is an industrial and development investment owned by two private shareholders (EDF and EGCO) and the Lao Government, backed by commercial lenders and international financial institutions including the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank. NTPC is dedicated to running a world class hydropower facility while improving the living conditions of people in the areas around the Project. The company is also committed to achieving the highest standard of environmental stewardship and protection of the environment for current and future generations.
The Power station has an installed capacity of 1,070 MW that can generate 6000 GWh of electricity per year. About 95% of the power is exported to Thailand. NTPC is a key company for Lao PDR development and is expected to generate 2 billion US$ in government revenue over the 25-year concession period.

www.namtheun2.com

About AFD
AFD is France’s inclusive public development bank. AFD commits financing and technical assistance to
projects that genuinely improve everyday life, both in developing and emerging countries and in the
French overseas provinces. In keeping with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, AFD works in many sectors — energy, healthcare, biodiversity, water, digital technology, professional training, among others — to assist with transitions towards a safer, more equitable, and more sustainable world : a world in common. Through a network of 85 field offices, AFD currently finances, monitors, and assists more than 2,500 development projects in 108 countries.
www.afd.fr

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