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Laos Making Efforts to Improve Ease of Doing Business

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Laotian Times
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ease of doing business in Laos

The government of Laos is making efforts to improve the ease of doing business in the country by streamlining the process for business registrations.

According to the World Bank Ease of Doing Business ranking system, Laos took 141st place in 2017, dropping steadily from 134th place in 2014, and 139th in 2016.

Comparatively, Thailand boasts a ranking of 26, while Vietnam ranks 68, and Cambodia at 135.  Myanmar ranked lower than Laos, at 171.

In order to improve the ease of doing business in Laos, Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith issued Executive Order no. 2 in February this year, ordering ministries and other bodies to improve procedures and remove obstacles causing difficulties to investors.

Now, authorities are required to issue enterprise registration certificates for new businesses within 10 working days after an application is submitted, according to Article 17 of the Amended Law on Enterprise.

Following the issuance of the certificate, the investor must then submit an investment or business operation application to the relevant sector of the government within 90 days.

These clearer and simpler steps should expedite the registration of a business for investors.

The government has also set up a central-level Investment Promotion and Management Committee, to help accelerate consideration and approval of investment applications.

Although the procedures have been simplified and ministries ordered to comply, some investors still complain that there are too many steps involved. Many have suggested that a “single window” unit to which all documents could be submitted would significantly improve the experience for business registration, rather than having investors submit applications to various ministries in relation to their field of investment.

Source: Vientiane Times

NASA to Provide Scientists With Satellite Data to Assess Southeast Asian Land Use

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Laotian Times
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From May 7th to 16th, the United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) officially launched the Land-Cover and Land-Use Change project in the three countries of Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos.

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BREAKING: 11 Inmates Break Free From Dongsavath Prison

By
Laotian Times
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prison escapees

Sisattanak district police authorities have announced that 11 inmates had broken out of Dongsavath Prison yesterday evening at 7:00 (May 11) and are currently at large. All 37 villages in the Sisattanak District have been put on high alert and the village public security forces dispatched on patrol. A district-wide manhunt for the convicts is currently ongoing.

https://www.facebook.com/100013365999503/videos/473008043154725/

According to a statement issued by Lieutenant Colonel Inphone Bounphachanh, the prisoners managed to escape by digging through the bathroom wall with the aid of several rudimentary sharp metal objects and then climbing over the back wall.

One eyewitness account from another inmate stated that three of the escaped convicts had dug for three days until they had been able to bore a hole big enough to crawl through. The metal objects used were a metal chisel, hacksaw and crowbar, which were passed to the convicts through the ventilation shaft from an outside accomplice. A makeshift sling made from rubber bands and nylon thread was used to pull the objects into the prison.

The identities of the 11 prisoners are as follows:

  1. Mr Khamla, Thongpanthong Village, Sisattanak District, arrested May 30th, 2017, serving a 5-year sentence for drug trafficking
  2. Mr Somxai (Dong), Thongmang Village, Xaythany District, arrested May 11th, 2017, charged with drug trafficking
  3. Mr Viengkham (Khamnoy), Phonkheng Village, Saysettha District, arrested February 19th, 2018, charged with weapons trafficking
  4. Mr Samly (Tok), Donpamai Village, 
  5. Mr Phonepaseuth, Dondu Village, Hatsayfong District, arrested February 27th, 2018, charged with theft
  6. Mr Thopsaphone, Somsanouk Village, Hatsayfong District, arrested July 26th, 2017, charged with drug trafficking
  7. Mr Noi, Thongpong Village, Sikhothabong District, arrested September 19th, 2017, charged with drug trafficking
  8. Mr Thavone (Ai), Thongpong Village, Sikhotthabong District, arrested May 8th, 2017, charged with drug trafficking (same gang as Somxai) 
  9. Mr Kot, Thasavang Village, Xaythany District, arrested May 30th, 2017, charged with drug trafficking (same gang as Somxai)
  10. Mr Phengpachanh, Nonkilek, Sikhothabong, arrested August 30th, 2017, charged with theft
  11.  Mr Inpone (Num), Kaang Village, Hatsayfong District, arrested January 10th, 2017, charged with drug trafficking

Only 6 photographs of the 11 convicts have been collected so far.

Mr Somsai (Dong)

 

One prisoner, Mr Inpone (Num) has been re-captured but the other 10 convicts are still at large.

The public is urged to exercise extreme caution and be wary of strangers in their neighborhoods.

Sisattanak District Police Notice 1
Sisattanak District Police Notice 2 Issued by Lieutenant Colonel Inpone Bounphachanh
Source: Mahason Magazine, Vikeo VPS Keth

Wonderful Indonesia Center to Open in Vientiane, Promote Business and Tourism

By
Laotian Times
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wonderful Indonesia center

Indonesia will begin promoting its potential as a business and travel destination to the people of Laos through the establishment of its Wonderful Indonesia Center in Vientiane.

The necessary licenses to build the culture center have been approved, and the center is expected to open soon.

“We want to spread the word that there is more to Indonesia than simply Jakarta, Borobudur, or Bali,” said A. Firman Arif W. Soepalal from the Indonesian Embassy in Laos.

The Wonderful Indonesia Center will display the local products of Indonesia, and promote tourism to the country.

“We also hope to institute some other programs, such as Indonesian language classes at the center,” said Mr Firman.

Meanwhile, Indonesia hosted a Small and Medium Enterprises Exhibition and Planetarium Walk in Laos from May 5-6 at Vientiane Center shopping complex.

Representatives from the Indonesian Embassy to Laos said that Indonesian investors should capitalize on business opportunities in Laos, and that the fair held at Vientiane Center was one way to show Indonesian investors what Laos had to offer.

So far, only a handful of Indonesian companies have been willing to invest in or develop production in Laos, citing the lack of a coastline as one major hindrance.

“We must be willing to change the mindset that Laos is a lagging country, while actually it has much potential,” said Mr Firman, stating that the Lao Foreign Minister had provided details on several forms of cooperation possible between both countries.

A number of other countries have been successful in investing in the Lao economy, such as Singapore and Malaysia.

According to Wishnu Krisnamurthi, the chief Economy Function of the Indonesian Embassy in Laos, a number of Indonesian products find their way to Laos by way of Thailand, rather than through direct exports.

The largest Indonesian investment in Laos to date is a cinema network, with majority shares being held by an Indonesian businessman, in partnership with a Thai company.

Indonesia and Laos established formal diplomatic relations in 1957. The two nations have often expressed a desire to reach further agreements in security, sports, air transport an education.

There are currently no direct flights between Indonesia and Laos.

Source: Jakarta Post

Arrival-Departure Card Discontinued At Major Airports in Laos

By
Laotian Times
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The General Security Police Department (Kom Yai Santhiban) issued a public notice stating that Lao nationals and expatriates who have permanent residency will no longer be required to fill in the widely unpopular immigration form (arrival-departure card) when exiting or entering Laos through four international airports – Wattay International Airport (Vientiane Capital), Luang Prabang International Airport, Savannakhet International Airport and Paksé International Airport.

Lao arrival-departure card

However, the notice specifically states that the change does not apply to tourists, foreigners without permanent residency, and stateless individuals who will still be required to complete the above-mentioned form upon entry or departure from these airports.

Laos has approximately 20 international border checkpoints, where routine immigration procedures will continue to be in effect until they are equipped with the capability to record the exit and entry of travelers digitally. The move is a new step to render travel more convenient, while the government is also setting up an online system of visa applications for people traveling to countries that require a visa.

The public has applauded the government’s efforts in gradually upgrading the normal passport system to an electronic one. Lao nationals are now encouraged to visit the Consular Affairs Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to obtain their e-passports. There, their biodata will be collected and stored in central servers.

Wattay International Airport is the only airport where the new electronic passports may be used to automatically allow a Lao national to enter and leave the country without being conventionally stamped in and out by an immigration officer. While this is a major step toward digitalizing essential government services, the e-passport machine is still in its trial phase, evidenced by the many complaints to its inefficiency and slowness. In its current state, it is not a viable substitute for an immigration officer.

According to a source in the Immigration Department, the e-passport system cost several million dollars to implement.

The notice was signed by the Department’s Director General Brigadier General Bounmy Sengkhamyong.

The Most Followed Lao Person on Facebook

By
Laotian Times
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It’s official. The most followed Lao person on Facebook is Boualai (ບົວ ໄລ). This avid eater has got more followers than Kaem Boom, Noony, Larnoy Phorjai and Somchan, to name a few of the most followed celebrity idols in Laos.

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Chinese Space Debris to Rain on Laos

By
Laotian Times
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space debris to rain on laos

In an unusual notice from the Ministry of Public Works and Transportation, the four southernmost provinces of Laos (Champasak, Sekong, Salavan, and Attapeu) are being warned of potential space debris that will fall to Earth over these provinces. The debris seems to be from the launch of the Gaofen-5 satellite China in the early morning of 9 May and the debris are likely parts from the Long March 4C rocket carrying the satellite into orbit.

The Gaofen-5 hyperspectral imaging satellite is a part of China’s high-resolution Earth observation project and is planned for use in monitoring the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.

The space debris is expected to fall into Laos between 01:31-01:47 today. Citizens are urged to be careful outdoors during this 16 minute span in these areas.

Laos space debris notice

Village Devastated by Fire in Xieng Khouang Province

By
Laotian Times
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Fire destroys homes in xieng khouang

32 homes have been destroyed in Xieng Khouang Province after a fire broke out, believed to be caused by an electrical problem.

The fire, the biggest recorded this year, began at around four o’clock on Monday evening in Sanfaen Village, and quickly spread from house to house due to strong winds.

The structures that burnt down were all wooden, with 32 families losing their homes and much needed livestock and equipment. Fortunately, none were injured or killed by the fire.

Much of the population in the affected area belong to the Lao Phong ethnic group, and the village is 100 kilometers from the provincial capital, with difficult road access.

The fire occurred as villagers were returning from their work in nearby fields, and had unfortunately spread too quickly for them to suppress.

While local authorities continue to assess the damage caused by the fire, victims now require food, clothing, and temporary accomodation.

A temporary camp is being set up by local authorities and the military, and district authorities are providing food and medicines, however stocks are low and authorities are calling upon the public to make donations.

Donations for Fire Victims

Donations can be made with the following authorized organizations:

1. World Renew in Xiengkhouang Province, 020 98853357
2. Vientiane Rescue in Vientiane Capital, 1623
3. The Lao Red Cross, 1625
4. Houamchai Foundation, 020 59444400
5. Chinese Ambulance Service, 1628

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