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The Most Followed Lao Instagram Celebrities

By
Laotian Times
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Apart from Facebook, Instagram is one of the most used social media websites in Laos.

Thousands of pictures flood the digital platform daily as both amateurs and professionals show off their photography skills, gaining many followers and admirers in the process. At the apex of accounts stand the celebrities of Laos, the majority of them hailing from the entertainment industry.

Models, singers and influencers don their best attire, put on their best smile and prep their camera filters as they put on a digital spectacle, gaining recognition and praise and at times not-so-flattering comments from the envious haters of the nakleng keyboard (cyber bullies) persuasion.

Nevertheless, being active on Instagram constitutes not only an ego boost for these net idols but often earns them advertising and sponsorship opportunities from large and small brands. Whether it’s an upcoming restaurant or the newest line of cosmetics and creams, these net idols are facilitators of brand awareness and inspire the envy and admiration of impressionable teens and young adults, evident in the sheer number of their followers which hover in the hundreds of thousands.

Here’s a look at the most followed individuals on Instagram in Laos:

May May Savan: 66.9k

May Savan has made her fame with pictures of her luxurious lifestyle, complete with designer handbags, diamonds and in the company of other wealthy socialites. She is often seen on lavish trips overseas.

Kai Overdance: 85.3k

The forever sexy Kai launched into stardom at a young age as a member one of modern Laos’ first pop bands, Overdance. The group has since disbanded and now Kai Overdance has made a career for herself as a singer, model, brand presenter and emcee. She has appeared on the cover of numerous local magazines such as Kuanjai, Mahason and Wow Magazine, and as the presenters of numerous local and foreign brands such as Ford, Aviva Jewelry, Ovaltine. The talented superstar is also happily married and a mother of two.

Barbie Piyamarth: 94.5k

The cute Barbie Piyamarth became famous as a singer several years ago with her hit single, Kha Jai. Since then, she’s been featured in magazines, and appeared on numerous talk shows. She then received acting gigs, appearing in Jear Pacific’s hit romantic comedy, Hong Ham Thao. Her beauty and acting skills have caught the attention of Thailand’s top producers who have recently engaged her to star in the upcoming Thai movie, opposite famous Thai actor Chakrit Yamnan, Memories of New Years.

Annita Thivaphone: 107k

The gorgeous Annita boasts a wide range of talents from singing, modeling to dancing and video jockeying. She’s also been featured on numerous covers of magazines and produced a number of hit singles like Sexy Boy and Bod Hien Laka Pheng. She’s also been the product ambassador for international brands, Coca Cola and Huawei.

Noony Koumphonphakdee: 164k

As a contestant on the hit show Take Me Out Thailand, Noony surprised everyone by bravely and comically speaking in Lao in a predominantly Thai-language TV show and impressed the game show’s star Aoff so much that the two are currently a couple. Since then, Noony has received numerous brand ambassador deals for a several brands.

Ling Ling Piyardar: 210k

Arguably the most popular transexual in Laos, Ling Ling has been the source of inspiration of many, as breaking barriers in the entertainment industry in Laos. She’s often seen in fashion shoots for magazines and fashion runway modeling.

Nang Chandaly: 234k

The irresistible Nang Chandaly started off her beauty career as Miss Lux (a beauty pageant sponsored by Unilever’s Lux shampoo brand), at the time a national beauty contest comparable to the Miss Laos competition. Not only is she beautiful but Nang is also a graduate of a famous medical school in Shanghai, China. Nang is also one of the fortunate few to have been selected to appear in the highly regarded Beerlao calendar.

Louknum Thidalath: 283k

Thrust into the spotlight at a very young age when she had won the Miss Laos competition, Louknam excelled at modeling and later acting. She appeared as the star of Hong Ham Thao. Her acting ability and adorableness have landed her brand ambassador deals with Samsung and multiple Thai TV show appearances.

Alexandra Bounxouei: 332k

Ultra talented half-Lao, half-Bulgarian singer, actress, model and entrepreneur Alexandra Bounxouei grew up in a family that had music in their veins and hearts. Addressing herself as “Xandra,” this talented singer was among the first singers in Laos to truly go international, becoming a hit sensation in Thailand, Japan, Australia, America and Europe. She was the first Lao actress to appear in a modern Thai production, Rim Fung Kong, alongside famous actor Weir Sukollawat. Since then, she’s appeared on stage singing both Lao, Thai, Japanese and English songs, representing Laos on the world stage at countless high profile national and international events.

Chi Chi: 445k

This alluring, young model was among the first to launch her stardom through Instagram and quickly rose to the top with amazing and candid posts of her luxurious lifestyle.

Apple Miniberry: 910k

Apple began her celebrity life in show business in Thailand and rapidly rose to be among the country’s top celebrities amassing a following of close to one million. She recently married Thai singer Fluke Jira of the band C-Quint.

 

Laos is the Youngest Nation in Asia

By
Laotian Times
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Laos youngest nation in Asia

As many parts of the world prepare to cope with large aging populations, sparsely populated Laos remains the youngest nation in Asia.

According to a report in the Jakarta Post, Asia will boast the oldest population in the world in coming decades, with Japan already topping the world’s elderly population at 33.1 percent.

South Korea takes second place, with an aging population growing faster than any other nation. The aging population in South Korea is expected to increase from 18.5 percent to 31.4 percent by 2030, and the country now has  more older people than younger people for the first time.

Laos youngest nation in Asia

Laos’ neighbor Thailand is the third most rapidly aging country in Asia. The Land of Smiles is set to see population growth of 26.9 percent, with one quarter of the population being a senior citizen by 2030.

China’s population will shrink as ripples of the nation’s one-child policy take effect, while Sri Lanka and Vietnam are set to see growth in their aging populations.

Meanwhile, India has a relatively young population, with only 8.9 percent of the population being older.

Laos, however, will remain the youngest nation in Asia, expected to have just 8.1 percent of the population aged 60 and over by 2030.

Source: Jakarta Post
Image: DataLEADS/ANN/Infographics

Tilleke & Gibbins Publishes 2018 Doing Business in Laos Guide

By
Laotian Times
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The Laos chapter of Global Guide 2018: Doing Business In…, a guide published by Practical Law in association with Lex Mundi, presents a comprehensive Q&A-style overview of doing business in Laos.

Written by members of Tilleke & Gibbins’ Vientiane office, the Laos chapter covers key recent developments that affect doing business in the jurisdiction; restrictions on foreign investment and authorizations required; grants and incentives available to investors; common forms of business vehicles; registration and reporting requirements; management structures and key liability issues; employment laws, contracts, and permits; termination and redundancy; taxes on employment, business vehicles, dividends, interest, IP royalties, groups, affiliates, and related parties, as well as customs duties, and double tax treaties; competition law; intellectual property laws; marketing agreements; and laws on e-commerce, advertising, data protection, and product liability.

To read the Laos chapter, please visit the Practical Law website or click on the link to the PDF here.

Source: Tilleke & Gibbins

Former Vang Vieng Airport to Become Tourist Destination

By
Laotian Times
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Former Vang Vieng Airport
Former Vang Vieng Airport

Earlier this week, Vientiane Province signed an agreement with Yijin Engineering & Construction Lao Company, authorizing the latter to invest USD $200 million into developing the former Vang Vieng airport into a tourist destination. Attending the signing ceremony were Vidong Sayasone, Vientiane Province Governor, Vientiane Province Planning and Investment Department Director Soukun Vilayrath, Ichin Engineering & Construction Lao Company President Liu Phuc Quang, and other local government officials.

“Immediately after this auspicious signing ceremony, our firm is already preparing to contract a company capable of designing an entire commercial tourism space consisting of a 5-star hotel, a hospital, a tourism academy, and a multi-ethnic cultural theater, among others. The site of the project will be the former Vang Vieng airport, covering a land area of 16.24 hectares. The construction is expected to take 5 years, out of an overall 50-year concession from the government with an investment total of USD $200 million,” says Liu Phuc Quang.

“We expect tourism to boom in Vang Vieng when the Laos-China railway is complete. Travelers from China will be able to conveniently reach Vang Vieng since there will be a station here. We want to capitalize on this future market by investing in something that will attract their attention,” says Quang.

Source: Mahason Magazine

Lao-Japanese Friendship Bridge Opens in Xekong

By
Laotian Times
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On the 12th of February, an official ceremony was held inaugurating the opening of the Lao-Japanese Friendship Bridge (over the Xekong River) connecting the Districts of Lamam, Dakcheung and Kaleum in Xekong Province. Attending the ceremony were high ranking officials, namely Deputy Prime Minister Bounthong Chitmany, Transportation and Public Works Minister Bounchan Sinthavong, Planning and Investment Minister Souphan Keomixay, Japanese Ambassador to Laos Takeshi Hikihara and JICA Laos Office Chief Yoshiharu Yoneyama, JICA representatives and other Xekong Senior Provincial Officials.

Financed by the Government of Japan with a grant of USD $16.20 million, the Lao-Japanese Friendship Bridge is 300m long and has a weight capacity of up to 800 tonnes. It is set to greatly aid in the socio-economic development of Xekong by providing its inhabitants with better infrastructural access to educational, health and other commercial services. Xekong is home to some of the poorest districts in Laos.

Moreover, the Friendship Bridge is expected to become absolutely essential in its ability to connect Laos’ southernmost provinces to the Danang Port in Vietnam.

Source: Lao Economic Daily

2018 Road Tax Now Due and Payable

By
Laotian Times
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2018 road tax Laos

The Ministry of Finance has called upon vehicle owners to make payment of the 2018 road tax, which is now due and payable.

After multiple setbacks in issuance and collection of the 2017 road tax payment, the deadline for the 2018 road tax payment has been extended to June 30.

Meanwhile, for motorists who have not yet paid the 2017 road tax, the deadline has been set at March 31. Those who fail to meet this deadline will face fines of up to 40 percent of their unpaid road taxes for each offence.

The road tax system was rescued by commercial bank BCEL last year when the bank set up a road tax collection system via its ATM network and online banking service, BCEL One.

The BCEL road tax collection system has been instrumental in effectively and transparently collecting the road tax fees, with 100% of funds being transferred tot he national budget.

The Ministry of Finance set a target of 60 million kip in road tax collection for 2017, with 40 billion kip having been collected so far. With the collection system now simplified, the onus is on authorities to ensure vehicle owners make their tax obligations.

According to statistics from the tax department, as reported by the Vientiane Times, there are approximately 1.8 million vehicles registered in Laos, with only 30 percent of these paying road taxes each year.

Vientiane Capital boasts some 843,500 registered vehicles for a population of around 800,000; almost one motor vehicle per person.

 

2018 Road Tax Fees

 

2-3 Wheeled Motorbikes

Engine Type Fee
<110cc 15,000 KIP
111cc-150cc 20,000 KIP
151cc-200cc 30,000 KIP
>200cc 100,000 KIP

 

Privately owned Sedans, SUVs, Vans and Pickups

Engine Type Fee
<1000cc 100.000 KIP
1001cc-1600cc 150.000 KIP
1601cc-2000cc 200.000 KIP
2001cc-2500cc 250.000 KIP
2501cc-3000cc 300.000 KIP
30001cc-4000cc 350.000 KIP
4001cc-5000cc   400.000 KIP
>5001cc 500.000 KIP

 

 

Sepon and Phu Bia Mines Set to Close Operations by 2020

By
Laotian Times
-
Sepon is an open-pit copper mine in the Savannakhet Province, southern Laos
Sepon is an open-pit copper mine in the Savannakhet Province, southern Laos

Energy and Mines Minister Khammany Inthilath, in his address to the National Assembly, stated that since 1990, the Lao Government has had an open policy to attract domestic and international investors to invest in mining operations. Since that time, a total of 229 companies have been authorized to perform mining operations in the country. Among these, 96 are licensed to survey and explore, 52 are permitted to do technical and economic feasibility studies, and 81 are allowed to do excavation and production. There are a total of 18 minerals of interest, including gold, silver, lead, zinc, lignite, barite, and bauxite, among others.

At the provincial level, 443 companies are authorized to perform mining operations involving 21 minerals.

From 2005 to 2015, the aforementioned companies have completed their financial obligations to the government in the form of taxes, royalties and concession payments amounting to USD$ 1.89 billion.

However, the country’s income from mining has dropped significantly due to the severe drop in world prices of minerals in 2016-2017 and also due to the fact that two major projects (Sepon and Phu Bia) are approaching their final stages and will close their respective mines by 2020.

Sepon is an open-pit copper mine in the Savannakhet Province, southern Laos. The registered name of the operating company is Lane Xang Minerals Limited (LXML), of which MMG owns 90% and the Lao Government owns 10%. The operation commenced production in 2005.

Phu Bia Mining, PanAust’s Lao-registered company, has a Mineral Exploration and Production Agreement (MEPA) with the Government of Laos that regulates exploration and mining within the Phu Bia Contract Area, which is more than 2,600 square-kilometres. Their flagship operation comprises an open-pit mine feeding ore to a conventional milling and flotation operation which produces a copper and precious metals concentrate for export to custom smelters mainly in Asia.

Source: Lao Economic Daily

ANZ Bank to Close Retail Services in Laos

By
Laotian Times
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ANZ Laos Close

ANZ has announced the closure of all retail products and services in Laos following the sale of its retail and wealth businesses across the region.

The bank will officially close all retail accounts and cease offering retail services as of March 30 this year.

Citing a review of its business, ANZ Laos says it wishes to ensure it is aligned with the bank’s global strategy to focus resources on its institutional business in the Asia Pacific region, supporting customers with regional trade and capital flow movements, and connecting them with business opportunities within Laos and across its global network.

The announcement follows the sale of the bank’s retail and wealth businesses in Singapore, Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, Indonesia, and Vietnam, and the closure of its retail business in the Philippines.

Retail customers will be given until March 30 to close accounts, and the bank will waive any early termination fees for term deposits.

In its letters to retail account-holders, ANZ Laos has provided an option for its retail customers to open accounts with Banque Pour Le Commerce Exterieur Lao Public (BCEL), saying it can connect retail customers with representatives at the state-owned bank, where former ANZ retail customers will be offered some discounts.

 

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