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Multiple Lao Drug Barons Arrested, Millions of Dollars in Assets Seized

By
Laotian Times
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multiple drug arrests made in Laos

A number of drug ring leaders have been detained after police officials ordered a massive clampdown on the illicit drug trade across the country.  It has been reported by a senior police officer that a total of 33 suspects have been apprehended in connection to the drug related crimes.

A press conference held by Director General of the General Police Department, Brigadier General Dr.Thonglek Mangnormek revealed that an astounding 30 million baht was used to bribe police officers for releasing each drug lord.

Following the notorious arrest of Lao national kingpin Xaysana Keophimha at Suvarnabhumi airport in Bangkok on January 19th, officers captured yet another key member of the trade, Khonpasong Soukkaseum, also known as Xiengther, and three of his associates in early February. Khonpasong is said to be an even bigger player in the drug trafficking world than Xaysana. Both leaders are identified to be affiliated with different groups.

Brig. General Thonglek informed the media, that Xaysana, also known as Hialob, had evaded the Lao police by fleeing to Thailand. Lao officers swiftly alerted Thai law enforcement who managed to take him into police custody at Thailand’s Suvarnabhumi Airport.

Due to ongoing police investigations involving the drug ring, Brig. General Thonglek stated,  Lao police could not provide any answers immediately after Xaysana’s arrest in fear of it negatively impacting the  case.

He then confirmed that Lao officers have taken action in efforts to crack down on Xaysana and his affiliates. He stated, “Our police officers have arrested a team of Xaysana’s in Vientiane and Khammuan province, Xaysana’s home province, on January 20, 2017. Five people were detained including a female.”

When questioned if Laos will request Thailand to extradite the drug lord to be indicted in Laos, the Brigadier General replied that the relevant laws of the two countries must be examined first, and as of now, is not a pressing matter.

Though an uphill battle, Lao Officers have been making strides when it comes to fighting drugs.

Three more major drug lords and their dealers from different rings have been incarcerated.

Last September, drug lord Kinoy Phaxay also known as Noy Akard, and 16 of his associates including two foreigners were detained.

In December a middle-aged couple, Vath Philaban and Mrs Keo Philaban, were arrested in northern Bokeo province.

While just last month, police officers captured Khonthai Khotsombath and two affiliates in Savannakhet province.

A multitude of assets and evidence linked to the drug trade have been confiscated including residences, luxury cars, jet-skis, a hotel, a market, a restaurant, various manufacturing plants, warehouses, garages, a gas station, assorted drugs, military guns and many other unnamed possessions.

Brig. General Thonglek has said that the the suspects in question have plead guilty to trading, transporting and possessing the drugs that have been impounded for evidence.

The investigation is said to be still going strong and officers are pursuing the remaining members of all five groups. He added that police officers are now finalising cases to hand to prosecutors to try the suspects in court.

The Brigadier General has expressed gratitude in all sectors, including members of the public who have aided in the crackdown.

 

KB Kolao Leasing Enters Lao Local Leasing Market

By
Laotian Times
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KO Kolao Leasing Enters Lao Local Leasing Market
KO Kolao Leasing Enters Lao Local Leasing Market

Feb 13, Vientiane Capital – As a part of its regional expansion strategy, the KB Financial Group, a South Korean financial holding company, has brought its tremendous international resources and know-how to invest in the Lao leasing market. After a year of preparation, its local incarnation KB Kolao Leasing has finally obtained official approval from local authorities to operate in Laos. KB Kolao Leasing is a business venture between the following entities: KB Financial Group (KB Capital and KB Kookmin Card, the largest credit card company in South Korea) and Laos-based Kolao Group.

KB Capital holds a 51 percent equity (3,060,000 shares) in the new enterprise, with KB Kookmin Card taking 29 percent and Kolao Group holding 20 percent.

KB Kolao Leasing celebrated the launch of its operations in Laos with a fantastic grand opening at the newly opened Landmark Riverside Hotel. Honored by the presences of Deputy Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone, Deputy Governor of the Central Bank Sonexay Sitphaxay, South Korean Ambassador to Laos Yun Kang Hyeon, Chairman of Kolao Group Oh Sei Young, KB Financial Group Chairman Yoon Jong Kyoo, other distinguished guests and members of the press.

The Kolao Group is a Laos-based corporation that has interests in a diverse range of businesses including construction, banking, leisure, logistics, media, furniture, agriculture, car manufacturing and assembly, and second hand vehicles distribution. With its ever popular Hyundai, Kia and Daehan cars in high public demand, Kolao owns 50% of the Lao domestic car market.

KB Kolao Leasing shall offer financial services for clients via the Indochina Bank network and will be expanding in Laos through collaboration among partners of the KB Financial Group while taking advantage of the solid networks of the Kolao Group.

KB Financial Group Chairman Yoon Jong Kyoo stated in his opening speech that “KB Kolao Leasing is a cooperation between the KB Financial Group and Kolao Group, with the latter holding the title of the company with the highest number of car sales in Laos. I hope that at the outset, KB Kolao Leasing will capitalize on its vast network and resources readily provided by its two parent companies and add value to the growing economy of Laos. I wish the new company much success.”

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony to Celebrate the Launch of KB Kolao Leasing
Ribbon Cutting Ceremony to Celebrate the Launch of KB Kolao Leasing

KB Kolao Leasing has immediate plans to offer financing for new vehicles sold by the Kolao Group. Once its operations gain steam, the former plans to move into the second-hand vehicles financing market.

There are currently 166 financial institutions licensed by the central bank of Laos, of which 29 are leasing companies.

Event managed by Sengdara Communications

Officials Investigate Spontaneous Fish Deaths in Houayxai

By
Laotian Times
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Fish Deaths

On February 12th, residents of the Poungnanoun Village, Houayxai District in Bokeo Province, spotted a number of lifeless fish floating down the Ngao River.

Authorities from the District Agriculture and Forestry Office who have collaborated with local officials, are examining the dead freshwater creatures and speculate that the deaths are attributed to a chemical substance that has yet to be determined.

Vientiane authorities have collected water samples along with a few of the fish carcasses to run a full analysis and the results are scheduled to be revealed this week.

According to officials of the District Agriculture and Forestry Office and the District Health Office, the fish were poisoned by an  unidentified chemical substance and the source has still not been discovered.

Villagers and nearby villages along the Ngao River have been warned by officials not to consume any of the fish or other animals fetched from the river until further notice.

Mr. Souvat stated that initially some of the villagers had unknowingly collected the dead fish to take home and feed their families, but fortunately no one has been observed to have been negatively affected.

However, to be cautious, villagers should destroy all dead river life they have obtained.

As of now, everyone is eagerly waiting the results of the analysis from Vientiane capital, says an official. He continues that the Ngao protected river zone is 7 kilometres long, and flows through three villages including Poungnanoun before merging with the Mekong River.

It is said that a local company with a banana farm inhabits a portion of the riverbank that is suspected to be the culprit based on a previous encounter with similar results.

A  comparable incident happened on the Toy River along Thibounthong village in the past year, and is the second time that Houayxai district has had this occurrence.

It was disclosed that heavy rainfall had washed a chemical substance from a local banana farm into the Toy River.

It has been noted, however, that the number of dead fish during the Toy River incident is significantly lower than that of this current incident.

Photos: Vientiane Times, Tholakhong

Eastern Star Bilingual School Highlights Benefits of Reading

By
Laotian Times
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Eastern Star Bilingual School Highlights Benefits of Reading
Eastern Star Bilingual School Highlights Benefits of Reading
Eastern Star, a private bilingual school in Vientiane, is promoting a love of reading among students and encouraging them to understand the importance of developing their reading skills through a new reading initiative.
 
Ike Goldberg, a senior teacher at Eastern Star Bilingual School, told Laotian Times, “we want to let everyone know that our students are participating in a new reading initiative. This particular program required the complete support of our teachers, principal and parents. As a school, we aim to reach each and every student to improve their learning.”
 
This academic year, the Eastern Star administration has decided to place more emphasis on low-achieving students so that they meet minimum academic standards. In order to identify low-achievers, the Cambridge benchmark test was given to students to test their reading levels.
 
Goldberg said “our school Professional Learning Community has discussed all the important factors that cause some students to have low reading achievement. The first step taken by the administration to improve reading skills was to organise a three-week book fair which involved students participating in both a at-school and at-home reading program. The students had a fun time reading and expressing themselves while sharing stories during their reading hour. Apart from that, each class has its own library. In order to get a new book from their class library, students must first finish a book and write a summary of its contents. The teachers’ room bulletin board is now full of their beautiful summary papers. Some of the students even draw characters from the books they read.”
 
“We have had much success with the program, and we have even extended it to beyond Grades 6-12 which had initially been the target grades. It now applies to primary school and high school students,” Goldberg added.
 
Students will be tested three times a year and their progress shared with parents and other students.
 
“We would like to have all our students on their standard grade reading level. We cannot be more proud of the fact that our students have increased their reading hours in school and at home. We appreciate all of the teachers and assistants who have worked diligently to implement this reading program.” He also mentioned that Ahmet Pektash, the Eastern Star Schools Nongbone principal, has been instrumental in providing the necessary support for the program.
 
Eastern Star Bilingual School Highlights Benefits of Reading
Eastern Star School Students Reading in Public
“After seeing the success of the reading program and the students’ progress, we decided to have our students go out to public places to read books in order to create a reading awareness in Vientiane,” Goldberg continued.
 
Goldberg led twenty students to Patouxay Monument during their reading hour, during which they sat on the ground and read books. Lots of people took pictures with them and conveyed how much they appreciated this wonderful initiative.
 
 

Laos Vying for Chinese Tourism

By
Laotian Times
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Chinese Tourism in Laos

There is no dispute when stating that Chinese tourism in Laos has been on the rise.

In 2011, according to statistics from the ministry’s tourism sector, data showed that 150,791 Chinese tourists traveled to Laos. Since then, the figure has steadily increased, with almost 400,000 Chinese tourists passing through Lao borders just between January and September of 2016 alone.

After noticing the large number of Chinese tourists and boost in revenue to the economy, Laos has been actively pursuing more Chinese tourists to visit the country.

At a recent annual meeting of the information, culture and tourism sector, Vientiane Times quoted Lao Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism Bosengkham Vongdara as saying, “Laos should target more Chinese tourism because Chinese tourists are high-end customers and spend a lot.”

However, tourism operators and specialists say that Laos has areas of opportunities in the tourism market that they need to address to meet the demands of Chinese consumers. Opportunities such as transportation, services, and tourist sites all must be improved and held to a standard, while it is also crucial to address the problems that constantly cause frustration for visitors.

According to the Vientiane Times article, Xanglao Travel Director Vilaysone Louangaphay (the man behind the famous hop-on, hop-off tourist bus) has stated, that in order to fully welcome large numbers of Chinese people, the tourism sector needs to study their requirements. Service standards have much room for improvement; stressing that restaurants, hospitality facilities and transport operators must invoke trust with their guests.

Oudomxay authorities had met with related sectors in three northern provinces that share borders with China, those being Luang Namtha, Bokeo and Phongsaly, to seek consensus in solving issues that impact the tourism climate, says Director of the Information, Culture and Tourism Department in northern Oudomxay Province Phonsavanh Phanthavichit.

Oudomxay officials have held discussions with their Chinese counterparts on how to influence Chinese companies to invest in various sectors in the province, including tourism.

Phonsavanh said the department will continue to work with businesses in hospitality, tourist site operators, and restaurant owners to upgrade their services and infrastructure to accommodate visitors.

The official also states that Chinese people are interested in Lao culture and the lifestyle of ethnic groups, so these areas should be highlighted as part of Laos’ sales pitch.

China is one five nations neighboring the land-locked country, with the others being Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and Myanmar.

MIST: Groundbreaking Tourism Accelerators Now Accepting Projects in the Mekong Region

By
Laotian Times
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MIST Mekong Innovative Startup Tourism

HANOI, VIETNAM – The Mekong Innovative Startup Tourism (MIST) Initiative has announced two new accelerators designed to make it easier and faster for innovative tourism businesses to get established in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam. The MIST Startup Accelerator will take entries from early stage companies with either travel technology or traditional tourism business plans. The MIST Market Access Accelerator welcomes applications from mature international tourism startups needing assistance entering the region. Both accelerators will close to applications 26 March.

Applicants must demonstrate how they will create jobs, generate positive community impact and contribute to sustainable tourism growth in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, or Vietnam.

“The MIST accelerator programs give a leg up to tourism investments that create jobs, help local communities, and support entrepreneurship, especially for women,” explained Dominic Mellor, senior Asian Development Bank economist and head of the Mekong Business Initiative.

Founders accepted into the MIST Startup Accelerator will attend mini bootcamps to further develop their business plans. The top business plans for each country market will win MIST Innovation Grants, with the best overall receiving US$10,000 and the three runners-up receiving $7,000.

MIST infographic

MIST Market Access Accelerator participants will join familiarization tours of relevant Mekong Region markets. Through these tours, they will receive coaching, custom market insights, and introductions to supplier networks and relevant stakeholders.

Participants in both MIST accelerators will pitch their plans to investors, global acceleration programs, and tourism leaders at the Mekong Tourism Forum in June (Luang Prabang, Lao PDR) and APEC Summit in November (Danang, Vietnam). In-country teams will provide additional advisory services tailored to participants’ business needs.

“The Great Mekong Subregion is among the fastest growing tourism destinations on earth. Start-ups can disrupt traditional practices to adapt to changing consumer behaviors, but let’s also encourage responsible innovation that enhances the region’s appeal for future generations,” said Jens Thraenhart, Executive Director of the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office.

MIST is a joint venture of the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office and the Mekong Business Initiative. It receives regional funding, advisory and technical support from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Government of Australia, Amadeus Next, the Pacific Asia Travel Association, and Village Capital. It has been endorsed by young entrepreneurs associations and startup groups in Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, and Vietnam.

Check out the video promo here:

About the Mekong Business Initiative (MBI) – MBI is an advisory facility that promotes private sector development in Cambodia, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR), Myanmar, and Viet Nam. MBI fosters development of the innovation ecosystem by supporting business advocacy, alternative finance and innovation. It is supported by the Asian Development Bank and the Government of Australia. On Facebook: MekongBusinessInitiative.

About the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office (MTCO) – Established in early 2006, the MTCO is a collaborative effort between the six countries of the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS). Its mission of the MTCO is to help GMS National Tourism Organizations develop and promote the Mekong as a single travel destination, offering a diversity of good quality and high-yielding sub-regional products that help to distribute the benefits of tourism more widely; add to the tourism development efforts of each GMS destination; contribute to poverty reduction, gender equality and empowerment of women; and minimize any adverse impacts of tourism through the development of a sustainable industry. On social media: @TourismMekong.

 

Contact:

Mr. Jason Lusk

MIST Project Coordinator

Mekong Business Initiative

Jason@mekongbiz.org

Worldwide: +1 (202) 738 1792

Vietnam or WhatsApp: +84 (0) 96 976 0912

 

Lao Villages Fall Victim to Chinese Human Trafficking

By
Laotian Times
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human trafficking in lao villages

It is not uncommon to see reports on human trafficking in the news. We read stories about it happening even in the most powerful nations across the globe. And though there are whispers about it happening in the sleepy little country of Laos, most don’t realize how common it has become in the land-locked country.

Northern villagers in various areas have reported Chinese men entering their villages under the guise of being wealthy, eligible suitors looking for a bride to take home and care for. Girls as young as 16 and 17 are being enticed  to drop out of school and willingly take a husband based on the promise of a better life in China.

However, when they arrive in China, the unfortunate girls are sold into brothels and forced into prostitution.They come from all over the country, the South, the center and Vientiane

The victims are not just restricted to northern Laos, where the land-locked nation borders China, but also the southern and central provinces, and occasionally the capital itself.

These men prey on poor villages and are seeking naive school girls who believe that all Chinese men are rich. The school girls are convinced they will be going to China or another part of Laos where they will get married, but are typically  forced into the sex trade.

A small, possibly increasing, number of women and girls from Laos are sold as brides in China and subjected to sex trafficking,, according to a  US government report on trafficking in persons.

One resident of  Pak Lai District Xayaboury Province spoke of a girl who had finished high school and met a Chinese man who had visited her village. The man told her he loved her, and then made arrangements with a middle-man. Soon after they were engaged, and the man took her to China where she only contacted her family with an occasional message, and her whereabouts were unknown and untraceable.

It was later learned that she was sold to a brothel.

An NGO official has addressed this issue and has stated that it’s unknown how many cases are like this, since there has never been a survey taken.

In her village at least eight girls have gone to China. One girl who left three months ago has never contacted her worried parents.

“Many, many Chinese men come to our village looking for brides,” the villager said. “Some of the girls come back to the village, and a few of them come with one or two babies, but without their Chinese husbands.”

Laos and China  signed an anti-human trafficking memorandum of understanding in 2014, and the  two  countries have devised an action plan to take a stand against human trafficking.

Although the girls who left behind their friends and families were just looking for love, or at least a husband, those who have returned to their villages have understandingly had enough of China.

“These girls say they don’t want to go back to China,” said the villager.

Laos One Of Four Countries To Boost Tourism Integration

By
Laotian Times
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tourism integration tourism-integration-golden-triangle-special-economic-zone

In collaboration with Thailand, Vietnam and China, Laos is to be included in the development of sustainable tourism integration across eleven provinces in the upper Mekong Basin.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the mechanism of their cooperation was signed last Saturday by officials at the half-day meeting held in the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone in Bokeo province.

Under the MoU, the provinces have agreed to coordinate cross border facilities, on tourism advertising and tourism infrastructure development. This includes tourism route connectivity, human resource development, and integration facilitation for international tourists.

The Laos provinces include Bokeo, Luang Namtha, Oudomxay, Phongsaly, Luang Prabang and Xayaboury; The Chinese prefecture of Xishuangbanna; Sonla and Dien Bien Phu of Vietnam; and the Thailand provinces Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai.

The participating countries will look to cooperate in developing and facilitating a single website for a more efficient approach with tourism sites, tourism advertising, routes, accommodation, restaurants and security guidance for each province being listed.

Additionally, all four  provinces have agreed to provide free Wi-Fi at most tourist service destinations to equip visitors with the ability to communicate while travelling.

At the conference, Bokeo province Deputy Governor Dr Khamking Euaymanihak stated, “the free Wi-Fi will be a channel of advertising where visitors can share their travel experiences including tourist sites and attractions with their friends directly and timely.”

Also highlighted in the tourism integration agreement is the cooperation of the provinces in identifying cross-border tourism points and investing in these areas to attract more tourists to these established sites. They will also look to contribute assistance in the improvements and advertisements of tourist sites, hotels, restaurants, and service facilities to a  quality standard.

Provinces will collaborate in hopes of  developing a more systematic, efficient and comprehensive experience, such  as improving the transportation systems between countries including the road links between Huayxai, Luang Namtha and Xieng Khuang in Laos and Kunming in China, the road between Huayxai in Laos and Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai in Thailand, and the road between Huayxai and Oudomxay in Laos and Dien Bien Phu, Son La, and Nge An in Vietnam.

The participating parties will also determine the optimal Mekong River tourism and goods transportation routes linking all four countries, which according to the programme, could be the Lancang River Tour. This will connect the provinces of Xieng Khuang, Chiang Sen, Bokeo, Xayaboury, Oudomxay, and Luang Prabang.

Border crossing points will also be an area of a improvement that the cooperation will be focusing on so that travelers can enter and exit each international checkpoint with little difficulty or hassle.

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