Laos' first thermal energy plant marks start of power generation
Laos’ largest power producer, the Hongsa Mine Mouth Power Plant, which has a generating capacity of 1,878 megawatts, on 9 December celebrated the start of commercial operation. Two of the plant’s generators are fully operational while the third is set to come online early next year. Keep reading ...
Australia increases ODA to Laos with education, trade development focus
Australia will increase its Official Development Assistance to Laos from AUD40.7 million in 2016-2017 to AUD42.3 million in 2017-18. The financial support announced during the Laos-Australia Portfolio Review Meeting was held on Friday, which also discussed the progress of development cooperation between the two countries.Read ...
Laos stresses narrowing development gap at Asean meeting
Laos has stressed the need to strengthen newer Asean members’ capacity through the implementation of the regional plan to narrow the development gap. Minister of Foreign Affairs Saleumxay Kommasith emphasised this point when speaking at the 51st Asean Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM) held in Singapore ...
Vientiane Times’ reporter
Sustainable development goals achievement efforts reaffirmed at UN
The government has reiterated its commitment to decisive actions based on strong intentions and the available evidence to proceed with concerted efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) in cooperation with the international community. Minister of foreign Affairs SaleumxayKommasith, representing the government, asserted same ...
Vientiane Times
Lao Authorities announce bush fire prevention strategies
The government is on bush fire alert as temperatures rise and the country’s forests become drier. The Ministry of Agriculture and forestry, which is in charge of forest fire management, announced recently that the parties involved must take steps to prevent forest fires in the dry ...
Times Reporters
Mekong Hospital opens in Vientiane
The privately-owned Mekong Hospital in Saphangmuek village, Xaythany district, Vientiane, opened its doors to the public on 15 August. Hospital Director Mr Huangsubin said the Mekong Hospital will not only treat illnesses but will investigate the prevention of disease and carry out research, while also providing ...
Laos, Thailand boost trade, investment cooperation
High ranking Lao and Thai officials met in Vientiane on May 24 to discuss increased cooperation across different sectors in order to promote trade and investment between both nations. Laos was led by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Mr Somdy Duangdy, while Thailand by Deputy ...
Laos, Australia further strengthen customs cooperation
Laos and Australia concluded a customs related agreement in Vientiane last week, aiming to promote customs-to-customs ties between the two countries. According to a press rel ease from the Australia Embassy in Vientiane, Australian Border Force Commissioner Roman Quaedvlieg is visiting the region to further ...
Tobacco deal leaves farmers out
It has been more than six months since Vietnam agreed to waive duties on 3,000 tonnes of Cambodian dried tobacco exports per year, yet local smallholder tobacco farmers claim the agreement has done little to improve their incomes, with some accusing large tobacco companies of ...
Laos continues pursuit in fighting corruption
Laos is pursuing more capacity building in the development of both its legislation and human resources in its continued fight against corruption. High-level officials from the State Inspection and Anti-Corruption Authority relayed the country’s efforts in an address at a workshop on using financial investigation, ...
LANIC launches full domain management
The Lao National Internet Centre under the auspices of the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications officially launched full management and operation of Laos’ internet top-level domain name, dot la (.la) on January 23. Laos’ internet top-level domain name dot.la (based on its country code) was ...
Lao companies to benefit from railway project: Officials
Officials in charge have confirmed that Lao construction companies will benefit from the almost-US$6 billion railway project linking Vientiane to the Chinese border. Director of the Laos-China Railway construction project and Director of the Lao National Railway Company, Dr Koung Souk-Aloun, told Vientiane Times on ...
Govt launches new tax deduction scheme for long-term investment in mutual funds
The government has launched a so-called super savings fund (SSF) aimed at encouraging people to invest in long-term mutual funds by offering tax deductions of up to 30 per cent of annual income.The Cabinet approved the Finance Ministry’s proposal on the new tax scheme, Finance ...
The Nation Reporter
New Chinese power deal sees Laos risk its future for quick gains
In early September, the Lao government signed a deal to give majority control of its electric grid over to a Chinese state-owned company amid mounting public debt as Beijing continues to expand its role in the country. State-owned China Southern Power Grid Company signed a deal with the ...
Nam Theun 2 pauses power generation, supporting flood prevention efforts
One of the largest hydropower plants in Laos has temporarily halted electric power generatiOn in a bid to minimise the risk of flooding in the Xe Bang Fay river’s downstream area, according to the project’s operator. Nam Theun 2 power company announced this week it had ...
Ekaphone Phouthonesy
NTPC claims environmental, social achievements in hydropower project
Nam Theun 2 Power Company (NTPC) has successfully carried out provisions of its concession agreement relating to a resettlement programme and recommends the closure of the Resettlement Implementation Period under the Nam Theun 2 Multi-Purpose Project, according to its latest International Panel of Experts (POE) ...
Times Reporters
No more unnecessary state investment projects, PM says
Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith told the National Assembly (NA) that the government will thoroughly scrutinise state investment projects to prevent money from being spent on highly unnecessary projects as was the case in past years.“In 2019, the government will emphasise quality investment,” he told the ...
Souksakhone Vaenkeo
Laos works towards a better business environment
Lao authorities have adopted measures that will allow easier access to credit and give added protection to minority investors in moves set to improve the country’s overall business environment.Accessing credit and protecting minority investors are two of the 11 indicators which the World Bank uses ...
Souksakhone Vaenkeo
Fifth shipment of Covid-19 vaccine arrives from China
The Chinese government has provided another 1 million doses of Sinopharm Covid-19 vaccine and medical equipment including syringes to bolster Laos’ efforts to contain the coronavirus outbreak.The vaccine will be sufficient to immunise another 500,000 people against the virus.The fifth shipment of China’s Sinopharm vaccine ...
Phetphoxay Sengpaseuth
Govt officials review efforts to improve road safety
The National Secretariat Committee on Road Safety and associated groups met in Vientiane on Thursday to review their work to improve road safety over the past five years.Participants also discussed possible future joint activities with the aim of joining forces to reduce the number of ...
Phomphong Laoin