Infrastructure
JICA study on urban railway
The Japan International Cooperation Agency will conduct a feasibility study on building an urban railway in Phnom Penh, with the aim of developing a master plan to reduce traffic congestion in the capital. The preparatory study for the Automated Gateway Transit project will begin in ...
The soul of the Mekong is in trouble
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha last week asked reporters why non-governmental organisations, environmental activists and academics continue to protest against the planned blasting of rapids in the Mekong River. He said many of these protesters are outsiders, meaning people who do not live by the riverside, do ...
Rail mishaps prompt call for action
Deputy Prime Minister Trương Hòa Bình on Saturday ordered urgent measures to increase safety at railway crossings. His order came in the wake of a sharp spike in the number and scale of railway accidents during the Tết (Lunar New Year) holiday. Deputy PM Bình, ...
Authorities to take action against illegal ICT devices
Authorities are set to take action to address illegal and unsafe information and communication technology devices after learning that substandard products have been imported illegally, creating safety concerns. Minister of Posts and Telecommunications Dr Thansamay Kommasith recently issued a Ministerial Decision warning traders to comply ...
Hun Sen promotes links with Myanmar sites
Cambodia and Myanmar have agreed to strengthen ties by focusing on both nations’ tourism and education sectors, but stopped short of discussing the latter’s widespread abuse and persecution of the Rohingya minority. In a meeting between Prime Minister Hun Sen and Myanmar’s President U Htin Kyaw, ...
New water treatment plant opens in Borikhamxay
Borikhamxay provincial authority last week opened a new water treatment plant in Thong village, Pakxan district. The plant supplies 1,000m3 of drinking water per day, equivalent to the needs of 6,600 people, with the water sourced from the Nam Ngiep River. The plant was built ...
NRSA calls for review of media regulatory bill following strong opposition from journalists
Following strong objections from many media groups, National Reform Steering Assembly whips on February 2 advised its media reform committee to revise the contentious media regulatory bill. Kamnoon Sidhisamarn, secretary and spokesman of the NRSA coordination committee, said at a press conference that the whips decided ...
Airlines plan promotions after new jet fuel tax drives up fares
Airlines are preparing more marketing campaigns and promotions to maintain ticket volumes after the implementation of a new jet-fuel tax is set to drive up air fares. Major carriers doubt that the higher tax on jet fuel will affect their business in the long term, ...
Wattay international airport expansion 11 percent complete
The Vientiane International Airport Expansion Project has now achieved 11 percent of its contractual goals and should be complete by the beginning of 2018, according to a press release from the Embassy of Japan to Laos and the Japan International Cooperation Agency. The project is ...
Road No. 17B to Laos-Myanmar bridge deteriorating
A 70-kilometre section of Road No. 17B linking the Laos-Myanmar Friendship Bridge to Sing district town in Luang Namtha province remains unpaved after almost two years and is deteriorating. An official of the provincial Public Works and Transport Department Mr Chansamone Outamavong, told Vientiane Times ...