The Vientiane Times
Mining slump, improper planning blamed for budget tensions
The enormous drop in revenue generated from mining coupled with improper budget planning has been the main cause of the budget tensions Laos has faced over the past few years, Deputy Prime Minister SomdyDouangdy told parliament recently. MrSomdy, who is also Minister of Finance, said revenue ...
Second phase of Nam Ou hydropower project kicks off
The Nam Ou River Basin Hydropower Project located in Phongsaly and Luang Prabang provinces has launched its second phase of construction in Vientiane on April 28, after completing the Nam Ou 2, 5 and 6 hydropower plants during the first phase. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister ...
Laos yet to formulate drought response plan
An official from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Mrs Sonephet Phosarath said on 28 April that the relevant ministries have an emergency response plan to fight against the worsening drought. “Someday, the Lao government will make a plan to respond to worsening droughts and floods,” ...
Laos prepares for timber trade agreement with EU
The Technical Working Group of the Lao Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) process has elaborated a first draft Timber Legality Definition in preparation for the first face-to-face FLEGT/Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) negotiations between Laos and the European Union. The two-day workshop brought together 50 ...
Asean debates food safety issues
The three-day meeting was hosted by the Ministry of Health and attended by representatives of the Asean Secretariat and officials concerned with food safety matters from the 10 Asean member states. The importance of food safety has increased significantly in recent years following a series of ...
Laos parliament approves development plans
The inaugural session of the National Assembly’s 8th Legislature ended on 22 April with the approval of the 8th five-year National Social Economic Development Plan for 2016-2020, the 10-year Strategy for 2016-2025, and the 15-year Vision for 2016-2030. The three-day session elected Mr Bounnhang Vorachit as President ...
Laos enjoys political stability, strong economic growth, parliament told
Mr. Thongsing was summarising the government’s performance under his leadership over the past five years from 2011-2015 at the inaugural session of the NA’s 8th Legislature, which opened on 20 April. He told the session that the government had placed great importance on the development of ...
Laos waits for new dengue vaccine
While Laos is waiting for WHO approval of the quality of the dengue vaccine, Dr. Kongxay, deputy manager of the Expanded Programme of Immunisation of the Ministry of Health has advised members of the public to follow five principles on controlling dengue mosquito populations. Those include ...
Bounnhang Vorachit new President of the Lao PDR
Members of the National Assembly’s 8th Legislature elected Mr Bounnhang Vorachit as the new President of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic at the Assembly’s inaugural session on 20 April. Keep reading ...
Banana exports increase tenfold to US$40m
Exports of Lao bananas have grown tenfold from more than 30.8 billion kip in 2011-12 to more than 324.8 billion kip in 2014-15, a recent report revealed. According to preliminary research findings by the National Agriculture and Forestry Research Institute on the commercial production of bananas ...
