Lao Morning News For June 29

Economy grows fast, progress slower toward livability in capital
The economy of Vientiane grew at an annualised rate of more than 10 percent over the past six months, yet the implementation of targets for making the capital an increasingly liveable city has seen slower progress, the city’s Mayor told councilors gathered in the capital.
– Vientiane Times

Sekong Expects Over 100 Households Electrified by Year’s End
More than 100 families in 10 villages of the newly relocated Kaleum district in Sekong Province are expected to have access to electricity by the end of this year.
– Lao News Agency

Lao gov’t, partners discuss priorities for trade, private sector development
Lao government officials and development partners met Wednesday in capital Vientiane to discuss medium term priorities for trade and private sector development in the country.
– Xinhua News Agency

Finance Ministry pledges to scrutinise alleged irregular charges
Ministry of Finance has pledged to investigate an issue in which an importer alleged tax officials in a northern province charged him a much higher tariff than indicated on the receipt.
– Vientiane Times

Govt Invests Over 1 Trillion Kip in Infrastructure Construction in Xone District
The government has spent over 1 trillion kip (about US$120 million) on the construction of new infrastructure in Xone, a new district in Huaphan province.
– Lao News Agency

Govt stresses transparent debt repayment
The roles of the Ministry of Planning and Investment and Ministry of Finance have been clearly defined to deal with government debt repayments, a senior official has confirmed.
– Vientiane Times

Visit Year to revive Lao tourism
Laos is preparing to launch its “Visit Laos Year 2018” to promote the tourism industry and revive interest in the country at a time when visits are declining.
– TTR Weekly

EU to support education development in Laos
The European Union (EU) has agreed to approve more than 570 billion kip (62 million EUR) to help Laos achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially in education.
– Vientiane Times

Quang Nam boosts cooperation with Lao localities
Chairman of the Planning, Finance and Audit Committee of the Lao National Assembly Vilayvong Budakham hoped the central province of Quang Nam will continue increasing cooperation with Lao localities.
– VietnamPlus

Luang Namtha, Luang Prabang airports to serve in Oudomxay’s outage
A temporary pause in flights to Oudomxay Airport to upgrade the runway surface and its apron should not cause undue trouble for passengers to and from the nation’s north over the next few months, an official has said.
– Vientiane Times

Regional experts discuss malaria elimination by 2030
Regional experts are gathering in Lao capital Vientiane to discuss the control and elimination of malaria in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) by 2030 at a three-day workshop being held from Wednesday to Friday.
– Xinhua News Agency

Laos-Thailand railway extension construction back on track
Construction of the Laos-Thailand railway extension linking the existing outer suburban station to central Vientiane is expected to begin at year’s end or early next year after the project was suspended in 2011.
– The Nation

Laos nurturing young talents for sports
Youngsters from across Laos are currently participating in a talent based “sport school” organized by Lao National Sports Training Center in capital Vientiane from Monday this week to next Wednesday.
– Xinhua News Agency

Feature photo Mario Micklisch
Find our previous morning news feature photos in the AEC News Today Morning News Feature Photos gallery where you will find a pictorial display of daily life throughout the Asean Economic Community (AEC).

Lao morning news by AEC News Today is your one stop source for Lao PDR news on matters of governance and policies affecting Asean business communities. It is published M-F by AEC News Today: Governance, not government; policies not politics.