Lao morning news for October 3

Improved Business Environment To Support Sustainable Growth In Lao PDR
Lao firms and households are expected to benefit from a new US$13-million project, approved on Sep 27, 2018 by the World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors, which will promote reforms to the business environment, for instance reducing the number of days needed to start a business.
— KPL

Laos quietly introduced new tourist tax on Oct. 1
The Lao government eventually without much fanfare introduced a tourist tax – which was in the planning since 2010 – on October 1, 2018. From that day, foreign visitors to the country are now slapped with a $1-fee as a tourist tax at all entry points.
— Invsetvine

Construction materials inspection centre first approved via Chinese cooperation
An agreement to build the new centre was signed on Friday in Vientiane between Director General of the Department of Standardisation and Metrology under the Ministry of Sciences and Technology, Mr Viengthong Vongthavilay and Vice General Manager of the China Yunnan Provincial Overseas Investment Co., Ltd, Mr Liu Hu.
— Vientiane Times

Mekong cross-border planning, management boosted as Commission secures German funding
The government of Germany has committed EUR4 million (approximately US$4.6 million) to the Mekong River Commission (MRC) to strengthen Mekong cross-border water cooperation, according to the MRC.
— Vientiane Times

19 dead, more than 3,000 in need of rescue after Laos dam collapse
Nineteen people have been confirmed dead and more than 3,000 must be rescued after a collapsed in a remote part of land-locked Laos, local media reported on Wednesday.
— Canton Caller

Laos slaps a dollar tax on tourists
Almost forgotten but on the brew for years the much talked about tourist tax was quietly introduced at all of Lao PDR’s border checkpoints 1 October.
— TTR Weekly

Miss International Laos 2018 To Be Held On OCT 14
Miss International Laos 2018 will be held at the Crown Plaza Vientiane Hotel, in Vientiane Capital on Oct 14.
— KPL

River tourism takes off
Mekong River tourism is turning its spotlight on “Destination Pak Beng” as the Lao port transforms from a remote overnight stop on the Thailand-Luang Prabang cruise route into a multi-day stay-over town.
— TTR Weekly

Remarkable period achieved in Laos-China relations, departing Ambassador says
Relations between China and Laos have entered the most remarkable period in history with the powerful Asian country becoming the largest investor in and second biggest trade partner to Laos.
— Vientiane Times

Germany commits to MRC funding
The German government has committed about $4.6 million to the Mekong River Commission to increase dialogue and cooperation on transboundary water resource planning with Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam, the MRC said yesterday.
— Khmer Times

Feature photo Asian Development Bank

This week’s Lao morning news feature photo acknowledges World Teachers’ Day, October 5.

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.

Lao morning news for October 3 added by John Le Fevre on October 3, 2018
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John Le Fevre

Thailand editor at AEC News Today

John is an Australian national with more than 40 years experience as a journalist, photographer, videographer, and copy editor.

He has spent extensive periods of time working in Africa and throughout Southeast Asia, with stints in the Middle East, the USA, and England.

He has covered major world events including Operation Desert Shield/ Storm, the 1991 pillage in Zaire, the 1994 Rwanda genocide, the 1999 East Timor independence unrest, the 2004 Asian tsunami, and the 2009, 2010, and 2014 Bangkok political protests.

In 1995 he was a Walkley Award finalist, the highest awards in Australian journalism, for his coverage of the 1995 Zaire (now Democratic Republic of Congo) Ebola outbreak.

Prior to AEC News Today he was the deputy editor and Thailand and Greater Mekong Sub-region editor for The Establishment Post, predecessor of Asean Today.

In the mid-80s and early 90s he owned JLF Promotions, the largest above and below the line marketing and PR firm servicing the high-technology industry in Australia. It was sold in 1995.