Lao morning news for April 26

Cabinet agrees to lower electricity price, orders action to strengthen economy
The government cabinet has agreed to revise the electricity unit price structure to lower the cost of electricity, as an incentive to boost investment and productivity.
— Vientiane Times

Report: Food prices the cause of mounting inflation in Laos
THE inflation rate continued to rise in March, with the Lao National Statistics Bureau attributing the growth of the annual Consumer Price Index (CPI) due to rising food prices, and not the depreciation of the kip as many people believed.
— The Phnom Penh Post

KOICA furthers support for Savannakhet mapping project
The Lao government and the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) have kicked off the Project for the Establishment of Geospatial Data Infrastructure and Capacity Building for Development of Special Economic Zones in Savannakhet province.
— Vientiane Times

Laos looking to beef up livestock exports
Laos is planning to earn about US$48.2 million from livestock exports including cattle and buffaloes this year, representing an increase of 1.7 percent compared to last year’s figure.
— ANN/ Vientiane Times

Laos, China partner in treatment of cardiovascular disease
Laos and China have agreed to step up cooperation in the field of cardiovascular disease at Mahosot Hospital with the signing of an agreement on Tuesday by the hospital’s Director General Dr Phisit Phoutsavath and Deputy Director of the Fuwai Yunnan cardiovascular hospital in China, Dr Ma Linkkun.
— Vientiane Times

Vietnam, Laos enhance cooperation in ethnic affairs
Vietnam and Laos have agreed to boost cooperation in ethnic affairs, including training, building and implementing related policies, and increasing cultural exchanges between ethnic groups along the shared border line.
— Vietnam Plus

Thailand resisting falling into rail debt trap
Despite Thailand’s vow to rely on domestic funding as it expands its network of high-speed railways, it could soon accept the offer of a low-interest loan from the Export-Import Bank of China (CEXIM), raising concerns about whether the country is on the verge of falling into a debt trap.
— Bangkok Post

“QR KBank” Launched In Vientiane
Kasikorn Bank Vientiane in cooperation with the Lao Telecomm has launched a QR code-based payment service “QR KBank” in Vientiane Capital.
— KPL

Govt, UNICEF launches child, youth consultations
The National Commission for the Advancement of Women, Mothers and Children (NCAWMC) with the support of UNICEF recently began a series of children and youth consultations in Bokeo province.
— Vientiane Times (paywall)

Australia deserves credit for linking Laos to the world
Laos is transforming itself from a landlocked country into a land-link within the region with numerous Mekong bridges, roads and other infrastructure being built to connect it with neighbouring Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar and China.
— ANN/ Vientiane Times

South East Asia educators plan better future for border schools
Recognising that education lies at the heart of development, the Lao government has been working alongside other countries to improve the standard of education.
— ANN/ Vientiane Times

Reporters learn smartphone skills for news coverage
More than 50 media personnel from Vientiane and Borikhamxay province are attending a workshop in Vientiane this week that involves lectures by Vietnamese news professionals and is called “Skills on how to make news with a smartphone”.
— Vientiane Times (paywall)

Laos, China strengthen business relations
Young Lao and Chinese entrepreneurs have agreed to develop business relations between the two countries to provide more opportunities for trade, investment and economic development.
— ANN/ Vientiane Times

Premier Li meets Lao president
Premier Li Keqiang on Thursday met with Lao President Bounnhang Vorachit, also general secretary of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party Central Committee, who is here to attend the Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation.
— Xinhuanet

Agriculture research institute celebrates 20th anniversary with exhibition
The National Agriculture and Forestry Research Institute (NAFRI) is celebrating its 20th anniversary with a three-day agricultural exhibition, which began yesterday.
— Vientiane Times (paywall)

Vietnam-Laos legislative ties grow fruitfully: NA leader
The comprehensive cooperation between the National Assemblies of Vietnam and Laos has developed fruitfully in the recent past, said Vice Chairwoman of the Vietnamese NA Tong Thi Phong.
— Vietnam Plus

Senior CPC official meets Lao president
Senior Communist Party of China (CPC) official Wang Huning Thursday met with Lao President Bounnhang Vorachit, also general secretary of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party Central Committee, who is here to attend the Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation.
— Xinhuanet

Luang Namtha to host rocket festival for Visit Laos-China Year
Luang Namtha province is planning a raft of fun activities for the traditional rocket festival it is staging for Visit Laos-China Year, hoping to attract a large number of tourists from across the border.
— Vientiane Times (paywall)

Lao Police Allegedly Arrest Citizen for Practicing Christianity
Police have allegedly arrested, beaten and detained a man in Savannakhet province in southern Laos for practicing his Christian faith, witnesses told RFA’s Lao Service on Thursday.
— Radio Free Asia

Laos hammer Mongolia
Laos made their Bangamata U-19 Women’s International Gold Cup bow with a bang after handing a huge 5-0 defeat to Mongolia in a Group A encounter at Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday.
— The Daily Star

The colour of maize: Visions of green growth and farmers perceptions in northern Laos
The rapid expansion of hybrid maize in the uplands of northern Laos is viewed by the government as meeting policy aims related to green economic development.
— EurekaMag.com

Op-Ed by Kaarina Immonen, UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative
During the past five years, I have had the privilege to be assigned as UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative to the Lao PDR.
— KPL

Feature photo World Health Organization

This week’s Lao morning news feature photo acknowledges World Malaria Day, April 25.

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 April 26 added by Stella-maris Ewudolu on April 26, 2019
View all posts by Stella-maris Ewudolu →

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Stella-maris Ewudolu

Journalist at AEC News Today

Stella-maris graduated with a Bachelor of Arts, Education from Ebonyi State University, Nigeria in 2005.

Between November 2010 and February 2012 she was a staff writer at Daylight Online, Nigeria writing on health, fashion, and relationships. From 2010 – 2017 she worked as a freelance screen writer for ‘Nollywood’, Nigeria.

She joined AEC News Today in December 2016.