Laos’ trade deficit increases in first quarter of 2019
The value of Laos’ combined exports and imports in the first quarter of 2019 amounted to 1.53 percent less than during the same period last year, excluding the value of electricity imports and exports.
— ANN/ Vientiane Times
Thailand, Laos to study on new cross-border railway between Ubon Ratchathani and Pakse
Several cooperation projects on the connection between Thailand and Laos, including a new cross-border railway in southern Laos, have been discussed by the two countries’ transport ministers.
— Xinhuanet
Bank of the Lao PDR drafts plan to boost cashless payments in Laos
THE Bank of the Lao PDR (BOL) is drafting a plan to promote cashless payments and to facilitate and manage money transactions in Laos.
— The Phnom Penh Post
New service charter planned to ease cross-border trade
The Ministry of Industry and Commerce plans to introduce a new service charter to reduce the time it takes to authorise imports and exports, as part of efforts to improve the business climate.
— Vientiane Times
China-Laos railway’s 1st bridge span completed over Mekong River
The first bridge span of the China-Laos railway has been built over the Mekong River in northern Laos, the Laos-China Railway Co., Ltd., which is in charge of the construction and operation of the railway said on Tuesday.
— Xinhuanet
Lao nationals gain Vietnamese citizenship
As many as 17 Lao nationals living in Dak Glei district of the Central Highlands province of Kon Tum were granted Vietnamese citizenship certificates during a ceremony on May 21.
— Vietnamplus
Minister to push for two more Mekong bridges
The Transport Ministry will push for a 4-billion-baht investment in two new bridges over the Mekong River linking Thailand with Laos.
— Bangkok Post
Rural agriculture strategy to drive nation’s development
The Lao government is continuing to drive the nation’s agricultural development strategy by focussing on the improvement of farming practices in the country’s rural areas.
— Vientiane Times (paywall)
Japanese workplace ethics to enrich Lao employees
The Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LNCCI), which is responsible for strengthening business capacity in Laos, is hopeful that the skill development in the private sector will lead to businesses becoming more successful.
— ANN/ Vientiane Times
China helps Lao ministry upgrade information system
A project was launched in the Lao capital Vientiane on Tuesday for upgrading the Lao Ministry of Industry and Commerce’s information system with China’s aid.
— Xinhuanet
Sectors Discuss Stakeholder Engagement For Sustainable Development
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs with support of UN-DESA, UNESCAP and the UN Country Team convened Government planning focal points from across sectors for a workshop on stakeholder engagement for the 2030 Agenda.
— KPL
Workshop launchesguidebook to assess fish conservation zones
The consulting company FISHBIO Laos recently hosted a workshop in partnership with the Department of Livestock and Fisheries of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry to explain a new guidebook developed as a resource to improve the assessment of fish conservation zones in Laos.
— Vientiane Times (paywall)
Vietnamese in Laos celebrate the Buddha’s 2563rd birthday
A ceremony was held at Bang Long Pagoda in Vientiane, Laos, on May 21 to mark the Buddha’s 2563rd birthday, with the participation of hundreds of Buddhist monks, nuns, and followers from the Vietnamese community in the country.
— Vietnamplus
Officials call for more knowledge-based health policies
Health officials and medical staff working in the field of health policy have been urged to do more to incorporate new knowledge in health policy under the leadership of coordinators.
— Vientiane Times
IMF Staff Concludes 2019 Article IV Consultation Mission to Lao P.D.R.
An International Monetary Fund (IMF) team led by Eteri Kvintradze visited Lao P.D.R. from May 8 to May 22, 2019, to hold discussions in the context of the country’s 2019 Article IV Consultation.
— IMF (media release)
Luang Prabang wins ‘Top City’ award, again
Luang Prabang, Laos’ first World Heritage listed site, was voted ‘Best City’ by readers of the UK’s Wanderlust travel magazine earlier this year.
— Vientiane Times
Power company fuels job interest among college students
The Nam Theun 2 Power Company (NTPC) and its partners gave a talk last week about the hydropower industry for students at the Lao-German Technical College (LGTC) to explain the job opportunities available in this field.
— Vientiane Times (paywall)
Western China International Fair provides opportunities for Laos
Lao delegation and several businesses participated in the second Western China International Fair for Investment and Trade (WCIFIT) and meetings held in China’s Chongqing during May 15-19 to explore opportunities in the world’s second largest economy.
— ANN/ Vientiane Times
Vietnamese, Thai arrested with exotic Lao birds bound for Chatuchak Market
A Vietnamese man and his Thai helper were arrested in Nakhon Phanom on Monday night while allegedly trying to smuggle a cache of exotic birds from Laos.
— The Nation
Vietnamese, Lao localities enhance cooperation
An official of the Lao province of Oudomxay on May 21 expressed his wish to further exchanges and cooperation between the locality and Vietnam’s northern province of Ha Nam.
— Vietnamplus
Tiger Farms’ Still Operate in Laos, Defying Trafficking Bans
Three tigers were found killed near a protected forest zone in Laos early this week, drawing renewed attention to the presence in the country of so-called tiger farms, where the animals are kept for sale in spite of wildlife trafficking bans, sources say.
— RFA
2019 Spring Conferment Of Decoration Announced
The Government of Japan announced the foreign recipients of the 2019 Spring Imperial Decorations including Mr. Somdy Douangdy, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance of the Lao PDR.
— KPL
New impact assessments to improve policy outcomes
The Ministry of Justice is continuing its roll out of a major training programme in order to professionalise the policy-making process and improve policy outcomes that will benefit Lao businesses and the broader Lao community.
— Vientiane Times (paywall)
Couple arrested at Laos airport after drugs found in luggage
A MALAYSIAN couple were arrested at Laos’ Vientiane airport on Saturday after 23.84kg of syabu was found in their luggage.
— The Malaysian Insight
Two Thais, Lao woman arrested for felling protected Siamese rosewood
Two Thai men and a Lao woman were arrested on Tuesday morning for allegedly felling protected Siam Rosewood trees in an Ubon Ratchani national park.
— The Nation
Feature photo shankar s.
This week’s Thailand morning news feature photo acknowledges International Day for Biological Diversity, May 22.
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.
Stella-maris Ewudolu
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.
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