(KPL) Thailand tops the foreign investment in Laos with 1.5 billion US dollars invested in various projects in the last eight years, has said the Investment Promotion Department, Ministry of Planning and Investment.
The department said in its recently released report that the investment from Thailand made Vietnam and China the second and third largest foreign investment in Laos although they ranked first and third largest in the first nine months of 2008, in which Vietnam contributed 181 million US dollars and China did 111 million US dollars to the investment environment of Laos.
Thailand, also the first largest trade partner of Laos, ranked second in the list of foreign investment in the first nine months of 2008, which invested 173 US dollars in various projects across the country.
Top ten largest foreign investors in Laos in the last eight years include 1. Thailand, 2. China, 3. Vietnam, 4. France, 5. Japan, 6. The Republic of Korea, 7. India, 8. Australia, 9. Malaysia and 10. Singapore.
Korea 's famous Break-Boys, or B-Boys, will take to the stage in Vientiane for two performances in June.
Two break-dancing teams and a beatbox expert will perform “Flying Higher”, at the National Culture Hall on June 4 and 5 from 7.30pm.
The performances will feature 22 dancers from Korea 's Gambler Crew and Animation Crew, in addition to the music of Beatbox Eunjun, who is credited with establishing the beatbox genre in Korea.
Highlights will include power moves, acrobatic dances, beatboxing and hip-hop music. “Flying Higher” aims to show the audience how freedom can be expressed through creative dance movement...more info>>
A B-Boy or B-Girl is a person devoted to hip-hop culture, specifically the break dance element. The term originated with the first hip-hop DJ, Kool DJ Herc, who, on noticing the reaction of some dancers to drum breaks, named them Break-Boys or B-Boys.
The performances are sponsored and organised by the Korea Foundation, the Embassy of the Republic of Korea to Laos , and the Lao Ministry of Information and Culture.
The Embassy of the Republic of Korea yesterday announced the performances, which will be free.
Well known Korean pop idols Paran melted spectators' hearts on Saturday at celebrations in Vientiane to mark the first anniversary of Tigo, a mobile phone operator.
The exciting concert took place at the Lao-ITECC in front of a crowd of more than 7,000 fervent spectators, with free games, activities and give-aways.
The concert kicked off with some of Vientiane 's top acts, such as Idols, Punky Dolls, LOG, Overdance, Moderndance, A Pact, Nalin, Aluna and Sam, and hard rock groups Uluvus and The Cells before the appearance of Korea 's grooviest band.
The audience raised their voices like a siren and the ground before the stage shook when Paran appeared for their provocative song and dance act, and greeted the audience with a burst of Lao...more info>>
The band played hit songs from their first two albums, such as Five Steps, First Love and others before the concert had to be stopped because of strong winds on stage.
Tigo staff gathered on stage to blow out candles on their birthday cake in between acts.
The name Paran (which means blue in Korean) is an acronym comprised of the members' stage names. The band has five singers: Joo Jong Hyuk also known as Ryan, Yang Seung Ho or Neo, Lee Soo In or P.O., Choi Sung Wook or Ace, and Kim Jae Sub or A.J., who also raps for the group. They are all aged between 15 and 23.
“We are so happy and exited, because this is our first time in Laos , and it is great to perform in concert to commemorate Tigo's first anniversary,” said Ryan at a media conference at Green Park Hotel on Friday.
The band's first album was entitled I Hold My Breath , and came out in September 2005. Their follow up release was called Beyond the Blue Sky , in September 2006.
“Since I've been here one night, I only have two impressions: one is that the weather here is better than in the Republic of Korea now, where it is still cold, but here it's neither very hot nor cold, which is more comfortable,” said Ace.
“Besides that, Laos still preserves a lot of its nature. I saw green mountains as our flight came across from Vietnam , and now I can also say that here it is peaceful and there is very little traffic.”
“Another thing is the warm welcome we're received from people here, especially the smiles of the Lao women which make me want to stay longer,” Ace said.
Before the band arrived in Laos they toured countries such as Thailand , Taiwan , Singapore , Vietnam and Indonesia .
This is the second time the Millicom Lao Company has brought a Korean band to Laos . In December they presented one of Korea 's most famous girl bands, Baby Vox Re.V, to perform in concert to welcome in the International New Year.
By PHOONSAB THEVONGSA Vientianetimes http://samakomlao.blogspot.com
Paran, a five-member male vocal group which debuted in 2005, has made inroads all across Asia, including China, Indonesia, Laos, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam and Japan.
Members of Paran held a showcase concert at the amphitheater of Lao ITECC, an exhibition center in Vientiane, the capital of Laos, on April 5. It was the first concert by a male foreign group to attract 10,000 audience members. The event will be televised on Lao Star TV, the public broadcaster of Laos.
Laotian fans, who frequently enjoy Thai TV shows, raved over Paran's performance, although they did not understand the Korean lyrics...more info>>
Fans frantically took photos of the group, waved photographs of the members in the air, screamed and blew kisses to the stage.
Paran returned to Korea and April 7. Soon after their arrival, members of the group wrapped up recording their third studio album, which is slated for release on April 11. The album will be released simultaneously in six Asian countries.
The members recently said they plan to sweep their Korean fans off their feet with their new album.
Arenowned pop group from the Republic of Korea, Paran, will perform for Lao fans on April 5 at the National Football Stadium in Vientiane to celebrate the first anniversary of Tigo, the brand name of the Millicom Lao Company.
The company was established in 2002 as a joint venture between the Ministry of Public Works and Transport and Millicom International Cellular S.A. It launched a mobile prepaid service on April in 2003.
The five member group, consisting of Cho Jong Hyuk (lead vocalist), Yang Seung Ho, Choi Sung Wook, Lee Soo In and Kim Jae Seob, will entertain the audience with songs from their latest album and Korean style dance moves...more info and photos>>
“We want to give our customers a special present to help us celebrate the first anniversary of our company; Paran is popular in the Republic of Korea and also in Laos ,” said Tigo's Assistant Marketing Manager, Mr Phouniphon Phanthavong
He said the concert will allow customers to meet and greet their favourite singers.
“People who want to attend the concert can purchase tickets through our phone service,” Mr Phouniphon said.
The concert will also feature local artists, including popular rock band The Cells, rappers L.O.G., pop groups Overdance and Modern Dance, and punk–rock bands Punky Doll, Aluna, Sam, Nalin, Jeiy. Newly formed rock group Uluvus will support the international headline act.
The name Paran is an acronym comprising the band members stage names, and means ‘big bang'. The group of five boys, aged between 15 and 23, trained in singing and dancing for two years before recording and releasing their debut album in 2005.
The song First Love , written by Von Tea Yong, was a hit on radio and TV in Korea .
In 2006, the group released their second album, under the guidance of Gary Hass, who has produced an album for the band Usher. Korean artists Kim Tea Woo, G.O.D. and PJ also featured on Paran's album.
All of the band members can speak English and Japanese fluently, so they are promoting themselves to overseas markets. Their latest album is popular in several Asian countries.
(KPL) A leading mobile phone network company Millicom Laos (Tigo) last Sunday held a concert to present big New Year gifts to its customers through the entertainment programmes by popular singers from local and foreign music companies.
The local artists were from Indee Record including Sam, Nalin, Souk, Modern Dance, LOG and Princes, while the famous artists from the Republic of Korea were Ahn Jin Kyung, Yang Eun Ji, Han Ae Ri, Hwang Yun Kyung and Myung Sa Rang from “BABY VOX Re.V”...more info and photos
BABY V.O.X was established in 1997 and their first single album (“Haircut”) ranked top ten on Korean music charts.
The girl band BABY V.O.X’ second album, Baby VOX II, was a much bigger success, hitting on the Korean pop charts.
On December 26, DR Music unveiled the members of the new Baby V.O.X, “Baby V.O.X. Re.V”.
L.O.G joined the concert
Like the original group, there is one lead vocalist, three “sub-vocalists”, and a singer.
The group made its debut in January of 2007, with the lead singer “Shee”. Compared to the other groups, however, Baby V.O.X. Re.V has a more mature, sexual image, much like the original Baby V.O.X.
This group made its debut in January and has visited various countries.
Well known Korean pop group Baby Vox Re.V will hold a concert to welcome in the New Year at the Lao-ITECC in Vientiane this coming Sunday.
If you have ever heard the hit songs “Never Say Goodbye” and “Shee”, or watched one of their spicy videos, you will no doubt know the name of the most famous girl band in Korea, Baby Vox Re.V - the sexy creators behind the self-titled album Baby V.O.X. Re.V.
The five member group, consisting of Ahn Jin-gyeong (lead vocalist), Yang Eun-ji (sub vocalist), Hwang Yeon-gyeong (sub vocalist), Kwon Ae-ri (sub vocalist), and Myeong Sa-rang (sub vocalist/ rapper), will perform songs from their latest album and, some may say more importantly, titillate audiences with their stimulating Korean-pop styled dance moves...more info>>
Sunday's performance is made possible by special invitation from the telecommunication provider Millicom Lao Co Ltd., commonly known as Tigo.
The company will host the concert to say goodbye to the old year and welcome in the new, and as an expression of gratitude for the continued support of its customers.
A fantastic line-up of local artists, including the newly formed punk-rock band Punky Dolls, rappers LOG, pop group Princess, and the latest pop star to emerge onto the Lao music scene, Nalin, will support the international headline act.
According to a Millicom Lao Co Ltd spokesman, there will be no public ticket sales.
“People who want to attend the concert will have to use our phone service called Easy Load. Phone numbers that have credit of 16,000 kip or more will go into a lucky draw to select the numbers that will receive a ticket. Those who don't want to risk missing out on a ticket in the lucky draw can also simply load 100,000 kip into their phones and they will then receive a ticket,” said a company spokesperson.
Baby Vox Re.V's debut album was unveiled in December 2006, and the group made its smashing debut onto local charts in January 2007 with the lead single “Shee”.
The brand new girl group, a ‘descendant' of the original Korean girl band Baby Vox, was to be called Baby Vox 2, but was instead named the enticingly more cryptic Baby Vox Re.V. The “Re.” in the name is said to derive from the word “Renaissance” which it was hoped would imply a sense of resurrection of the original, and the “V” stands for “voice” meaning that the group will bring new sounds and a new voice to the music industry.
The original Baby VOX first appeared in 1997, when the captivating group was made up of five singers Jang Shieun, Jang Hyunjun, Yumi, Lee Heejin and Kim Eiji.
(KPL) Thailand tops the foreign investment in Laos with 1.5 billion US dollars invested in various projects in the last eight years, has said the Investment Promotion Department, Ministry of Planning and Investment. 
