(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.

Lao pop star Nalin Daravong, who sings Vao Ba Ba (Why Do You Say That?), will feature at the first Asia Pop Concert in Japan on May 25.

Nalin's performance in Japan has been made possible by the concert's organisers, who have invited one artist from each of seven Asian countries: Laos , Thailand , Myanmar , Japan , Republic of Korea , Cambodia and Vietnam .

Each year, the concert will be hosted by one of the countries on the list and next year it will be the turn of Thailand . Only the hottest pop star from each country will be invited to appear on stage.

Ms Nalin said she was very proud and excited to have been chosen to perform at this event...more info>>

“The concert's organisers chose me because when they came to research the music market in Laos in February, my song Vao Ba Ba was top of the charts and was often being played on radio and television,” she said.

“I'm going to perform three Lao songs, Vao Ba Ba , Lom Pak Pao (Lip Service) and Hak Kheu... (Love is…), and one Japanese song,” she said.

The event consist of two performances – the first in Yokohama and the second in Kibuya.

In February Nalin gave an interview to an entertainment programme on Tokyo TV channel NHK, about both her work and entertainment in Laos in general.

The programme, which is unrelated to the Asia Pop Concert, interviews artists in Asian countries on entertainment issues and focuses on the popular artists in each country, and will broadcast live.

Director of Indee Records Anouluck Pathammavong said “During Nalin's visit to Japan we plan for her to make some music videos in cooperation with a video production team here. They are my partners and distribute Lao songs in Japan .”

Nalin's breakthrough came in 2006, when she won the Close Up Music Award; her winnings included a contract with Indee Records.

She first appeared as a backing vocalist on the song Khon Meu Song (Second-Hand Person) by local hard-rock favourites, The Cells.

Indee was impressed enough with her work to hold on to her the following year. This led to her debut album being produced by a line-up including Alouna, Tou, Silvia and Cells' vocalist Sak.

By PHOONSAB THEVONGSA
Vientianetimes

The total foreign investment in Laos has reached 6 billion USD, the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Laos reported.

Top 10 list of foreign investors in Laos is as follows:
1. Thailand, (1.355 billion USD in 169 projects)
2. China, (1.138 billion USD in 237 projects)
3. Viet Nam (535.7 million USD in 120 projects)
4. France (428.2 million USD in 58 projects)
5. Japan (420.3 million USD in 33 projects)
6. India (350.2 million USD in 3 projects)
7. Australia (330.8 million USD in 27 projects)
8. South Korea (294.4 million USD in 105 projects)
9. Malaysia (135.2 million USD in 33 projects)
10. Singapore (101.1 million USD in 22 projects)

Other countries that showed high foreign investment in Laos include Canada (ranking 11), Swizerland (ranking 12), England (ranking 13), Russia (ranking 14), Norway (ranking 15), Taiwan (ranking 16), United State (ranking 17), Germany (ranking 18), Poland (ranking 19), Italy (ranking 20)

Lao agencies attributed increases in foreign investment to the country’s open policy and political stability.

According to the Department of Foreign Investment Promotion and Management under the above ministry, investors from 37 countries and territories have invested in 1,031 projects in Laos.

Source: kpl and ecom

Asian visitor arrivals to Laos surge

The steady increase in the number of visitor arrivals to Laos has continued, with a 29 percent rise during the first seven months of this year.

Visitor arrivals from January to July reached 887,842, up 29 percent from the same period last year, according to statistics from the Lao National Tourism Administration.

The figures indicate that Asean and regional visitors alone reached 765,255, up 35 percent compared to the same period last year, while there were 82,183 visitors from Europe , a 4 percent increase...more info

This period saw an increasing number of visitors not only from Southeast Asian countries but also non-Asean regional countries, especially Brunei , the Philippines , Singapore , India , Japan , and China .

People from European countries such as Greece , Germany , the Netherlands and Finland are also arriving in increasing numbers.

The only tourist group that did not increase in this time was visitors from central and South America , with only 36,250 during the period, according to statistics.

Thai visitors to Laos lead the way, with 519,288 (a 35 percent increase), followed by Vietnam with 155,754 (49 percent more than last year), and the US with 27,324 (a 1 percent increase).

“The increase in the number of tourists is due to our government's open-door policy to tourism, and the general stability of the country,” said the director of the administration's Department of Planning and Cooperation, Mr Sounh Manivong, yesterday.

“It's also the result of Lao tourism promotion efforts throughout the region and the world, from both state and private sectors.”

Mr Sounh said that Laos has become a well-known destination for visitors to Asia , and it is now easier to travel to and within the country, with upgraded transportation systems and more flights coming into the country from foreign airlines.

There have also been improvements in general facilities and services as well as tourism infrastructure, along with more visa exemption agreements with countries in the region that have allowed visitors to gain easier access to Laos , he said.

Most tourists arrive in Laos via the new Lao-Thai Mekong Friendship Bridge in Savannakhet province, and the border checkpoints from Thailand in Champassak and Luang Prabang provinces and Vientiane , Mr Sounh said.

By M.Vongsam-ang
Vientianetimes

Woman Stores Tigers in FridgePolice found two frozen tigers in a fridge and two soup kettles filled with animal bones in an outdoor kitchen in Hanoi.

Police found two frozen tigers in a fridge and two soup kettles filled with animal bones in an outdoor kitchen in Hanoi, Vietnamese newspapers reported on Wednesday.

The 40-year-old woman confessed to police she hired three experts to cook tiger bones to make traditional medicines that she sold for about $800 per 100 grams. Police arrested the woman and the three cooks...more

The woman stored the tigers in a fridge inside her apartment and cooked outside the building in an area where people regularly gathered to eat porridge for breakfast.

Although Vietnam is party to a treaty to protect endangered species, animals and animal parts are still smuggled from neighbouring countries and around Vietnam for use as medicine.

"She has been doing this publicly for a long time," Tienphong (Vanguard) newspaper quoted a neighbour as saying. "The smell from the kitchen polluted the neighbourhood."

The two adult Indochinese tigers, weighing 250 kg and estimated to cost about $20,000 each, could have been bought from Myanmar or Laos, newspaper reports quoted officials as saying.

"The tigers could have been bought in Laos and transported back to Vietnam by ambulances or hidden in coffins," forest ranger Vuong Tri Hoa was quoted as saying by Nong Nghiep Vietnam (Agriculture Vietnam) newspaper.

Police also found four bear paws, ivory and various other wild animal parts in the woman's apartment on Tuesday, the reports said.

Last month, eight men were jailed for up to 11-½ years for poisoning a tiger in a zoo and selling it for $15,000 in southern Tien Giang province.

Vietnam signed the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, or CITES, in 1994 and conservationists said only about 150 tigers survive in the wild in the Southeast Asian country.

Source: www.javno.com/en

VietNamNet Bridge – The Vietnam Railway Agency is designing a project to build two railways from Vietnam to Laos and Cambodia.

These are projects in the transport and railway development strategy of Vietnam to 2020, which was approved by the Prime Minister, and part of the trans-Asia and ASEAN railway network as well. The two projects have had feasibility research reports...more

The first project is the Saigon – Loc Ninh route to Cambodia, which is 130km in length. The Vietnam Railway Agency and two Chinese partners, the China Mechanical Equipment Import Export Corporation (CMC) and the China Railway Construction Corporation (SRCC), are performing research on this project.

This route will be 1m-wide railroad, with 12 stations, the first is Di An Station in southern Binh Duong Province and the last is the border-gate station of Hoa Lu. The total investment of this project is around VND3,918 billion (US$244.875 million).

The second project is the Vung Ang – Mu Gia (Ha Tinh province) to Laos, with 119km in length, and 1m width. This route will also have 12 stations, seven tunnels, and 24 bridges, totalling VND4,523 billion ($282,687 million) of investment.

According to Nguyen Van Doanh, Vice Head of the Vietnam Railway Agency, when being completed, the projects will open great opportunities for transport and trade cooperation among Indochina countries and to the region. For Vietnam, the projects will help promote economic development of some provinces, especially the Vung Ang port area in Ha Tinh province.

To connect railways, not only does Vietnam have to build railroads, but also Laos and Cambodia have to build railroads to their borders with Vietnam, Mr Doanh said.

After finalising research, the three countries will negotiate about the construction and use of border-gate stations.

(Source: TBKTVN)

The Lao National Tourism Administration will host an Asean tourism forum next month, with the aim of promoting eco-tourism in Laos and in other Asean member countries.

The 2007 Lao Ecotourism Forum will bring together and display the highest quality and most innovative ecotourism products and services on offer in the Mekong Region.

Lao Ecotourism Forum, which comes alive from 26 to 29 July in Laos will be one of the biggest Ecotourism based travel Mart in Asia. ‘Laos is one of the leading Asian countries that practises Eco Tourism in to its true colours... more info>>

2007 Lao Ecotourism Forum will come alive under the theme 'Bridging the Mekong Region'. The main stake holders of the Forum would be tour operators, travel agents, accommodation providers, development agencies, government authorities and indigenous communities from throughout the Asia Region. They will gather under the same roof to network and expand ecotourism opportunities in their respective countries. This event is a must for anyone interested in shaping the course of ecotourism development.

Objectives of the Forum

*To promote high quality ecotourism-related products and services that showcase the natural and cultural heritage of Laos and the Mekong Region

*Increase business opportunities and networking between ecotourism providers and consumers, with an aim to increase knowledge of the Mekong Region around the world

*To facilitate discussions and an exchange of ideas about the successes and potential for developing ecotourism programs that support poverty alleviation and the protection of natural and cultural heritage in the Mekong Region

*To build the links with the Asian Eco Tourism operators and buyers.

With climate change, development, pollution and neglect destroying some of the world's most important destinations, Conde Nast Traveler has drawn up a list of "20 Places to See Before THEY Die."

The list, in the magazine's May issue, looks at the threats facing these landmarks and how to best see these wonders before they disappear.

The top 20 list:

1. Bagan, Myanmar - One of the world's finest examples of medieval Buddhist art and architecture is threatened by haphazard restoration and rebuilding.

2. Borneo, Indonesia - Logging is decimating the rainforest, home to hundreds of animal species, including the world's largest population of endangered wild orangutans... more info:.

3. Baku, Azerbaijan - A rare, walled city of mosques and marketplaces is being bulldozed to make room for the 21st century.

4. The Pantanal, Brazil - The world's largest freshwater wetland is almost entirely unprotected from deforestation and pollution and could be gone within 50 years.

5. Budapest's Jewish Quarter, Hungary - Modern buildings and parking lots destroy the character and art nouveau architecture in one of Europe's most historic Jewish anclaves.

6. Florida's Everglades, United States - This subtropical wilderness has already shrunk by half in the last century, threatened by a development boom.

7. Babylon, Iraq - Pillaging and looting are destroying the ancient city with its mud-brick ruins, stone sculptures, and the famous hanging gardens.

8. Bhutan, Southeast Asia - The isolated Himalayan nation and its tropical lowlands, pine forests, and wildlife are threatened by environmental degradation.

9. Sierra Nevada del Cocuy, Colombia - Climate change is shrinking the mountain's 18 snowcapped peaks, five major glaciers, lakes, and waterfalls.

10. Galapagos Islands, Ecuador - The 20-island archipelago is home to dozens of endemic species that are being endangered by a rapidly growing human presence.

11. Ha Long Bay, Vietnam - The tour-boat traffic and careless tourists jeopardize the turquoise waters, misty caves and limestone pillars.

12. Indonesia's Coral Triangle - Overfishing and climate change endanger the unparalleled biodiversity of the world's most diverse marine habitat.

13. Kathmandu Valley, Nepal - 2,000-year-old temples are crumbling because of uncontrolled urban development and insufficient preservation funds.

14. Luang Prabang, Laos - UNESCO's conservation regulations are ignored in the 300-year-old city by homeowners more interested in profiting from an influx of tourists.

15. Luxor, Egypt - Erosion from the Nile River dam and mismanaged tourism are harming thousands of Egyptian tombs.

16. Nosey Be, Madagascar - Resort developments are encroaching on the whales and turtles that make their home on the unspoiled beaches of the Mozambique Strait.

17. Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania - Tourist traffic is damaging the roads and paths into the 2,000-foot-deep dormant volcanic crater and the delicate ecosystem it contains.

18. Michoacan Mountains, Mexico - Illegal logging is destroying the forests, the winter getaway for millions of monarch butterflies.

19. Galle Forte, Sri Lanka - After the 2004 tsunami, the cash-strapped government has little to spare for restoration of the crumbling 200-year-old Dutch bungalows.

20. Tibet - The once-cloistered Buddhist kingdom is being exposed to HIV and drugs, and is losing many of its traditional customs and language to the modern world.

Source: The Gazette (Montreal) 2007

Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos are worth a visit this summer.

Junk the usual summer international destinations like London and Paris and try a different kind of holiday. Check out parts of Asia so far inaccessible for many. Fly to Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos, also known together as Indo-China. There are still no direct flights to get to these countries from India but there are flights that take you there via either Malaysia, Singapore or Thailand . Once you reach, you are transported to a completely different world. Before this old world and natural beauty is lost, plan a trip fast...more

After decades of war, Vietnam is finally rebuilding itself and attracting tourists in a big way. The two major cities in the country ・capital Hanoi and modern Ho Chi Minh City are a major contrast and a must visit for any tourist.

Throughout the thousand years of its eventful history, marked by destruction, wars and natural calamities, Hanoi still preserves many ancient architectural works including the Old Quarter and over 600 pagodas and temples, which are quite a sight to behold. Hanoi also has 18 beautiful lakes such as Hoan Kiem Lake, West Lake, and Truc Bach Lake, which are the lungs of the city.

Ho Chi Minh City, formerly known as Saigon in the Mekong Delta, on the other hand, is one of the most important cities in Vietnam after Hanoi, being its commercial centre. Ho Chi Minh Museum, formerly known as Dragon House Wharf, Cu Chi Tunnels, museums, theatres, cultural houses are some of the places to visit. And if you like architecture, don稚 miss the city痴 beautiful buildings.

The two main cities to visit in Cambodia are its capital Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. Phnom Penh is located at the confluence of three rivers ・the Mekong, the Bassac and Tonle Sap. The most attractive part of Cambodia are undoubtedly its unending list of temples. The temples at Angkor Wat, about six kilometres from Siem Reap, south of Angkor Thom, are the most famous.

The oldest and loveliest of Laos city痴, Luang Prabang, was founded between the sixth and the seventh centuries and is renowned for its serenity. Much of the town and its pagodas are protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. When in the city, don稚 miss Wat Xieng Thong, a temple built in 1560 and which was used for royal ceremonies.

The other city, Vientiane was partially rebuilt during the colonial period, with French-style buildings and is small, and picturesque. It contains some pagodas, museums, wide boulevards and attractions like Patuxai and Vientiane痴 Arc de Triumphed.

by Ravi Teja Sharma
www.business-standard.com

Foreign investment on the rise in Laos
(KPL) 440 million USD of foreign investment was pumped into Laos over the first six months of the 2006-2007 fiscal year which began from October 2006. The Lao government granted licences to 122 foreign investment projects over the period, accounting for 70 percent of the government’s target of 171 for the whole year. The majority of investments were made in the areas of agriculture, garment and textiles, industry, handicraft, mining, energy, trade, hotels, restaurants and services.

For the period, the biggest investors into the country are as follow:
1. China
2. France
3. Japan
4. The Republic of Korea
5. Myanmar
6. Poland
7. Sweden
8. Thailand
9. The US
10.Viet Nam

Source: kpl.net.la

A collection of caves in Laos which provided shelter to 23,000 Laotians during nine years of aerial bombardment in the Indochina War, are to receive funding from the PATA Foundation grant in 2007. The initiative has been welcomed by the Mekong Tourism Office (MTO) as the grant will be awarded to the Kaysone Phomvihane Memorial Tour Cave Office to fund the research and development of an audio tour and related promotional material on the ‘Viengxay Story’ into three languages - Lao, Vietnamese and English.

“The Mekong Tourism Office is very happy to see this financial support coming from the donor parties. It will prove invaluable to developing what is an important tourist site and the livelihoods of local residents in the area” said MTO executive director Stephen Yong...more

PATA members the Netherlands Development Agency (SNV) and the Lao National Tourism Administration (LNTA) aim to develop the caves as both a tourist destination and a ‘world peace site’ focusing on poverty reduction and the needs of local people. The caves are located in Viengxay district in Laos’ northeast in Houaphanh, the poorest province in Laos, where 40% of the population survives on less than US$1 per day. Locally, tourism is now being heralded as a vital tool in the fight against poverty.

The area’s development is supported by the Laotian government. The Prime Minister`s office has a permanent representative on the committee set up to oversee developments at Viengxay, the physical birthplace and spiritual cornerstone of modern-day Laos. The LNTA is promising an enriching and educational experience to those who visit the ‘cave city’ and plans for its development are set to be unveiled at the Lao Ecotourism Fair July 26-29 in Vientiane.

The 480 caves in Viengxay are those which were transformed into a de facto cave city when Laos - between 1964 and 1973 - became caught up in a secret war which remains largely ignored in world history. They were used to house leaders and fighters of the Phathet Lao army.

Source: traveldailynews.com