ເປີດແລ້ວ ສວນນໍ້າພຸຊຽງຍືນ ຈຸດນັດພົບໃຈກາງເມືອງຫລວງ

ຫລັງຈາກຜ່ານແຜນຜັງເຖິງ6 ຄັ້ງໂສມຫນ້າໃຫມ່ສວນນ້ຳພຸຊຽງຍືນຈິ່ງສາມາດເກີດຂຶ້ນໄດ້, ປະຈຸບັນສວນແຫ່ງນີ້ໄດ້ຮັບການປັບປຸງກາຍເປັນຈຸດນັດພົບທີ່ທັນສະໄຫມໃຈກາງນະຄອນຫລວງວຽງຈັນ.

ທ່ານພຶດສະພາພູມມະສັກຮອງຜູ້ອຳນວຍການບໍລິສັດເອເຊຍການລົງທຶນແລະບໍລິການໃຫ້ຮູ້ວ່າ:ບໍລິເວນສວນນ້ຳພຸແຫ່ງນີ້ ມີປະຫວັດສາດຍາວນານກວ່າ100 ປີ, ເຊິ່ງເວລານັ້ນສະຖານທີ່ແຫ່ງນີ້ແມ່ນຕະຫລາດສົດໃຈກາງນະຄອນຫລວງວຽງຈັນ, ໄລຍະຕໍ່ມາໄດ້ຖືກຕົກແຕ່ງໃຫ້ກາຍເປັນສວນນ້ຳພຸ, ແຕ່ໃນໄລຍະ20 ປີຜ່ານມາສວນນ້ຳພຸບໍ່ໄດ້ຮັບການບູລະນະຢ່າງເຕັມສ່ວນຍ້ອນຂາດການສະຫນັບສະຫນູນທາງດ້ານທຶນຮອນຢ່າງຕໍ່ເນື່ອງ.

ດ້ວຍການຊີ້ນຳນຳພາ ແລະເຫັນດີຈາກລັດຖະບານບໍລິສັດເອເຊຍການລົງທຶນແລະບໍລິການຈິ່ງຍື່ນມືເຂົ້າມາພັດທະນາໂດຍມີອາຍຸການສຳປະທານ 30 ປີ, ເພື່ອເຮັດໃຫ້ແທດເຫມາະກັບສະພາບການພັດທະນາໃນຍຸກປະຈຸບັນໂດຍເນັ້ນຫນັກຄວາມສຳຄັນດ້ານຄວາມເປັນມິດກັບສິ່ງແວດລ້ອມບໍລິສັດໄດ້ຜ່ານການຄັດເລືອກແບບການກໍ່ສ້າງເຖິງ6 ຄັ້ງຈິ່ງສາມາດລົງມືສ້ອມແປງບູລະນະນັບແຕ່ທ້າຍປີ2011 ຜ່ານມາ.

ມາຮອດມື້ນີ້ສວນດັ່ງກ່າວໄດ້ເປີດບໍລິການໃຫ້ແກ່ມວນຊົນແລ້ວດ້ວຍໂສມຫນ້າໃຫມ່ໂດຍມີແສງສີສຽງ, ສິ່ງອຳນວຍຄວາມສະດວກຕ່າງໆ, ມີສາລາ, ຫ້ອງອາຫານທີ່ສວຍງາມແລະລະບົບນ້ຳພຸຖືກປັບປຸງໃຫ້ດີກວ່າເກົ່າເຊິ່ງສາມາດເປີດນ້ຳໄດ້ຫມົດມື້, ຂະນະດຽວກັນຊັ້ນທີສອງຂອງຫ້ອງອາຫານຍັງຖືກຕົກແຕ່ງໃຫ້ເປັນສະຖານທີ່ຊົມທິວທັດທີ່ສາມາດສຳຜັດເຖິງບັນຍາກາດອັນສົດຊື່ນໃນຍາມຄ່ຳຄືນສົມກັບເປັນສະຖານທີ່ພັກຜ່ອນສາທາລະນະປະດັບໃຈກາງນະຄອນຫລວງວຽງຈັນ.

ນອກຈາກນັ້ນ, ສະຖານທີ່ແຫ່ງນີ້ຍັງຈະກາຍເປັນບ່ອນທ່ອງທ່ຽວແຫ່ງສີສັນຂຽວສະອາດເພື່ອດຶງດູດນັກທ່ອງທ່ຽວທັງພາຍໃນແລະຕ່າງປະເທດເຂົ້າມາທ່ຽວຊົມຕໍ່ຈາກນີ້ຈະສ້າງໃຫ້ກາຍເປັນຖະຫນົນຄົນຍ່າງທ່ຽວຊົມບັນຍາກາດຍາມຄ່ຳເລີ່ມແຕ່4 ແຍກໂຮງແຮມລາວພລາຊາເຖິງ3 ແຍກຫໍສະຫມຸດແຫ່ງຊາດ, ຄາດວ່າຈະເກີດຂຶ້ນໃນອະນາຄົດອັນໃກ້ນີ້, ທ່ານພຶດສະພາພົມມະສັກກ່າວ.

ພິທີເປີດໃຫ້ບໍລິການສວນນ້ຳພຸຊຽງຍືນໄດ້ຈັດຂຶ້ນໃນຕອນແລງວານນີ້ໂດຍການເປັນກຽດເຂົ້າຮ່ວມຂອງທ່ານສົມສະຫວາດເລັ່ງສະຫວັດ, ຮອງນາຍົກລັດຖະມົນຕີ, ມີທ່ານເຈົ້າຄອງນະຄອນຫລວງວຽງຈັນ, ບັນດາລັດຖະມົນຕີວ່າການ, ຄະນະນຳຂັ້ນ, ບັນດານັກທຸລະກິດແລະນັກທ່ອງທ່ຽວເຂົ້າຮ່ວມເປັນຈຳນວນຫລາຍ.

Ecom

2:44 PM | Posted in development, developments, Laos, Nam phou, Vientiane | Read More »

That Luang marsh development set to start in November 2012

This area will be developed as an access road linking Phonthan T-junction to the That Luang marsh specific economic zone in Vientiane.

Construction works on the US$1.6-billion That Luang marsh specific economic zone (SEZ) in Vientiane are expected to begin in November, at the same time Laos will play host to the ASEM summit, according to a government report last week.

The Chinese developer, Wan Feng Shanghai Real Estate Company, is preparing the necessary facilities for the ground breaking ceremony at the project site, set to take place in November when the top leaders of Laos and China will be present to join the ceremony.

The developers are currently concentrating on a project survey of the zone and boundary demarcation, as well as finalising the compensation process for villagers affected by the project.

They have now designed the project to correspond with the That Luang marsh development plan, which has already been approved by the government.

Minister to the Government Office and Vice President of the NCSEZ Ms Bounpheng Mounphosay said in her report at the SEZ meeting in Vientiane last week that the developer is now preparing to build an access road to the zone.

The road will be 400 metres in length and 36 metres wide, linking Phonthan T-junction to the project site. In addition, the developer will start to clear land in a buffer-zone area of 6.5 hectares, where there will be no development.
They are also preparing the drainage system within the That Luang marsh SEZ and the SEZ management office. All these facilities will be in place for the ground breaking ceremony in November.

The SEZ project will cover an area of 365 hectares, of which 303 hectares will figure in the first phase, with the remaining 62 hectares to be reserved for future expansion.

The SEZ project covers the six villages of Nonvai, Meuang Noi, Nonkhor Neua, Phonthan, Phonpapao and Donkoy in Xaysettha and Sisattanak districts. The relevant authorities and the developers are now in process of compensating villagers affected by the project.

The government signed the agreement with the Chinese company in Vientiane late last year, allowing the investors to develop That Luang marsh as a specific economic zone, which will stimulate further socio-economic development in Laos.

Under the agreement, the Chinese company will spend 12,000 billion kip (US$1.6 billion) to develop That Luang marsh into a modern residential precinct which includes tourist and cultural attractions as well.

The project will include a large residential area, public parks and green spaces, a large marsh, roads and drainage systems, a sports complex and trades and service centre. The service precinct will include five-star hotels, shopping centres and numerous entertainment venues.

The company will excavate a large marsh in the centre of the new town and undertake associated drainage works, in line with the government's strategy to develop the marsh in a way that ensures waste water drains effectively from the town. The developers expect to spend between 15 and 20 years to complete the whole project.

By Times Reporters

9:49 AM | Posted in development, developments, Laos, wetland | Read More »

Eyeless spider discovered in Laos cave

Berlin: A scientist has discovered an eyeless huntsman spider, named the Sinopoda scurion, the first of its kind.

With a leg span of only 6 cm and a body span of around 12 mm, the spider is certainly not one of the largest representatives of its kind, with more than 1,100 species.

"I found the spider in a cave in Laos, around 100 km away from the famous Xe Bang Fai cave," reports Peter Jager, head of the arachnology section at the Senckenberg Research Institute in Frankfurt, the journal Zootaxa reports.

"We already knew of spiders of this genus from other caves, but they always had eyes and complete pigmentation. Sinopoda scurion is the first huntsman spider without eyes," adds Jager, according to a Senckenberg statement.

The regression of the eyes is attributable to living permanently without daylight. This adaptation was also observed in other cave-dwelling spider species by the Frankfurt arachnologist.

"The Sinopoda species described demonstrate all kinds of transitions to cave adaptation, from eight functioning eyes to forms with six, four and two lenses, right up to blind spiders," explains Jager.

The spiders are in good company: fish, scorpions and crabs that have adapted to caves have already been found in Laos.

Frankfurt researchers have described nine new species of the genus Sinopoda. The fact that all of the species have been found in caves confirms the animals' preference for underground habitats.

The eyeless huntsman spider was named after the Swiss company "Scurion" that makes headlamps for caves. "Sinopoda scurion is the first species that I have named after a company in the context of the Patrons for Biodiversity programme," explains Jager.

IANS

10:10 PM | Posted in development, developments, Laos, Weird | Read More »

What Thais Need to Know and Learn about Laotians

Of the nine other members of Asean, Thailand is most culturally, linguistically and economically linked to the Lao People’s Democratic Republic. The economic interdependence of the two nations is particularly important and Laos is clearly part of the ”Baht Zone”. The baht can be used easily anywhere in Laos.

Thailand critically needs energy imports from Laos and the Lao in turn need many consumer goods from Thailand. Also approximately one third of the Thai population has Lao cultural and linguistic roots.

Often Thais like to define their relationship with the Lao as “brothers and sisters”. but the Lao scholar and historian, Ajarn Mayoury Ngaosyvathn, instead calls simply for the nations to be close and friendly neighbours.

As we all know Thailand is amazing in many ways, but Laos is also amazing. What is most remarkable is that Laos has survived as a political and cultural identity despite being landlocked and surrounded by five powerful and much larger neighbours, namely, China, Vietnam, Myanmar, Thailand, and Cambodia.

Unfortunately there are many Thai misunderstandings about Laos and the Lao. First, many think that the Isaan (Northeast) language and Lao language arethe same. They are indeed similar but not the same. Once they were the same, but diverged over time because of 1) French colonialism, 2) communism, and 3) the Thaiification of the Isaan language.

Nearly all geographic and mathematics terminology in the Lao language, for example, is Frenchderived. If a person asks for “galaem” in Isaan, they will normally get a blank stare. “Galaem” is the Lao word for ice cream.

A second misunderstanding relates to the phrase “mai mi arai” (there is nothing there) referring to Laos. Many Thai travel to Vientiane, Laos for just one day, not even staying the night. They shop at the ”morning” market, have lunch at a nice restaurant on the Mekong, and visit a couple of prominent temples. They have “done Laos”.

I once took a group of Thai students on a study tour of Laos for two months. At the beginning they could not fathom why we were spending two months in a place where “mai mi arai”. At the end of the two months, they indicated a desire to stay longer. Obviously over time they came to realise how much there was to learn about Laos.

The Thai history, geography, and social science curricula on Laos need to be reviewed and revised. Students, for example, should be exposed to both Thai and Lao perspectives on the historical relations between the two nations. They should examine King Chao Anu both as a villain (Thai perspective) and hero (Lao perspective).

They need to analyse critically why Laos became communist and why the new government significantly reformed the Lao language.

They need to be exposed to how the Thai and Lao languages are the same and differ. The word “Thai/tai” is particularly interesting. In Thai, it means free, while in Lao it means people. Tai Luang Pabang, means Luang Pabang people, not Thai people living there.

As part of both cultural and moral education (and given the growing influence and power of social media), students need to know that ethnic jokes aboutthe Lao and Isaan people are inappropriate. Some of the gross ethnic jokes I have heard about the Lao are unprintable here. Also celebrities in their interviews need to be culturally sensitive in their remarks about the Lao. Some unfortunate incidents have occurred in the past.

Thais need to study and be more aware of more important Lao scholars and writers such as the prominent historian Maha Sila Viravong (originally from Roi Et) and his three children, who are all noted writers, and Ajarns Pheuiphanh and Mayoury Ngaosyvathn, prolific Lao scholars and historians.

One enjoyable technique for teaching about the subtle differences between the two cultures is to present ambiguous images of both cultures and have students themselves ascertain which image is Thai and which is Lao. Watching critically movies such as “Sabai Di Luang Prabang” can also be a fun and effective way for Thais to learn about their important neighbour.

Even though most Lao can understand Thai, they deeply appreciate it when Thais make the effort to speak their language, which is relatively easy, giventhe similarities between the two languages. Dr Sumontha Promboon, former president of Srinakharinwirot University, made a great effort to speak and write Lao well, when serving as an ADB consultant in Laos. Her effort was extremely well received. HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, former Prime Minister Anand Panyarachun, Prof Charnwit Kasetsiri, Dr Prawese Wasi, and Sulak Sivaraksa have all shown impressive and exemplary cultural sensitivity in writing about and interacting with the Lao people.

What is most important for the future of ThaiLao relations in the AEC (ASEAN Economic Community) era is for Thais to enhance their cultural empathy of the Lao and their rich cultures and history.

Article originally published in The Nation, June 25, 2012

by Gerald W Fry, Distinguished International Professor
Department of Organisational Leadership, Policy, and Development, University of Minnesota
gwf@umn.edu

ການທຳຄວາມເຂົ້າໃຈ ລະຫ່ວາງ ເພື່ອນບ້ານ : ຄົນໄທ ຕ້ອງຮຽນຮູ້ ແລະເຂົ້າໃຈຫຍັງແດ່ ກ່ຽວກັບລາວ.

ໃນຈຳນວນອີກເກົ້າປະເທດທີ່ເປັນສະມາຊິກຂອງກຸ່ມອາຊຽນ, ປະເທດໄທເປັນປະເທດ ທີ່ມີຂະນົບທຳນຽມ ທາງວັດ ທະນາທຳ, ການໃຊ້ພາສາແລະເສດຖະກິດ ທີ່ເຊື່ອມໂຍງກັບ ສາທາລະນະລັດປະຊາທິປະໄຕປະຊາຊົນລາວ ຫຼາຍທີ່ສຸດ. ການເພິ່ງພາເຊິ່ງກັນແລະກັນຂອງສອງປະເທດນີ້ໂດຍສະເພາະທາງດ້ານເສດຖະກິດ ແມ່ນມີຄວາມສຳຄັນຫຼາຍ ແລະ ເຫັນໄດ້ຢ່າງຊັດເຈນວ່າ ລາວແມ່ນພາກສ່ວນໜຶ່ງຂອງ “ເຂດທີ່ໃຊ້ເງີນບາດ”. ເງີນບາດສາມາດໃຊ້ໄດ້ໃນທຸກໆແຫ່ງຂອງປະເທດລາວ ຢ່າງສະດວກສະບາຍ.

ປະເທດໄທມີຄວາມຕ້ອງການອັນຈຳເປັນທີ່ຈະນຳເຂົ້າພະລັງງານຈາກລາວ ແລະໃນທາງກັບກັນ ຄົນລາວກໍ່ຕ້ອງການສິນຄ້າບໍລິໂພກຫຼາຍຢ່າງຈາກປະເທດໄທ. ເຊັ່ນດຽວກັນ, ປະມານໜຶ່ງສ່ວນສາມຂອງປະຊາກອນ ໃນປະເທດໄທ ມີຮາກເຫງົ້າພາສາແລະວັດທະນາທຳມາຈາກລາວ.

ຄົນໄທມັກຈະຖືສະເໝີວ່າ ຄວາມສໍາພັນຂອງເຂົາເຈົ້າຕໍ່ຄົນລາວ ປຽບສະເໝືອນ “ ອ້າຍແລະນ້ອງ ”. ແຕ່ ອາຈານ ມາຍຸຣີ ເງົາສີວັດ, ນັກວິຊາການແລະນັກປະຫວັດສາດລາວ, ແທນທີ່ດ້ວຍການຮ້ອງແບບທົ່ວໆໄປສຳຫຼັບຄວາມສໍາ ພັນຂອງສອງປະເທດນີ້ວ່າ ເພື່ອນບ້ານທີ່ໄກ້ຄຽງແລະເປັນມິດກັນ.

ດັ່ງທີ່ພວກເຮົາຮູ້ແລ້ວວ່າ ປະເທດໄທມີຄວາມມະຫັດສະຈັນໃນຫຼາຍດ້ານ, ແຕ່ ລາວ ກໍ່ເປັນປະເທດທີ່ມະຫັດສະຈັນເຊັ່ນດຽວກັນ. ສິ່ງທີ່ໜ້າພາກພູມໃຈທີ່ສຸດກໍ່ຄື ລາວສາມາດຮັກໄວ້ເຊິ່ງຄວາມເປັນເອກະລັກທາງການເມືອງແລະວັດ ທະນາທຳຂອງຕົນ ເຖີງແມ່ນວ່າ ຈະເປັນປະເທດທີ່ບໍ່ມີທາງອອກສູ່ທະເລ ແລະຖືກອ້ອມຮອບດ້ວຍ ຫ້າປະເທດເພື່ອນບ້ານທີ່ມີອຳນາດແລະຂະໜາດທີ່ໃຫຍ່ກ່ວາເຊັ່ນ ຈີນ, ຫວຽດນາມ, ມຽນມາ, ໄທ ແລະກຳປູເຈຍ.

ແຕ່ເປັນທີ່ໜ້າເສຍດາຍ, ມີການເຂົ້າໃຈຜິດຂອງຄົນໄທຫຼາຍຄົນ ກ່ຽວກັບປະເທດລາວແລະຄົນລາວ. ອັນທີໜຶ່ງ, ຫຼາຍຄົນເຂົ້າໃຈວ່າ ພາສາອີສານ (ພາກຕາເວັນອອກສ່ຽງເໜືອ) ແລະພາສາລາວແມ່ນອັນດຽວກັນ. ຄວາມຈິງ ສອງພາສານີ້ຄ້າຍຄືກັນແທ້ ແຕ່ບໍ່ແມ່ນອັນດຽວກັນ. ເມື່ອກ່ອນສອງພາສານີ້ເຄີຍເປັນພາສາດຽວກັນ ແຕ່ກໍ່ຖືກແຍກອອກໃນເວລາຕໍ່ມາ ເພາະວ່າ 1) ການລ່າອານານິຄົມຂອງຝຣັ່ງເສດ, 2) ລະບອບ ຄອມມູນິດ, ແລະ 3) ໄທດັດແປງພາສາພາສາອີສານໃຫ້ເປັນພາສາໄທ.

ການບັນຍັດສັບ ຫຼືຄຳສັບສະເພາະ ກ່ຽວກັບພູມສາດແລະຄະນິດສາດ ໃນພາສາລາວ ເກືອບທັງໝົດແມ່ນມາຈາກພາສາຝຣັ່ງເສດ, ຕົວຢ່າງ. ຖ້າວ່າ ມີຜູ້ໃດຜູ້ໜຶ່ງຖາມຫາ “ ກະແລ່ມ ” ໃນພາກອີສານ, ຄົນຜູ້ນັ້ນກໍຈະຖືກແນມເບິ່ງໜ້າເສີຍໆແລະຈະບໍ່ໄດ້ຫຍັງ. ຄຳວ່າ “ ກະແລ່ມ ” ໃນພາສາລາວໝາຍເຖີງ ໄອຊ໌ຄຣີມ.

ຄວາມເຂົ້າໃຈຜິດອັນທີສອງ ແມ່ນກ່ຽວຂ້ອງກັບປະໂຫຍກຄຳເວົ້າທີ່ວ່າ “ ໄມ່ ມີ ອະໄຣ ” (ບໍ່ມີຫຍັງຢູ່ທີ່ນັ້ນ) ໝາຍເຖີງປະເທດລາວ. ມີຄົນໄທຫຼາຍຄົນທີ່ເດີນທາງໄປວຽຈັນ, ປະເທດລາວ ພຽງມື້ດຽວ ແລະກໍບໍ່ໄດ້ນອນຄ້າງຄືນດ້ວຍຊ້ຳ. ພວກເຂົາ ພຽງແຕ່ໄປຊື້ເຄື່ອງຢູ່ຕະຫຼາດ “ເຊົ້າ”, ກິນເຂົ້າທ່ຽງຢູ່ຮ້ານອາຫານດີໆແຖວ ແຄມຂອງ ແລະ ກໍເຂົ້າຢ້ຽມຊົມວັດທີ່ມີຊື່ສຽງໂດດເດັ່ນຈັກສອງວັດ. ພຽງເທົ່ານັ້ນພວກເຂົາກໍ່ຖືວ່າ “ ສຳເລັດການມາລາວແລ້ວ ”.

ມີຄັ້ງໜຶ່ງ ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າເຄີຍນຳພາກຸ່ມນັກສຶກສາໄທ ໄປທັດສະນະສຶກສາກ່ຽວກັບປະເທດລາວ ເປັນເວລາສອງເດືອນ. ໃນໄລຍະທຳອິດ ພວກນັກສຶກສາບໍ່ສາມາດທຳຄວາມເຂົ້າໃຈໄດ້ຢ່າງລະອຽດວ່າ ເປັນຫຍັງພວກເຂົາຈຶ່ງຕ້ອງມາໃຊ້ເວລາຕັ້ງສອງເດືອນ ໃນພື້ນທີ່ ທີ່ “ ໄມ່ ມີ ອາໄຣ ” ຄືແນວນີ້. ໃນຊ່ວງໄລຍະສຸດທ້າຍຂອງການທັດທະນະສຶກສາ, ພວກເຂົາສະແດງໃຫ້ເຫັນເຈດຈຳນົງ ທີ່ຈະຢູ່ຕໍ່ອີກ. ເຫັນໄດ້ຢ່າງຊັດເຈນວ່າ ຕະຫຼອດເວລາຂອງການທັດສະນາະສຶກ ສາ ພວກເຂົາສຳນຶກໄດ້ເຖີງຄວາມຫຼາກຫຼາຍທີ່ພວກເຂົາໄດ້ຮຽນຮູ້ແລະເຂົ້າໃຈກ່ຽວກັບປະເທດລາວ.

ຫຼັກສູດທາງປະຫວັດສາດ, ພູມສາດ ແລະວິທະຍາສາດສັງຄົມ ຂອງໄທ ກ່ຽວກັບປະເທດລາວ ຄວນຈະມີການທົບທວນແລະປັບປຸງ. ຍົກຕົວຢ່າງ, ນັກສຶກສາ ຄວນຮັບຮູ້ແລະສຳພັດກັບ ທັງລາວແລະໄທ ກ່ຽວກັບຄວາມສຳພັນທາງ ປະຫວັດສາດລະຫ່ວາງສອງຊາດ. ພວກເຂົາຄວນສຶກສາຄົ້ນຄ້ວາກ່ຽວກັບປະຫວັດ ເຈົ້າອານຸວົງ ຜູ້ເຊິ່ງເປັນທັງ ຜູ້ຊົ່ວຮ້າຍ (ໃນມຸມມອງຂອງຄົນໄທ) ແລະ ວິລະຊົນ (ໃນມຸມມອງຂອງຄົນລາວ).

ພວກເຂົາຈຳເປັນຕ້ອງສຶກສາວິໃຈວ່າ ເປັນຫຍັງປະເທດລາວຈຶ່ງກາຍເປັນຄອມມູນິດ ແລະເປັນຫຍັງລັດຖະບານໃໝ່ ຈຶ່ງປະຕິຮູບພາສາລາວ.

ພວກເຂົາຄວນຈະຄົ້ນຫາວ່າ ພາສາໄທແລະພາສາລາວມີຄວາມຄ້າຍຄືແລະແຕກຕ່າງກັນແນວໃດ. ສະເພາະຄຳສັບທີ່ວ່າ “ ໄທ ” ແມ່ນມີຄວາມໜ້າສົນໃນຕົວຂອງມັນ. ໃນພາສາໄທ ຄຳວ່າ “ ໄທ ” ມີຄວາມໝາຍວ່າ ມີອິສະຫຼະ ພາບ ໃນຂະນະທີ່ ໃນພາສາລາວ ໝາຍຄວາມວ່າ ຄົນ. ຕົວຢ່າງ ໄທຫຼວງພຣະບາງ ໝາຍຄວາມວ່າ ຄົນຫຼວງພຣະ ບາງ, ບໍ່ໄດ້ໝາຍຄວາມວ່າ ຄົນໄທທີ່ດຳລົງຊີວິດຢູ່ທີ່ນັ້ນ.

ໃນຖານະທີ່ເປັນພາກສ່ວນຂອງການສຶກສາທັງສອງຢ່າງ ວັດທະນາທຳແລະສິນລະທຳ (ແລະການໄດ້ຮັບອິດທິພົນຈາກການຈະເລີນເຕີບໂຕ ແລະອຳນາດຂອງ ສື່ທາງສັງຄົມ), ນັກສຶກສາຈຳເປັນຕ້ອງຮູ້ວ່າ ນິທານຕາຫຼົກພື້ບ້ານ ກ່ຽວກັບຄົນລາວແລະຄົນອີສານ ແມ່ນບໍ່ເມາະສົມ. ນິທານຕາຫຼົກພື້ນບ້ານຈຳນວນໜຶ່ງ ທີ່ຂ້າພະເຈົ້າເຄີຍໄດ້ຍິນ ບໍ່ສາມາດຈະເອົາມາພິມລົງທີ່ນີ້ໄດ້. ເຊັ່ນດຽວກັນ ບັນດານັກສະແດງ ຫຼືດາລາ ໃນເວລາໃຫ້ສຳພາດ ກໍຈຳເປັນຕ້ອງ ມີຄວາມລະອຽດອ່ອນທາງວັດທະນາທຳ ໃນເວລາທີ່ສະແດງຂໍ້ຄິດເຫັນກ່ຽວກັບລາວ. ໃນອາດີດກໍ່ເຄີຍມີເຫດການທີ່ບໍ່ຄາດຄິດກ່ຽວກັບປະເດັນນີ້ເກີດຂື້ນແລ້ວ.

ຄົນໄທຈຳເປັນຕ້ອງຮຽນຮູ້ແລະເຂົ້າໃຈຕື່ມ ກ່ຽວກັບນັກວິຊາການແລະນັນຂຽນທີ່ສຳຄັນຂອງລາວ ເຊັ່ນ ມາຫາ ສີລາ ວິຣະວັງ, ນັກປະຫວັດສາດຜູ້ໂດ່ງດັ່ງ (ພື້ນຖານມາຈາກ ຈັງຫວັດ ຣ້ອຍເອັດ) ແລະລູກຂອງເພີ່ນທັງສາມຄົນ ກໍເປັນນັກຂຽນທີ່ມືຊື່ສຽງທັງໝົດ, ນອກນີ້ ກໍຍັງມີ ອາຈານ ຜິວພັນ ແລະ ອາຈານ ມະຍຸຣີ ເງົາສີວັດ ເຊິ່ງເປັນນັກວິຊາ ການແລະນັກປະຫວັດສາດລາວທີ່ມີຜົນງານຢ່າງຫຼວງຫຼາຍ.

ເຕັກໜຶ່ງທີ່ໜ້າສະໜຸກສະໜານໃນການສອນກ່ຽວກັບຄວາມແຕກຕ່າງທີ່ເລິກເຊິ່ງລະຫ່ວາງສອງວັດທະນາທຳ ກໍ່ຄື ນຳສະເໜີຮູບພາບທີ່ສາມາດສື່ຄວາມໝາຍໄດ້ໃນຫຼາຍແງ່ມູມຂອງທັງສອງວັດທະນາທຳ ແລະໃຫ້ນັກສຶກສາຄົ້ນຄ້ວາວ່າ ຮູບພາບໃດແມ່ນໄທ ແລະຮູບໃດແມ່ນລາວ. ການເບີ່ງຮູບເງົາໃນເຊິີງການວິຈານ ເຊັ່ນ ຮູບເງົາເລື່ອງ “ສະບາຍດີ ຫຼວງພຣະບາງ” ກໍ່ເປັນອີກວິທີໜຶ່ງທີ່ສະໜຸກສະໜານແລະມີປະສິດທິຜົນສໍາຫຼັບ ຄົນໄທ ທີ່ຈະຮຽຮຮູ້ແລະເຂົ້າໃຈກ່ຽວ ກັບເພື່ອນບ້ານທີ່ສຳຄັນຂອງພວກເຂົາ.

ເຖີງແມ່ນວ່າຄົນລາວເກືອບທັງໝົດ ສາມາດເຂົ້າໃຈພາສາໄທ, ແຕ່ເຂົາເຈົ້າກໍ່ຈະຊາບຊຶ້ງຢ່າງເລິກເຊິ່ງ ເມື່ອເຫັນຄົນໄທສະແດງຄວາມພະຍາຍາມທີ່ຈະປາກພາສາຂອງພວກເຂົາ ເຊິ່ງມັນກໍ່ເປັນເລື່ອງທີ່ຂ້ອນຂ້າງງ່າຍ ເນື່ອງຈາກຄວາມຄ້າຍຄືກັນລະຫ່ວາງສອງພາສາ. ດຣ. ສຸມົນທາ ພຣົມບູນ, ອະດີດອະທິການບໍດີ ຂອງມະຫາວິທະຍາໄລ ສຣີ ນະຄະຣິນວິໂຣດ ໄດ້ໃຊ້ຄວາມພະຍາຍາມຢ່າງໃຫຍ່ຫຼວງຈົນສາມາດປາກ ແລະຂຽນພາສາລາວໄດ້ເປັນຢ່າງດີ ໃນເວລາທີ່ເພີ່ນເປັນທີ່ປຶກສາໃຫ້ທະນາຄານພັດທະນາອາຊີ (ADB) ທີ່ປະເທດລາວ. ຄວາມພະຍາຍາມດັ່ງກ່າວຂອງເພີ່ນໄດ້ເປັນທີ່ຮັບຮູ້ຢ່າງຊາບຊຶ້ງ. ສົມເດັດເຈົ້າຟ້າ ພຣະມະຫາ ຈັກກຣີ ສິຣິນທອນ, ທ່ານ ອານັນ ປັນຍາຣະຊຸນ, ອະດີດນາຍົກລັດຖະມົນຕີ, ສາດສະດາຈານ ຊານວິດ ກະເສດສີຣິ, ດຣ. ປຣະເວສ໌ ວາສີ ແລະ ສຸລັກ ສີວະຣັກສາ ໄດ້ສະແດງຄວາມປະທັບໃຈ ແລະຄວາມຮູ້ສຶກທາງວັດທະນາທຳທີ່ຄວນຖືເປັນແບບຢ່າງ ໃນບົດຂຽນ ແລະການມີສຳພັນທະໄມຕີ ຂອງພວກເພີ່ນກັບຄົນລາວ.

ສິ່ງທີ່ສຳຄັນທີ່ສຸດ ສຳຫຼັບຄວາມສຳພັນໄທ-ລາວໃນຍຸກສະໄໝໃໝ່ແຫ່ງປະຊາຄົມເສດຖະກິດອາຊຽນ (AEC), ສຳ ຫຼັບຄົນໄທ ຕ້ອງເພີ້ມທະວີຄວາມເອົາໃຈໃສ່ທາງດ້ານວັດທະນາທຳຂອງຄົນລາວ ພ້ອມທັງປະຫວັດສາດແລະວັດທະ ນາທຳອັນຫຼາກຫຼາຍແລະອຸດົມສົມບູນຂອງເຂົາເຈົ້າ.

10:56 PM | Posted in development, developments, Laos, thai, Thailand | Read More »

ອາເມລິກາຄື ຜູ້ໃຫ້ຄໍາຕອບສຸດທ້າຍ ໂຄ້ງເສັ້ນໄຊລາວເຂົ້າ WTO

ສປປ ລາວ ເດີນທາງເຖິງໂຄງສຸດທ້າຍແລ້ວ ສຳລັບເສັ້ນໄຊຂອງການເຂົ້າເປັນສະມາຊິກອົງການຄ້າໂລກ ຫລື WTO ຫລັງໄດ້ມີຄວາມພະຍາຍາມມາເປັນເວລາ 10 ກວ່າປີ ເຊິ່ງປະຈຸບັນຍັງຄອຍຄຳຕອບສຸດທ້າຍ ຈາກສະຫະລັດອາເມລິກາທີ່ເປັນຫນຶ່ງໃນສະມາຊິກອົງການ ດັ່ງກ່າວ ດ້ານ ນຄຕ ແຈ້ງເງື່ອນໄຂ ໂດຍລວມຜ່ານຫມົດຍັງພຽງການປະຕິບັດດ້ານຊັບສິນທາງປັນຍາຂອງລາວທີ່ອາເມລິກາ ບອກຕ້ອງໄດ້ສຶກສາລະອຽດຕື່ມ.

ວານນີ້ ທີ່ໂຮງແຮມລາວພລາຊາ ນະຄອນຫລວງວຽງຈັນໄດ້ຈັດກອງປະຊຸມຄະນະປະສານງານລະດັບຊາດວ່າດ້ວຍການເຊື່ອມໂຍງເສດຖະກິດກັບສາກົນ (ຄປຊ) ຄັ້ງທີ 10 ເຊິ່ງໃຫ້ກຽດເປັນປະທານຂອງທ່ານ ດຣ. ນາມ ວິຍະເກດ ລັດຖະມົນຕີວ່າການກະຊວງອຸດສາຫະກຳ ແລະ ການຄ້າ, ຮອງປະທານ ຄປຊ ໂດຍມີສະມາຊິກ ຄປຊ ຈາກກະຊວງຂະແຫນງການຕະຫລອດຮອດບັນດາສະມາຊິກກອງເລຂາການເຂົ້າເປັນສະມາຊິກອົງການ WTO ຂອງ ສປປ ລາວເຂົ້າຮ່ວມຄະນະຮັບຜິດຊອບກອງປະຊຸມແຈ້ງວ່າ: ຈຸດປະສົງຂອງການປະຊຸມຄັ້ງນີ້ແມ່ນເພື່ອຮັບຟັງການລາຍງານກ່ຽວກັບຜົນຂອງກອງປະຊຸມຫນ່ວຍງານຄັ້ງທີ 9 ແລະ ສະພາບການກະກຽມຈັດກອງປະຊຸມຄັ້ງທີ 10 ເຊິ່ງເປັນຄັ້ງສຸດທ້າຍ ແລະ ຈະຈັດຂຶ້ນໃນວັນທີ 14 ກັນຍານີ້ ພ້ອມທັງປຶກສາຫາລືແຜນການກະກຽມສຳເລັດຂັ້ນຕອນສຸດທ້າຍໃນການເຂົ້າເປັນສະມາຊິກ WTO ພ້ອມດຽວກັນນັ້ນຍັງຈະປຶກສາຫາລືກ່ຽວກັບບົດສະຫລຸບຜົນການເຈລະຈາທີ່ໄດ້ນຳສະເຫນີຜົນຂອງເຈລະຈານັ້ນມາລາຍງານແກ່ລັດຖະບານໄດ້ຮັບຊາບ ພາຍຫລັງທີ່ອົງການຄ້າໂລກຮັບເອົາ ສປປ ລາວ ເຂົ້າເປັນສະມາຊິກລວມທັງບັນດາພັນທະທີ່ລາວຈະໄດ້ຈັດຕັ້ງປະຕິບັດ.

ຢ່າງໃດກໍ່ຕາມ ທ່ານ ດຣ. ນາມ ວິຍະເກດ ລັດຖະມົນຕີວ່າການກະຊວງອຸດສາຫະກຳ ແລະ ການຄ້າໄດ້ກ່າວບາງຕອນໃນໂອກາດເປີດກອງປະຊຸມດັ່ງກ່າວວ່າ: ມາປະຈຸບັນກ່ຽວກັບການກະກຽມດ້ານເອກະສານຕ່າງໆໃນການເຂົ້າເປັນສະມາຊິກອົງການຄ້າໂລກແມ່ນເກືອບຈະສຳເລັດແລ້ວພຽງກອງປະຊຸມຄັ້ງດຽວທີ່ຈະດຳເນີນເພື່ອທົບທວນຄືນບົດລາຍງານທີ່ຈະເຊັນກັບອົງການຄ້າໂລກໃນເດືອນຕຸລາ ແລະ ໃນກາງເດືອນກັນຍາ 2012 ນີ້ ກໍ່ຈະມີການຈັດກອງປະຊຸມອີກຮອບຫນຶ່ງ.

ຕາມການກະກຽມໃນປະຈຸ ບັນ ສຳລັບເສັ້ນໄຊຂອງການເຂົ້າເປັນສະມາຊິກອົງການຄ້າໂລກຂອງ ສປປ ລາວ ຍັງລໍຖ້າຄຳຕອບສຸດທ້າຍຈາກປະເທດສະຫະລັດອາເມລິກາເທົ່ານັ້ນທີ່ເປັນຫນຶ່ງໃນຈຳນວນບັນດາປະເທດສະມາຊິກ ເຊິ່ງຖ້າຫາກອາເມລິກາໃຫ້ຄຳຕອບລາວຜ່ານໄດ້ກໍ່ຖືວ່າລາວໄດ້ເຂົ້າເປັນສະມາຊິກຖາວອນ ຫລັງໄດ້ມີການລົງນາມລະຫວ່າງລັດຖະບານ ສປປ ລາວ ແລະ ອົງການຄ້າການການຄ້າໂລກ.

ແນວໃດກໍ່ດີ ເຈົ້າຫນ້າທີ່ຈາກກົມນະໂຍບາຍການຄ້າຕ່າງປະເທດ (ນຄຕ) ກະຊວງອຸດສາຫະກຳ ແລະ ການຄ້າເປີດເຜີຍຕໍ່ທີມຂ່າວເສດຖະກິດວ່າ: ສະເພາະສະຫະລັດອາເມລິກາຜ່ານມາ ແມ່ນຍອມຮັບໃນປັດໄຈໂດຍລວມຂອງລາວເປັນທີ່ຮຽບຮ້ອຍແລ້ວ ຍັງພຽງແຕ່ດ້ານເງື່ອນໄຂການຈັດຕັ້ງປະຕິບັດຕໍ່ຊັບສິນທາງປັນຍາຂອງລາວ ເຊິ່ງອາເມລິກາຈະຕ້ອງໄດ້ສຶກສາລະອຽດ ຂະນະທີ່ລາວຜ່ານມາ ກໍ່ໄດ້ສ້າງເງື່ອນໄຂອຳນວຍໃນຫລາຍດ້ານເປັນຕົ້ນແມ່ນໄດ້ສ້າງກົດຫມາຍ ວ່າດ້ວຍຊັບສິນທາງປັນຍາລວມເຖິງກົດຫມາຍອື່ນໆທີ່ກ່ຽວຂ້ອງ ໂດຍເຊື່ອວ່າ ບໍ່ກາຍ 2012 ນີ້ ຫລື ບໍ່ຮອດກອງປະຊຸມອາເຊັມລາວເຂົ້າເປັນສະມາຊິກອົງການການຄ້າໂລກແນ່ນອນ.

ປະຈຸບັນ WTO ມີ 155 ສະມາຊິກໂດຍຣັດເຊຍ ແລະ ວານວາຕູຈະເຂົ້າເປັນສະມາຊິກສົມບູນທີ 156 ແລະ 157 ຕາມ ລຳດັບໃນທ້າຍເດືອນສິງຫານີ້ພາຍຫລັງທີ່ສອງປະເທດໄດ້ສຳເລັດການໃຫ້ສັດຕະຍາບັນບົນພື້ນຖານການຖືກຮອງຮັບເອົາເງື່ອນໄຂເຂົ້າເປັນສະມາຊິກໃນກອງປະຊຸມລະະດັບລັດຖະມົນຕີຄັ້ງທີ 8 ຂອງ WTO ທີ່ເຈນີວາໃນເດືອນກັນຍາ 2012 ນີ້.

Ecom

9:35 AM | Posted in development, developments, Laos, WTO | Read More »

Lane Xang Arcade, new shopping mall in town !

Goodbye swimming pool, Hello Lane Xang Arcade! The Lane Xang Hotel has given up its underused swimming pool and spa area to pave the way for construction of a new shopping and restaurant complex, the Lane Xang Arcade. Little media attention has been given to this project, however it promises to be a new destination for shopping and eating, and if all goes to plan, catching a movie or two as well.

Many Vientiane residents will observe this project with some skepticism, however. We’ve been promised shopping malls before but they’ve never turned out to be anything other than oversized gold shops with a few chinese junk stores thrown in and a couple of noodle stands for good measure. The Morning Market Shopping Mall fizzled out before it even began and the much-hyped Regal Megamall seems to be going nowhere, fast.

Mr. Somsack Phrasonthi, Financial Adviser of Thepamnoy Construction Company, assures WorkLiveLaosthat all is smooth sailing as far as his project is concerned. The planned Lane Xang Arcade will be 5 storeys tall, with the first floor consisting of banking services by ST Bank, the second floor showcasing local products and handicrafts as well as Lane Xang Hotel facilities and the third and fourth floors to house well-known restaurants such as MK Restaurant. The fifth floor will be reserved for a 6 theatre cinema multiplex. Best of all, because the mall is located on hotel grounds, it is able to stay open until midnight every day of the week, unlike other malls in Vientiane which close around 5pm.

When complete, the building will be made almost entirely of steel and tempered glass with wraparound balconies on every floor for dining al fresco and a superb view of Vientiane Capital. This apparently makes construction easier and faster, and after the foundations are laid the structure should only take 8 months to complete. Opening day is scheduled for Lao New Year of 2013.

The 3.8 million US dollar investment includes a concession of 10 years from the Lane Xang Hotel, a joint venture between the Lao Government, who hold 30% and Vietnamese investors who hold 70%. Lane Xang Arcade is already almost fully booked, however some commercial space is still available for a 9 year lease period, paid in advance at 1,800 USD per square metre over 9 years.

The most interesting thing about the project, however, is that it will be Asia’s first scented shopping centre and perhaps the first in the entire world. That’s right: scented shopping centre. The same group that is in charge of the project is also responsible for a type of nanotechnology unique to Laos that strips scents from plants and infuses the scent permanently onto fabrics or other materials. It’s a complicated process that requires further study to fully understand, however the company plans to spray scents particular to Laos onto the windows, walls and columns of the Arcade for tourists to enjoy. Some rooms will smell of Agarwood, others the unmistakable scent of Frangipani, or Dok Champa. So when the project is complete and you feeling like going on a shopping spree, you only need to follow your nose!

Source: Worklivelaos

7:46 AM | Posted in development, developments, Laos | Read More »

World Trade Center Comes Closer To Making Public Appearance

Driving pass around Nongchanh area, the public may find it hard to get through that area easily during peak hours. The traffic chaos is not only occurred from a noisy market around the area, a frequency of transportation around a big project showing that Lao International Development Co.,Ltd is working hard to finish up the construction.

People will see a lot of trucks carrying many constructions materials going in and off from that area very often as the World Trade Center (WTC) is under construction. There are also a lot of billboards and banners posting around the construction areas presenting the advertorial images of the project after its completion so that the public may be able to imagine how the project will look like after its completion.

According to the officials from Lao International Development Co.,Ltd, the project is on the move to be officially introduced to the public but not yet schedule the exact date. They stated that the project will come along with a huge change to Vientiane residents’ lifestyle and shift their living conditions to a better place. They also mentioned that the WTC project will not be just a dream anymore.

With a high economic growth in the country as well as the region, it has made Laos to be a center of socio-economic development. Throughout previous years, the Vientiane economy has been developed steadily, instead only a few full-option shopping centers are implementing.

With an increase of the shopping centers in the country, Lao International Development Co.,Ltd still believes that after the WTC completion, their project will remain top in the country as well as achieve a number of successes particularly by becoming the biggest shopping center in the country and meet the consumers’ demands perfectly. The company also aims that the WTC will play a vital role in improving economy in Laos and approaching it to the global level step by step.

World Trade Center is built especially for Vientiane as well as Vientiane residences. It is believed that the project will not just change the people’s lifestyle instead becomes a great support for the economic development in the country.

In addition, WTC will become a socio-economic center where the domestic products are promoted more and more. It will also attract both local and foreign investors. All of these will create great opportunities to Laos in order to promote the image of Laos as well as its culture.

The Lao International Development Co.,Ltd defined the word “full-option city” as a combination of city’s factors into one place. By that it means, they will combine a shopping center, five-star hotel, beverage services and other economic factors in one place as in WTC project. Those factors will build a firm and strong economic base which in turn will develop the country’s economy in a faster growth rate.

According to Lao International Development Co.,Ltd, the WTC project consists of a number of phrases while every phrases are connected. In particular, every phrase has their own entrances/exists and each phrase still owns their own electricity system. Thus, if the electricity failed in one of the phrases, that phrase will be backed up by electricity system from other phrases guaranteeing the security and 24-hour operation.

In 1969, the Victory Monument (Patuxay) was the highest building in Vientiane with a 45-metre height and in 2004 Donchanh Palace Hotel with its 14-floors height became a new tallest building in Vientiane, but in 2012 the Sky Office Building under the WTC project is expected to become the tallest building in Vientiane replacing those two with its 150-metre height. After the building completed, it is expected to become a new symbol and present a modern Vientiane to the public as well as the world.

Besides, five-star hotel under the WTC project will be able to accommodate state governors and other investors/businessmen from all over the world. It is built in international level both in terms of decoration and service, at the meantime remains Lao culture and traditions so that visitors can be aware of Lao culture while enjoying their stay. The five-star hotel will also consist of a number of balloon rooms with seven-metre height. Apart from that, WTC will also build an apartment preparing to accommodate foreign investors and businessmen. The apartment will comprises of swimming pools, fitness, restaurants, coffee shops and sky garden on top of the building that will help easing their stress after work.

The officials from Lao International Development Co.,Ltd also toldVientiane Times that they are now working very hard to persuade foreign brand name products to list in the shopping center so that Lao people are able to access to international products without crossing the border or flying abroad. The more Lao people spend money in their own country, the less outflow of money will be. This is one of the motives that Lao International Development Co.,Ltd is expecting to see once the project completed.

Vientianetimes

7:11 AM | Posted in development, developments, Laos | Read More »

Japanese group eyes investment in healthcare in Laos

A Japanese hospital group wants to build a modern hospital in Laos that would offer up-to-date health services.

The two sides discussed the feasibility of building a 500-bed modern hospital in Vientiane.The “Tokushukai” hospital group delegation, led by their President Dr Narumi Koshizawa, expressed interest in the project during a meeting with Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong on Friday at the Government Office.

Mr Thongsing said he appreciated the Japanese group's interest in investing in the health sector, and that a modern large-scale hospital would give Lao people access to an efficient health system and contribute to socio-economic development. Mr Thongsing said he highly appreciated the Japanese delegation's visit to Laos. It has significantly enhanced the relationship between Laos and Japan, especially cooperation between the Lao Ministry of Health and the Japanese group.

I f the investment initiative goes ahead, Laos will have a second privately-owned hospital. A domestic investor is currently building a seven-storey, 120-bed hospital for mothers and children in Vientiane.

Vientianetimes

8:20 AM | Posted in development, developments, Laos | Read More »

German Development Bank to open office in Vientiane !

German Development Bank to open office in Vientiane

KfW implements financial cooperation with Lao PDR by focusing on poverty eradication imary goal

(KPL) Germany's main public bank for financial cooperation or KfW" will open its representative office in Vientiane on 9 July, according to this week press release from KfW.

The office will be based in the"Lao-German Cooperation House"in Sisattanak district. The new KfW office with two permanent staff members will act as a contact point for partner ministries and institutions and represent KfW in Lao P.D.R.

The inauguration ceremony will be attended by the German Ambassador, Government partners and members of the international development community in Laos.

Commenting on the new KfW office, German Ambassador to the Lao PDR, Robert von Rimscha said: "The German government committed a total of 3,500 billion Kip for bilateral technical and financial cooperation since the 1960s. Of this amount more than 1,000 billion Kip were committed since 2009 only. Germany is one of the major external development partners in Lao PDR."

Ambassador von Rimscha stressed:"I am very happy that KfW as Germanys leading implementing agency for financial cooperation is now establishing a permanent office here in Vientiane in the Lao-German House. KfW will be under one roof with GIZ, our main implementing agency for technical cooperation. Also, more and more German businesses are present in Laos."

Gerald Laezer, KfW's director for Lao PDR and Cambodia, added:"The office will support the Lao Government and facilitate the implementation of our bilateral and regional programmes. It will give us the opportunity to easier coordinate our activities with other bi- and multilateral donor agencies." The office will also support KfW's subsidiaries DEG and KfW IPEX-Bank, which finance investments of private entrepreneurs, as well as pubic institution, in establishing new business relations in Lao PDR. Both have already ongoing investments in the hydropower and mining sectors but have no permanent representation of their own in Lao PDR.

The ultimate aim of German development cooperation with Lao PDR is poverty alleviation as it has been envisaged in Lao's Poverty Reduction Strategy and its Millennium Development Goals. Under this umbrella, focal areas of KfW's support and investments are rural infrastructure (e.g. construction of roads, markets), building and equipping vocational training schools as well as providing long-term loans to local banks for them to lend as microloans to individuals and small entrepreneurs.

Furthermore, KfW significantly increases its activities in the protection and sustainable management of natural resources.

11:45 AM | Posted in development, developments, Laos | Read More »

Myanmar To Open Vientiane-Yangon Flight !

Myanmar Airways International plans to launch direct flights from Yangon to Vientiane at the end of this year as the two countries step up economic and trade cooperation.

“As part of our expansion plans, we will add a few more Airbuses very soon and expect to use them to fly directly from Yangon on our new routes to Vientiane, Hong Kong and Seoul,” said the airline’s marketing and commercial executive, Mr Daw Aye Mra Tha, as quoted in Myanmar Times.com on Tuesday.

“We are now in discussions with authorities from Laos and we hope to start operating [to Vientiane] from October.”

The announcement on the Yangon-Vientiane sector comes as Myanmar’s Speaker of the House makes an official visit to Laos to boost legislative cooperation between the two neighbouring nations, as part of overall efforts to strengthen cooperation and development.

Laos and Myanmar have been engaged in serious discussions on economic and trade cooperation since early this year as the countries prepare to join forces with other Asean nations to build up the regional economic bloc of 600 million people.

Asean nations also plan to establish the Asean Free Trade Area in 2015, when goods, services and investment capital will flow freely within the region. One of the cooperation agreements will see countries in the region open up air transport to each other’s territories.

During a state visit by the President of Myanmar to Laos in March, the two countries reached an agreement to reopen direct flights between Vientiane and either Yangon or Nay Pyi Taw in the near future to facilitate cooperation and boost tourism.

The two countries also agreed to enhance cooperation in agriculture to meet the growing need for food security. Laos and Myanmar have also agreed to build a Mekong Friendship Bridge and boost cooperation in industries that have high investment potential, such as mining and agriculture.

Laos’ Ministry of Public Works and Transport requested an overseas airline to open direct flights between Vientiane and Yangon a few years ago but the airline declined to do so because trade and tourism cooperation was limited at that time.

The Lao government plans to open direct flights to many Asean cities in an effort to boost tourism, trade and investment. At present, most overseas tourists and businesspeople enter and exit Laos via Bangkok, Thailand.

Laos operates direct flights to Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, China and the Republic of Korea. A direct flight to Japan is also under discussion.

Source: Vientianetimes

10:59 PM | Posted in development, developments, Laos | Read More »

ຜູ້ຊາຍບ້າກາມຂົ່ມຂືນຍິງ 50 ປີ

ຊາຍໜຸ່ມຄົນໜຶ່ງຕິດອາລົມທາງເພດ ລົງມືຂົ່ມຂືນຍິງແກ່ ອາຍຸ 50 ປີ ເຊິ່ງເປັນຄົນບ້ານດຽວກັນ ຕໍ່ມາຜູ້ເສຍຫາຍໄດ້ເຂົ້າແຈ້ງຄວາມຕໍ່ເຈົ້າໜ້າທີ່ ພ້ອມຢືນຢັນຈື່ໜ້າຜູ້ກະທຳຜິດໄດ້ຊັດເຈນ.

ເຫດການເກີດຂຶ້ນໃນວັນທີ 28 ຕຸລາ 2011 ເວລາ 17:00 ໂມງ ຢູ່ບ້ານວຽງຄຳ ເມືອງສີໂຄດຕະບອງ ນະຄອນຫຼວງວຽງຈັນ ພາຍຫຼັງແຈ້ງຄວາມເຈົ້າໜ້າທີ່ ປກສ ເມືອງສີໂຄດຕະບອງ ໄດ້ລົງກວດກາສະຖານທີ່ເກີດເຫດ ເຊິ່ງແມ່ນສວນມັນຕົ້ນ ຫ່າງຈາກບ້ານວຽງຄຳ ປະມານ 1 ກິໂລແມັດ ພ້ອມທັງຕິດຕາມກັກຕົວຜູ້ກະທຳຜິດ ຄື: ທ້າວ ພູວັນ (ເຖົ້າ) ອາຍຸ 22 ປີ ປະຊາຊົນບ້ານວຽງຄຳ ເມືອງສີໂຄດຕະບອງ ມາທຳການສືບສວນ.

ຜ່ານການສອບສວນຂອງເຈົ້າໜ້າທີ່ ຜູ້ກ່ຽວຮັບສາລະພາບວ່າ: ໄດ້ຂົ່ມຂືນຍິງຄົນດັ່ງກ່າວແທ້ ຊຶ່ງໃນວັນເກີດເຫດ ຜູ້ກ່ຽວເຫັນຜູ້ເສຍຫາຍຍ່າງໄປສວນມັນຕົ້ນຄົນດຽວ ໃນເວລາຕາເວັນໃກ້ຕົກດິນ ຈາກນັ້ນຈຶ່ງເກີດມີແນວຄິດຢາກຮ່ວມເພດກັບຍິງຄົນນັ້ນ ກໍເລີຍຍ່າງຕາມຫຼັງໄປ ໂດຍບໍ່ໃຫ້ຜູ້ເສຍຫາຍຮູ້ສຶກຕົວ ເມື່ອນຳໄປຮອດສວນມັນຕົ້ນ ຜູ້ກ່ຽວກໍໃຊ້ແຮງຂົ່ມຂືນຈົນສຳເລັດ ສ່ວນຜູ້ເສຍຫາຍກໍພະຍາຍາມຮ້ອງຂໍຄວາມຊ່ວຍເຫຼືອ ແຕ່ເນື່ອງຈາກວ່າສະຖານທີ່ດັ່ງກ່າວ ຫ່າງຈາກບ້ານພໍສົມຄວນ ຈຶ່ງບໍ່ມີໃຜໄດ້ຍິນ ອີກຢ່າງໜຶ່ງ ຜູ້ເສຍຫາຍເຊິ່ງເປັນຍິງທີ່ມີອາຍຸສູງ ຈຶ່ງບໍ່ສາມາດຊ່ວຍເຫຼືອຕົນເອງໄດ້ ແລະ ພາຍຫຼັງຂົ່ມຂືນສຳເລັດ ທ້າວ ພູວັນ ໄດ້ເອົາຕົວຫຼົບໜີເຂົ້າໄປໃນບ້ານ ຈົນຮອດເວລາ 22:00 ໂມງຂອງວັນດຽວກັນ ເຈົ້າໜ້າທີ່ຈຶ່ງໄດ້ເຂົ້າຈັບຕົວມາດຳເນີນຄະດີ.

ສຳລັບແມ່ຍິງແລ້ວ ບໍ່ວ່າຈະເປັນຍິງສາວ ຫຼື ໄວກາງຄົນກໍຕາມ ຄວນມີສະຕິລະມັດລະວັງຕົວໃນການໄປມາຢູ່ສະເໝີ ບໍ່ຄວນໄປຄົນດຽວໃນສະຖານທີ່ມືດ ແລະ ໄປເດິກມາດື່ນ ເພາະມັນຈະເປັນຊ່ອງຫວ່າງໃຫ້ຄົນບໍ່ດີ ລົງມືຂົ່ມຂືນ ຫຼື ກໍ່ເຫດຕ່າງໆ ຊຶ່ງເປັນອັນຕະລາຍຕໍ່ຊີວິດ (ດ້ານຮ່າງກາຍ ແລະ ຈິດໃຈ) ແລະ ຊັບສິນຂອງຕົນເອງ.

vientianemai

9:00 PM | Posted in development, developments, Laos, Weird | Read More »

2018 ລາວຈະບໍ່ມີພາສີຂາເຂົ້າ

ການເຊື່ອມໂຍງ ເສດຖະກິດກັບພາກພື້ນ ແລະ ສາກົນເຮັດໃຫ້ສປປລາວຜ່ອນສິ່ງທີ່ເປັນ ອຸປະສັກຕໍ່ການຄ້າໂດຍ ສະເພາະດ້ານອັດຕາພາສີຕ້ອງຫລຸດລົງ ໃຫ້ເຫລືອ0% ໃນປີ2015 ໃນຫມວດສິນຄ້າໃດຫນຶ່ງ, ແຕ່ໃນກໍລະນີຂອງລາວຕ້ອງໃຫ້ ເຫລືອ0% ສິນຄ້າທຸກຢ່າງໃນປີ2018. ທ່ານຄູນສຸທຳມະໂກດຫົວຫນ້າ ກົມນຳເຂົ້າ ແລະສົ່ງອອກ, ກະຊວງອຸດສາຫະກຳແລະການຄ້າກ່າວວ່າ: ໃນປີ2015 ສປປລາວຕ້ອງໄດ້ເຂົ້າຮ່ວມໃນການເປັນປະຊາຄົມ ເສດຖະກິດອາຊຽນເຊິ່ງເນື້ອແທ້ແມ່ນ ການເຂົ້າຮ່ວມ ຕະຫລາດແລະຖານ ການຜະລິດອັນຫນຶ່ງອັນດຽວຂອງອາຊຽນ, ເວລານັ້ນການຄ້າດ້ານຜະລິດຕະພັນ, ການຄ້າດ້ານການບໍລິການແລະການລົງທຶນແມ່ນຈະເປັນເສລີກວ່າໃນສະພາບປະຈຸບັນ, ດ້ານພາສີການນຳເຂົ້າຈະກາຍເປັນ0%, ຍົກເວັ້ນລາຍການສິນຄ້າທີ່ກະທົບໄວໃຫ້ເຫລືອ 0-5%, ແຕ່ຕ້ອງໄດ້ສືບຕໍ່ປະຕິບັດໃຫ້ເຫລືອ0% ໃນປີ2018, ນັ້ນຫມາຍຄວາມວ່າທຸກສິນຄ້າທີ່ເຂົ້າ-ອອກບັນດາປະເທດສະມາຊິກອາຊຽນຈະບໍ່ມີການເກັບພາສີທີ່ເອີ້ນວ່າກຳ ແພງ ກີດກັ້ນຕໍ່ລະບົບການຄ້າ. ຈາກການເຊື່ອມໂຍງເສດຖະກິດດັ່ງກ່າວ ຈະເຮັດໃຫ້ສປປລາວມີໂອກາດສົ່ງອອກສິນຄ້າທີ່ເປັນເອກະລັກຂອງຕົນເອງແລະ ສິນຄ້າທີ່ມີຜົນຕໍ່ສຸຂະພາບໃນ ການບໍລິໂພກເຊັ່ນ: ສິນຄ້າກະສິກຳປອດສານເຄມີ; ນອກຈາກນີ້ຄາດຄະເນວ່າການລົງທຶນຕ່າງໆໃນສປປລາວຈະເພີ່ມຂຶ້ນການບໍລິການດ້ານຕ່າງໆກໍ່ຈະໄດ້ມີການປັບປຸງ ໃຫ້ມີຄຸນນະພາບແລະມາດຕະຖານໃນລະດັບແນ່ນອນ. ecom

7:50 PM | Posted in development, developments, Laos | Read More »

China hands over road cleaning trucks to Vientiane

(KPL) Deputy Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith inspected the tidiness of roads in Vientiane Capital on 6 June and Mr Thonglound who is also Minister of Foreign Affairs stressed Vientiane Administration to take into account resolving urgently soils leaving on the roads.

Latest, Deputy Head of External Relation Division, Mr Sui Xuangminh in Kunming province, China, representing Chinese Government handed over six trucks for cleaning up downtown, of which three waste disposal trucks and two trucks for dusk vacuum and a washing truck are worth of over 3 million yuan, to Vientiane Mayor Mr. Soukanh Mahalath, on 10 June.

The trucks will be available for serving cleaning activities in Vientiane during the ASEM 9, scheduled 5-6 November.

Mr Xuangminh said that the trucks are a gift of Government and people of Yunnan province, China especially Kunming gave to Vientiane Capital.

The donated trucks will keep cleaning on roads in Vientiane Capital, which is a part of six campaigns of Vientiane.

4:36 PM | Posted in development, developments, Laos | Read More »

130 buddha images discover in a cave in Vientiane

The Vientiane provincial Culture, Information and Tourism Department has moved 130 Buddha images discovered recently in a cave in the province to a local temple where devotees can pay homage to them.

Most of the statues are about 60 centimetres high and are made of silver, gold and clay.

They were discovered last month in Nameuang village, Meuangfeuang district, by a man who went to the cave to hunt for rats.

A department official in charge of investigating the find, Mr Phaivan Syvanalom, said the origin of the statues is unknown.

“So far, we have no clear evidence as to their origins, but their discovery is significant for our national heritage,” he said.

Mr Phaivan thinks the Buddha images may have belonged to people seeking shelter during the war and that they hid these valuables in the cave. He also thinks they might have their origins in the King Fa Ngum era.

One venerable monk, who was able to read palm leaf manuscripts, said some of the letters inscribed on the images provided clues to their origins.

Officials wonder why the people who have lived in the area for over 80 years never came across these images. The man who eventually found them had been married to a local girl for just six days before he glimpsed them hidden in the ground of the small cave.

He first spotted four small statuettes on the ground, and then informed local officials, who found more underneath.

Villagers say the images were once kept in the village but when several people fell ill and died they decided to put them in the cave, which was about 10km away.

Now that they are in the village temple, they are attracting devotees who are coming to pay their respects and make donations.

Guards are taking turns to watch over the statues as they are afraid that people with bad intentions may try to steal them.

Eventually the department wants to move the collection to the provincial cultural hall to put them on public display.

By Phonesavanh Sangsomboun

Vientianetimes

8:09 AM | Posted in development, developments, Laos, Weird | Read More »

Laos still difficult for doing business !

Laos is still difficult for doing business, according to the International Finance Corporation (IFC), despite amended laws relating to investment, the economy and business. Amendments have not been enough to raise the country’s Doing Business ranking.

The IFC, a private arm of the World Bank, ranks 183 economies worldwide according to their performance in 10 categories: starting a business, ease of obtaining a construction permit, connecting to electricity, registering property, obtaining credit, protecting investors, paying taxes, trading across borders, enforcing contracts, and resolving insolvency.

Laos is ranked 165th in the IFC’s Doing Business ranking for 2012, dropping from 163rd in 2011, despite the government having made key economic policy reforms. One of the issues resulting in the drop in ranking is the difficulty businesses face when seeking credit or investment funding. In the ‘Getting Credit’ ranking, Laos ranks 166th this year, down from 152nd place in 2011.

This has highlighted the problems that businesses face in accessing investment funding, despite an increase in the number of commercial banks in Laos to 24. Most loans provided by Lao banks are for real estate, while small and medium sized enterprises, which the government has a policy to support, receive only a small proportion of the funds available. One of the categories Doing Business identifies deals with construction permits. Laos is now ranked 180th in this category, down from 178th in 2011. Laos is also ranked 89th in starting a business, after being ranked 88th in 2011. Another problem area is tax payment, with Laos ranked 123rd in 2012, compared to 120th in 2011. The Resolving Insolvency and Registering Property categories remain unchanged in 2012 at 183rd and 172nd respectively.

Despite the obstacles to doing business in Laos, the IFC acknowledges the positive moves made by the country to ease barriers and improve facilities, such as connecting to the electricity grid, where the Lao ranking has improved to 138th, up from 139th in 2011. Laos has also seen border trade grow and is now ranked 168th, up from 170th in 2011.

The Lao government has amended laws and created a ‘one-stop service’ for companies seeking investment permission and a business licence, which will become operational in October. In addition, the laws offer investment incentives including longer tax breaks and land use rights for persons who invest US$500,000 in the country. Laos has also amended the tax and customs laws and revised a number of economic policies as part of efforts to join the World Trade Organisation at the end of this year.

Source: Vientianetimes

8:45 AM | Posted in development, developments, Laos | Read More »

Laos Government Allows Unique Gathering for Unicity International Grand Opening

Unicity's grand opening of the Laos market receives support from the Laotian people.

Unicity, a global leader in healthcare products, recently opened the new market of Laos with a standing-room-only event held in Vientiane, Laos. Hundreds of Lao people, as well as top Unicity Franchise Partners, were excited to witness the ribbon cutting as Unicity continued its mission to Make Life Better.

Local government regulations typically don’t allow for more than three to five people to assemble, making this event a unique experience. Special care was given to follow Lao regulations, but it was clear there were many Lao people who wanted to show their strong commitment to Make Life Better with Unicity.

Also present at the event was Christopher Kim, President of Unicity Asia-Pacific, as well as Rasa Comeban, Unicity’s top-selling franchise owner. The two leaders led the cutting of the ribbon ceremony.

Following the ribbon cutting, the first Unicity Seminar for Laos was held with an amazing crowd of over 1,200 people. Those attending had difficulty holding back their typical loud cheers of excitement, as Lao regulations prevented them from making too much noise.

“It is very exciting to open the Laos market. We know we can improve the lives of the Lao people through Unicity’s products and opportunity.” Said Christopher Kim following the event. “Opening the Laos market is the first step for us to reach Indo-China markets such as Vietnam, Cambodia, and even some parts of China.”

The grand opening of Laos follows several years of record-breaking sales for Unicity in Thailand. Products like Bios Life SX (similar to Bios Life Slim) have become favorites for people who struggle with weight and blood sugar problems.

Unicity’s move to Laos will continue their mission to Make Life Better by bringing the Lao people products which help with a variety of health problems such as glucose management and weight loss.

Source: http://www.virtual-strategy.com/2012/06/05/laos-government-allows-unique-gathering-unicity-international-grand-opening

9:53 PM | Posted in development, developments, Laos | Read More »

ປີນີ້ອັດຕາເງິນເຟີ້ຢູ່ລາວ ຫຼຸດລົງຕະຫຼອດໄລຍະ !

ອັດຕາເງິນເຟີ້ຂອງລາວໃນເດືອນເມສາໄດ້ສືບຕໍ່ຫລຸດລົງເປັນເດືອນທີ 4 ຕິດຕໍ່ກັນນັບແຕ່ເດືອນທັນວາ 2011.

ກ່ອນຫນ້ານັ້ນ ນັກເສດຖະສາດບາງທ່ານໄດ້ມີການຄາດຄະເນວ່າ ອັດຕາເງິນເຟີ້ຂອງລາວໃນໄລຍະ 6 ເດືອນທ້າຍສົກນີ້ອາດມີທ່າອຽງເພີ່ມຂຶ້ນເນື່ອງຈາກລາຄານ້ຳມັນໂລກ ລວມທັງສິນຄ້າບາງປະເພດຢູ່ຕະຫລາດພາຍໃນອາດມີການປັບເພີ່ມຂຶ້ນ ແຕ່ໃນທາງກົງກັນຂ້າມເດືອນເມສາຜັດມີທ່າອຽງຫລຸດລົງ.

ອີງຕາມຂໍ້ມູນຈາກສູນສະ ຖິຕິແຫ່ງຊາດກົມສະຖິຕິເສດຖະກິດກະຊວງແຜນການ ແລະ ການລົງທຶນໃຫ້ຮູ້ວ່າ: ໃນເດືອນເມສາ ເຊິ່ງເປັນເດືອນທຳອິດຂອງການຈັດຕັ້ງແຜນພັດທະນາເສດຖະກິດŒສັງຄົມ 6 ເດືອນທ້າຍສົກ 2011Œ2012 ເລື້ອຍໆມາຢູ່ທີ່ລະດັບ 4,37% ເມື່ອທຽບໃສ່ເດືອນມີນາຫລຸດລົງ 0,96% ທີ່ຢູໃນລະດັບ 5,33%.

ຢ່າງໃດກໍ່ຕາມ ເມື່ອສັງເກດເບິ່ງສະພາບການປ່ຽນແປງດັດຊະນີລາຄາການຊົມໃຊ້ລວມເດືອນຕໍ່ເດືອນເຫັນວ່າເດືອນເມສາ 2012 ແມ່ນມີທ່າອຽງທີ່ເພີ່ມຂຶ້ນຫລາຍກວ່າ ເດືອນມີນາຜ່ານມາເນື່ອງຈາກ: ການປ່ຽນແປງຂອງສະພາບອາກາດສົ່ງຜົນໃຫ້ຄວາມສາມາດໃນການຜະລິດ ໂດຍສະເພາະພືດຜັກສົດເພື່ອຈຳຫນ່າຍໃນທ້ອງຕະຫລາດຫລຸດລົງບວກກັບຜົນກະທົບຈາກຄວາມຕ້ອງການໃນການຊົມໃຊ້ຂອງຜູ້ບໍລິໂພກໃນໄລຍະບຸນປີໃຫມ່ລາວສົ່ງຜົນໃຫ້ລາຄາສິນຄ້າປະເພດອາຫານສົດເພີ່ມຂຶ້ນໄດ້ແກ່ພືດຜັກສົດ, ຊີ້ນ ແລະ ສັດປີກ.

ພ້ອມນັ້ນ ການປັບຕົວເພີ່ມຂຶ້ນຂອງລາຄານ້ຳມັນເຊື້ອໄຟ ແລະ ຄ່າຊົມໃຊ້ໄຟຟ້າ ເຊິ່ງໄດ້ກະທົບຕໍ່ການຂົນສົ່ງ ແລະ ຕົ້ນທຶນການຜະລິດ ລວມທັງຜົນກະທົບຈາກການລະບາດຂອງພະຍາດປາກ ເປື່ອຍນຳສັດ (ງົວ,ຄວາຍ) ຢູ່ແຂວງໄຊຍະບູລີ ແລະ ອຸດົມໄຊ ໃນໄລຍະເດືອນທັນວາ 2011 ຫາເດືອນມັງກອນ 2012 ຜ່ານມາ ແລະ ກ່ອນປີໃຫມ່ລາວເປັນຕົ້ນມາລາຄາຊີ້ນຫມູຢູ່ພາກກາງມີທ່າອຽງເພີ່ມຂຶ້ນຫລາຍເຊັ່ນກັນ.

ໂດຍຫມວດສະບຽງອາຫານ ແລະ ເຄື່ອງດື່ມທີ່ບໍ່ແມ່ນເຫລົ້າທຽບໃສ່ເດືອນຕໍ່ເດືອນເພີ່ມເຖິງ 2,2%; ທີ່ຢູ່ອາໄສ, ນ້ຳປະປາ, ໄຟຟ້າ ແລະ ເຊື້ອໄຟຫູງຕົ້ມເພີ່ມຂຶ້ນ 1,8%; ຮ້ານອາ ຫານ ແລະ ໂຮງແຮມເພີ່ມຂຶ້ນສູງເຖິງ 3,1% ແລະ ຫມວດເຫລົ້າŒຢາສູບເພີ່ມຂຶ້ນ 1,7%.

9:10 AM | Posted in development, developments, Laos | Read More »

New Lao TV channel to air mid August

(KPL) The youngest television MV Laos is preparing for its regular operation in mid-August this year fallowing months of trial broadcasting since 2011.

MV Laos has its headquarters at Ban Parkthang, Sikhottabong, Vientiane Capital. its proposal for foundation was approved by the government in 2006.

This television will focus on youth oriented education programmes, dharma teachings, women' s culture, ecotourism, crop farming, agriculture, trade among others, said on Wednesday President of MV Laos Television Mrs. Adinasirikhoun Mahavong.

8:44 AM | Posted in development, developments, Laos | Read More »

Electric vehicles the key for a clean Vientiane

For Laos, and Vientiane specifically, the work that Sunlabob and LIRE have done has shown that electric vehicles in the inner urban area are actually the best option to preserve the air quality and health of the residents of the capital.

Electric vehicles the key for a clean Vientiane

Laos is booming, nowhere is that more visible than in Vientiane, with the capital city growing in population by 5% per year and due to double in size in the next 20 years. Lao people are seeing huge increases in service provision and opportunity, but as the city grows, it has to face up to a difficult problem _ its air quality is getting worse. The geographical location of Vientiane is partly to blame; with wind speeds typically only a couple of metres per second, the vehicle pollution does not really blow away from the city.

But now with vehicle numbers growing at around 14% per year in Vientiane over the past 10 years, the city has to face up to the huge challenge of dealing with air quality issues. It is internally constrained, and authorities have concluded that building lots of faster new roads will be hard and often impossible.

Simply put, the number of people in Vientiane is growing at 5% a year but the number of vehicles is rising by 14%, leading to almost four times as many vehicles as 10 years ago, in a city increasingly choked with traffic and smoke.

But Laos, the self-declared "Battery of Asia", has a huge amount of affordable electricity. And this is the fuel of the future for Laos and the key to developing Vientiane as a clean city and solving its worsening air quality problems. Sunlabob, with the Lao Institute for Renewable Energy, and a consortium of other partners, have identified that electric vehicles, especially tuk tuks, can viably replace large numbers of the iconic smoking tuk-tuks of Vientiane and transform the city.

By making the centre of the city a low-emissions zone and bringing in electric vehicles, many of which can be financed and paid for by carbon-credit financing money, Sunlabob and the institute are trying to make Vientiane the model Asean city for clean electric vehicles and even cleaner air.

Not many cities have the same geographical constraints as Vientiane, in terms of air quality, but all should be able to learn from the lesson of Vientiane if it is possible to bring government and donors together effectively to partner in this vital project. And it is not just Vientiane where this technology can work; indeed, almost all the major cities in Laos will face the same issue in coming years especially the famous Unesco World Heritage site, the city of Luang Prabang.

The issue of charging stations is often raised as a constraint to electric vehicles, and there are three main ways that we solve this problem:

- The vehicles have solar panels on their roofs to charge up as they sit parked in the hot sun; this is extremely affordable and safe.

- In Laos most of the tuk tuks and heavy vehicles return in the evenings to the same locations, and so the charging stations just need to be there.

- Every vehicle has a charger built in so it can just charge from any mains power socket overnight. But with the typical battery of an electric tuk tuk giving a range of 60-80 km, this is more than the typical distance travelled by a tuk tuk in each working day.

Electric vehicles are seen as very new technology, but electricity is distributed into all our homes already, and in fact many early cars around 1900 were electric. Electricity is the fuel of the future, as it is available almost everywhere. And it is the green fuel of the future when we produce it from clean, renewable sources. We are trying hard to produce more electricity from renewable sources already as part of our power-development plans in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase energy security.

And in this age of great concerns about food security, and land taken up to grow energy crops, producing electricity takes up far less land than, for example, producing biofuels. And the importance for farmers to grow food, not fuel, for Asia's fast-growing populations is greater than ever.

For Laos, and Vientiane specifically, the work that Sunlabob and LIRE have done has shown that electric vehicles in the inner urban area are actually the best option to preserve the air quality and health of the residents of the capital.

The barrier is not technical. The technologies are well-proven and increasingly affordable, but institutional. Within even 12 months it would probably be possible to bring in 3,000 electric tuk tuks to Vientiane, but it takes this vital partnership with institutions and financing groups to seize this viable opportunity.

Electric vehicles are no longer a novelty, but a viable urban development option, and ideally suited to Southeast Asian cities. And for Laos, electric vehicles are vital for Vientiane to become the capital of clean air in the "Battery of Asia".

Edward Allen is a technical programme coordinator at Lao Institute for Renewable Energy and the Technical Adviser to Sunlabob Renewal Energy. He holds a BA in Geography from Oxford University, and an MSc and Diploma of Agriculture from Imperial College London (Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development).

8:41 AM | Posted in development, developments, Laos | Read More »