University of Health and Science to be set up

(KPL) The current Faculty of Medical Science will develop into the University of Health and Science.

The announcement was made by the Ministry of Public Health following the signing of an agreement on the transfer of the Medical Science Faculty, National University of Laos, to the Ministry of Public Health this week between Education Minister Prof. Dr Somkot Mangnormek and Public Health Minister Ponmek Dalaloy.

The emerging university will provide a broader curriculum in medicine, dentistry, nursing and laboratory practices, as well as other health and science majors.

Before the transfer, the Ministry of Public Health, the Faculty of Medical Science had been under the management of the National University of Laos for 11 years.

Deputy Prime Minister Mr Somsavat Lengsavad, and representatives of relevant authorities witnessed the transfer ceremony.

Source: kpl.net

The Australian government will provide an estimated A$27.2 million (over 200 billion kip) in aid to Laos in the 2007-08 period.

The 2007-08 Budget, announced Tuesday night in Canberra, is a watershed for the Australian government's aid programme, and Australia's largest ever investment in reducing poverty...more info

In total, Australia will provide an estimated A$3.155 billion in official development assistance (ODA) in 2007-08, an increase over the 2006-07 budget of A$209 million.

ODA, managed by Australia 's overseas aid agency, AusAID, will increase by over 21.7 percent in real terms as the agency begins implementing major new initiatives announced in the budget.

Australian ODA to Laos will be used to further expand Australian engagement in improving the quality of, and access to, basic education. It will also support Australia 's commitment to promoting the country's integration with regional and global economies.

To reinforce Australia 's efforts to promote growth and stability in the Asia-Pacific region, the package of initiatives will make substantial new investments in critical areas, including education, economic growth, health and emergency and humanitarian response capacity.

These investments are guided by the 2006 White Paper on Australian aid and demonstrate real progress towards achieving the Government's commitment of a A$4 billion aid programme by 2010.

By vientiane times

PUTRAJAYA: Direct flights from Kuala Lumpur to Vientiane in Laos will resume from July after nearly a decade of hiatus. Budget carrier AirAsia will be operating between the two cities, Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar announced yesterday.

This was agreed upon by both governments at the third joint commission meeting for bilateral co-operation here.

The decision to resume direct air links was made as part of steps to increase co-operation in tourism and to boost trade and investment, he said after the two-day meeting.

Syed Hamid led the Malaysian delegation, while Laos Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Dr Thongloun Sisoulith led the Laos delegation.
Malaysia Airlines had mounted flights into Vientiane beginning in 1996 but ceased operations since 1998 due to the Asian financial crisis...more

Syed Hamid said resumption of direct flights was mutually beneficial as Laos was keen to have more Malaysians invest there.

Malaysia is the ninth largest investor there, with interests in hotels and hydropower facilities.

Trade with Laos is now worth US$58 million (RM197.7 million).

Both countries also discussed plans to exchange plots of land in Putrajaya and Vientiane for the building of their respective embassies and ambassadors’ residences.

Other areas of co-operation such as capacity-building to help develop Laos’ economy were discussed, including plans for the country to explore rubber planting.

Laos has also extended an invitation to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to visit the country.

The next bilateral meeting will be held in Vientiane in 2009.

Source: The New Straits Times

Photo: Kayak in Vang vieng, Laos.

(KPL) Tourism sector attracted over 1.2 million tourists last year, increased by 11% from the year before.

President of National Tourism Administration, Mr Somphong Mongkhonvilay said “2006 was another year the tourism sector has kept its constant growth.”
Last year, the revenue raised by tourism sector was US$ 173.2 million, equivalent to five percent of the national gross domestic product (GDP).
Forty-five tour companies were registered last year, while the number of guesthouses and hotels was increased by 17%. There are over 2,100 guesthouses and hotels nationwide.

“The constant growth of tourism sector in the recent years is due to the certain tourism promotion policy of the government,” said Mr Somphong. “The government has invested in the development of tourism infrastructure such as airports and roads accessing provinces and neighbouring countries. In addition basic facilities have been built to meet the demand of tourists.”
Laos has exempted visas for visitors from eight ASEAN member countries, and a non ASEAN country Japan.

The government will raise the base salaries of officials, particularly those who work in remote areas, it announced last week.

This was one of the outcomes of the government's three-day monthly meeting, from March 20-22.

At the meeting, officials reported on plans to improve salaries and social welfare payments for staff...more

The meeting evaluated the events of the past month, noting that several targets had been reached, especially those relating to dry season production, including the cultivation of rice and other crops for market sale.

The meeting chaired by Prime Minister Bouasone Bouphavanh evaluated that implementation of investment projects of both private and state sectors had gone smoothly. National security and defence work, as well as village development at the grass-roots level, had also gone according to plan.

The prevention and control of bird flu in the capital, as well as in Vientiane , Savannakhet and Champassak provinces, had been successful thanks to theparticipation of all sectors concerned and the support of international organisations and friendly countries.

The meeting approved the focus of the work plan for April, which will boost national security and defence activities as well as efforts to reduce anti-social behaviour, along with rural development to alleviate poverty.

The plan for April will strengthen efforts to resolve issues related to migration, as well as the control and surveillance of areas affected by bird flu, the implementation of the socio-economic development plan, and the state budget plan to reach targets and resolve debts.

The meeting also discussed preparations for dealing with natural disasters.The government will continue to focus its attention on the management of foreign currencies and pricing of goods by preventing illegal trade.

The government will implement the Prime Minister's order No 31, along with the decisions made at the nationwide forestry meeting held in February.

Government officials will endeavour to solve various issues related to land management and the reform of education, and will continue to boost investment and cooperation plans with overseas countries for better results.

The meeting advised the promotion of Pi Mai Lao (Lao New Year) next month, to attract more visitors.

During the meeting, officials reported on strategic plans for small and mediumenterprise (SME) development, and emphasised that SMEs played an important role in socio-economic development and national growth to alleviate poverty.

The meeting agreed to continue enhancing SMEs through systematic measures so that the sector could develop by forging links overseas.

Officials also reported on the vocational education development plan, and skills training from now until 2010, and from 2010 to 2020, and advised on how to improve the plan. The Ministry of Education, in collaboration with the sectors concerned, is responsible for improving the vocational education plan based on the guidelines of the 8 th Party Congress on human resource development.

The plan is to boost the numbers of qualified labourers for better economicgrowth, which is why training strategies need to be finely honed in terms of both quantity and quality.

The meeting also advised sectors to devise essential policy on the building of human resources in mountainous areas, for ethnic people, women and disabled people.

The meeting discussed policies to promote investment from various sectors for vocational training development.

Officials reported on improvements to the draft Prime Ministerial decree on implementing policy for outstanding officials in the revolutionary mission, as well as on salaries for retired officials, policy related to funeral ceremonies for retiredofficials, and the construction of the Unknown Soldier monument.

Officials reported on a draft decree for the movement of people in and out of the country, and for those requesting permanent Lao residency, and approved the decree in principle.

Finally, the meeting reported on the situation of monitoring and evaluating various mining investment projects, as well as the preparation of five draft laws to be proposed to the National Assembly.

By VIENTIANE TIMES