Laos and France signed two grant agreements in Vientiane on Friday to develop the health sector, and to fund studies to build capacity and expertise in project identification.

The agreements between the Lao government, the French Embassy, and the French Development Agency (AFD), amounted to 7 million euros (about 825 billion kip, US$8.4 million), and 1 million euros (about 110 billion kip, US$1.2 million)...more

The signing ceremony took place in the presence of the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr Phongsavath Boupha, Minister of

Health Dr Ponmek Dalaloy, and the French Ambassador to Laos Mr Maurice Portiche. The governors of Vientiane and Savannakhet provinces were also present.

The first grant agreement, for 7 million euros, will allow support for the health sector by

targeting two priority areas. The first is the extension of the community-based health insurance system in Vientiane and in Savannakhet province.

There will also be support for efforts to eradicate emerging diseases, such as HIV/AIDS and avian flu. This second component will comprise, in particular, the construction in Laos of the future Pasteur Institute of Laos.

The projects are expected to better the general health of the population, by providing more equal access to quality health services and by enhancing control over emerging and contagious diseases. This will be AFD's first support of the health sector in the Lao PDR.

The second grant agreement, for a total of 1 million euros, is committed to the financing of studies and expertise for the purpose of project identification and preparation, feasibility and project assessment and auditing, in preparation for commitments from AFD.

The first studies to be financed by this study fund could be oriented to the preparation of a new project for heritage preservation and urban development in Luang Prabang province.

The second part involves studies for a railway track between Dongphosy and Sokkham villages in Vientiane , and the design of a train station at Sokkham village. The railway between Dongphosy and Sokkham is 9 km long.

This last project is not directly related to AFD commitments but is implemented within the framework of triangular cooperation between Laos , France , and Thailand .

By Khonesavanh Latsapaho
vientianetimes.org.la

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