Fears grow that dam across Mekong River in Laos could harm World Heritage site of Luang Prabang
LUANG PRABANG, Laos (AP) — Landlocked Laos doesn’t have the famous beaches of its neighbors to attract tourists, but instead relies on the pristine beauty of its mountains and rivers and historical sites to bring in visitors. The crown jewel is Luang Prabang, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where legend ...
DAVID RISING
Money exchange units banned from selling foreign currency
Money exchange units that represent commercial banks are now prohibited from selling foreign currency, according to the Bank of the Lao PDR. Became effective on October 11, the ban supports the government’s attempts to give commercial banks a greater role in the purchase and sale ...
Times Reporters
Climate Investment as FAO Supports Lao PDR’s national scale mapping and prioritization contributing to Paris Agreement reporting
Implementation of the Lao PDR’s NDC priorities in agriculture and natural resources sectors and national investment pipelines were the focus of the consultation workshop in the capital city Vientiane.Contributing to the design and capacity for reporting on NDC for the agricultural sector, the workshop was ...
KPL
UXO clearance authority seeks more funding
The government has called for more support for UXO clearance operations, with 132,000 hectares of land having been surveyed and confirmed to be contaminated with unexploded ordnance.Director General of the National Regulatory Authority for UXO/Mine Action Sector under the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare, ...
Phomphong Laoin
Tourism agencies urged to plan for Visit Laos Year 2018
In anticipation of 2018 being a Visit Laos Year, the Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism Prof. Dr Bosengkham Vongdara has called on all tourism agencies to urgently prepare activities for inclusion in the programme. Prof. Dr Bosengkham made the call at this week meeting on ...
BOL regulates currency exchange rates in bid to stabilise economy
The Bank of the Lao PDR (BOL) has issued a new Decision on the setting of currency exchange rates, as a guideline for commercial banks trading in foreign currencies.The move is aimed at enabling commercial banks to operate with a degree of flexibility in the ...
Somsack Pongkhao
Party urges public participation in fight against corruption
Every Party and government organisation, the Lao Front for National Construction and other mass organisations, the mass media and the general public must actively combat autocracy and join the fight against corruption. This was the call from the Party Central Committee to people across the ...
Legal Aid Webpage launched
the Legal Aid Webpage will be used by the Ministry of Justice to provide Lao citizens with information about legal aid services. The public can go to the website, ask questions, and request advice and consultation from the MOJ free of charge. MOJ utilizes legal aid, ...
KPL
National Industrial Park Launched in Cooperation With Asia-Potash International
The government and SINO-AGRI International Potash Co., Ltd. (SINO-KCL) signed the MOU in Vientiane, indicating that the government-enterprise cooperation project is about to get off the ground after more than one year’s preparation. The project aims to promote industrialization, urbanization and investment in Laos while modernizing ...
Advertorial Desk
NA Ethnic Affairs Committee opens plenary meeting
On Oct 20, the Ethnic Affairs Committee of the National Assembly’s 9th legislature held its plenary meeting under the presidency of the Chairman of the Committee. She noted that over the past one year, the Ethnic Affairs Committee in cooperation with relevant authorites has met eligible ...
KPL
US Provides over US$ 1 Million in Vehicles, Equipment to the Lao National Unexploded Ordnance Programme
The United States contributed 16 new 4×4 vehicles and 134 UXO detectors, worth more than USD$1 million at a handover ceremony held at the UXO Lao Training Centre in Vientiane on Jan 19, 2021. The equipment will go to UXO-removal teams working in Khammuan, Savannakhet, Saravan, Attapeu, ...
KPL
Ministry of Energy and Mines Suspends Foreign Mining Company
Ministry of Energy has issued a notice suspending the operations of a foreign mining company in Oudomxay due to recurring safety issues. The notice states that Lao-Xinlong Mining Company has had its operations in Pak Bang District suspended due to repeated accidents affecting lives and property.Lao ...
Manyphone Vongphachanh
Illegal trade of pangolins and their parts widespread online in Laos
Wildlife traders say that the illegal trade of pangolins remains strong – including on the Internet – despite their listing as a critically endangered species by Laos and even though the government has ordered a crackdown on the trade of endangered wildlife. Laos, a popular transit ...
RFA Lao
Laos to Disconnect Unregistered SIM Cards this Month
(The Laotian Times) Laos is to begin disconnecting all unregistered sim cards this month in line with an announcement made in July this year.According to a notice issued by the Lao Ministry of Post and Telecommunications, all phone numbers across the country must now be properly ...
Phayboune Thanabouasy
Laos Likely to Benefit from Thailand’s Energy Shortage
Kurit Sombatsiri, the Permanent Secretary of the Energy Ministry, informed that the rising prices of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and the weak baht could adversely affect energy costs next year. The Energy Policy and Planning Office (EPPO) met with Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha on Monday to discuss ...
Amrita Paul
Lao Officials Promote Environmental Protection at Mining Projects
During a recent cabinet meeting, the government said it encouraged mining exploration by licensed mining companies to promote excavation and revenue derived from mineral exports. From 2021 to 2025, Laos is expected to produce mineral products valued at USD 7.832 billion, increasing by four percent from ...
Latsamy Phonevilay
Organisations discuss capacity for improved regional forest governance
The Center for People and Forests in partnership with the Lao Biodiversity Association and the World Wide Fund for Nature have launched a five year project to strengthen capacity in forest governance. Supported by the European Union, the project’s objective is to empower non-state actors ...
Fighting Poverty by Protecting Landscapes
The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and the World Bank have launched a US$57 million Lao Landscapes and Livelihoods Project that will generate jobs and incomes in rural areas by promoting investment in environmentally sustainable and socially-responsible forest and landscape management, and in the preservation ...
KPL
Trains to arrive next month for trial run of Laos-China railway
The Laos-China railway project will bring in locomotives, electric multiple unit (EMU) trains and other equipment to conduct the first trial run of the railway in October. Officials in charge of the project said the project management committee is drafting a memorandum relating to the ...
Phomphong Laoin
Authorities Clarify Protest by Myanmar Laborers in SEZ
The Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone (SEZ) went into lockdown on Friday following the confirmation of community spread after some local workers left the zone. Authorities of the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone (SEZ) have issued a statement regarding a protest by laborers from Myanmar. The protest ...
Phayboune Thanabouasy