Laos is commited to partnering with other countries in the Greater Mekong Sub-region to prevent the spread of emerging infectious diseases and improve emergency health services. More ...

VIENTIANE (Vientiane Times/ANN) – Laos has been increasingly successful in protecting people’s right to healthcare with the majority of the population now having greater access to better quality health services.This was the message delivered by Minister of Health, Assoc. Prof. Dr Bounkong Syhavong, at the ...

The U.S. Treasury Department has slapped sanctions on a gambling empire hacked from the Laotian jungle which it said was involved in drug, human and wildlife trafficking and child prostitution. []The sanctions aim to destabilize the narcotics trade in the Mekong area at a time of ...

(Mark Field, Minister for Asia and the Pacific of the United Kingdom)(KPL) During my very recent first visit to Laos, I was briefed by the Mine Action Group (MAG) and The Halo Trust (HALO) about the state of UXO clearance in Laos, and I spent ...

The government has become a party to the United Nations Convention on Contracts for International Sales of Goods, hoping to use the law to protect its international trade interests.Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr Saleumxay Kommasith on September 26 presented the letter from the government to ...

Savannakhet province: Government officials led by Deputy Prime Minister Dr Sonexay Siphandone on Wednesday delivered emergency supplies worth over 161 million kip to communities in Xonbouly district that suffered in the recent floods.Dr Sonexay, who is Chairman of the National Ad Hoc Committee in charge ...

VIENTIANE (Vientiane Times/ANN) – Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith recently warned ministries and provincial and district administrations to put a stop to nepotism when it comes to recruiting civil servants.The warning came after the government acknowledged that instances of hiring the relatives of or people close ...

All populations are vulnerable to human trafficking. This is a low-risk, high-reward criminal activity for male traffickers who benefit from the vulnerabilities of women. Human trafficking is enabled by patchy policing, low levels of prosecution, and underfunded prevention. Traffickers prey upon women and girls with ...

Investors in an allegedly fraudulent scheme offered by the Asian Face company are increasingly concerned after the involvement of its operator in similar activities in his home country were revealed. Currently in police custody in Laos over his Asian Face Company Ltd’s alleged illegal capital ...

VIENTIANE (Vientiane Times/ANN) – The government has given the green light for Chinese companies to develop trade-facilitation related infrastructure and invest in agriculture with a view to bolstering exports to China.The move is part of the government’s preparations to capitalise on the US$5.9-billion Laos-China railway, ...

VIENTIANE (Vientiane Times/ANN) – Pheuksa Garden, a famous tourist site, last week organised the annual Vientiane Boun Kinchieng (Hmong) Festival with colourful shows and activities.The festival took place at the garden from November 22 to 24 to promote the culture and traditions of the Hmong ...

The government has agreed with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) to implement the Occupational Safety and Health in Laos Supply Chains project, which aims to protect workers.A Memorandum of Cooperation Agreement on the project was signed in Vientiane on Tuesday between the Ministry of Labour ...

VIENTIANE (Vientiane Times/ANN) – The second Sustainable Tourism Solutions Expo opened in Vientiane on Friday, following on from last year’s well received inaugural event in Luang Prabang province.The expo is the region’s leading specialised fair for the tourism industry to celebrate, explore, and exhibit the latest ...

A new city is fast emerging on the China-Laos border, a manifestation of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) that if fully actualized will serve as Beijing’s new gateway to Southeast Asia. Once known for car smuggling and glitzy casinos catering to Chinese punters, the remote ...

The Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone (GTSEZ) is growing in development and investment projects, especially economic infrastructure, agriculture, livestock, hotels, tourism, residential areas, and entertainment, to attract more visitors, while over 500 companies are investing in the area. During a visit by reporters this week to ...

VIENTIANE (Vientiane Times/ANN) – The Ministry of Finance has ruled that village authorities have no right to impose their budget plans independently as they are part of the state administration and subject to implementing the budget law.Minister of Finance, Mr Somdy Douangdy signed the ministerial decision ...

Last week, Vientiane played host to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime’s High Level Conference on Transnational Organised Crime in Laos and the Mekong Region. The UNODC brought together senior Lao officials, international partners, and select experts from neighbouring Mekong countries.The conference agenda was focused ...

Vientiane plans to improve non-motorised transport and public transport in the face of the rapidly increasing number of vehicles, which are clogging up the capital’s streets. The project will encourage city people to use sustainable modes of transport, Vientiane Vice Mayor Mr Keophilavanh Aphaylath said ...

VIENTIANE (Vientiane Times/ANN) – Laos’ banks are hopeful that the introduction of quick and quality services will also come with added security in the cross-border payment process, to better serve and protect clients.To this end, the Lao Bankers’ Association invited experts from the Society for ...

VIENTIANE (Vientiane Times/ANN) – The World Bank has agreed to provide credit of US$40 million to the government to foster its green growth reform. The international financial institution announced this week that its executive board of directors made the loan approval decision on May 28. However, there ...