Lao Dams Lower Water Levels on a Scenic River, Harming Tour Boat Operators and Other Local Businesses
Water levels lowered by seven dams along a stretch of the Nam Ou River in Laos are blocking boat travel in a scenic area popular with tourists, impacting tour and passenger boat operators and other local businesses, Lao sources say. Travel by water between Nong Khiaw ...
Reported by RFA’s Lao Service. Translated by Max Avary. Written in English by Richard Finney
Laos to go ahead with Luang Prabang dam project despite warnings
The government of Laos has officially informed the intergovernmental Mekong River Commission (MRC) of its plan to build a new dam in Luang Prabang, despite warnings about the project’s environmental effects. “We confirm that the MRC Secretariat has received the notification from the Lao government on the Luang ...
Andrew Nachemson
Can Laos afford to be the ‘Battery of Asia’?
The debate over Laos’ strategy to become the “Battery of Asia” continues months after the deadly disaster at the Xe Pian-Xe Namnoy hydropower dam, even as the Lao government keeps building more dams. Despite the previous government’s decision to suspend new dam projects and academics’ concerns ...
Nong Khamsene wetland’s management discussed
The AFC in cooperation with World Wilde Fund for Nature to Laos organized a workshop to promote collaborative management of the Nong Khamsene wetland in Vientiane on Aug 14, 2020. The Nong Khamsene wetland is located about 20 km southwest of Vientiane. It is shared by ...
Lao News Agency
Investment, stronger agricultural exports drive economic growth
Laos’ economy is projected to grow 3.4 percent this year and 3.7 percent in 2023, due to the country’s investments to boost exports, according to the Asian Development Outlook (ADO) 2022 released by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Wednesday. “Growth in 2022 and 2023 will ...
Somsack Pongkhao
Local organic production growth predicted via guarantee system
Lao small-scale farmers can now access Participatory Guarantee Systems (PGS), to help them to increase the supply of quality organic produ cts to the local market. United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Regional Officer for Asia and the Pacific Ms Mayling Flores Rojas said ...
SEZs driving economic growth in the south
The establishment of Special and Specific Economic Zones and untapped tourism potential is expected to drive economic growth in Champassak province, a senior official has noted. Deputy Governor of Champassak province Mr Buasone Vongsongkhone told Vientiane Times on Tuesday that more entrepreneurs from China, Japan ...
Vientiane has business potential but needs more infrastructure
Vientiane still has a huge potential for businesses and investment since Laos is being integrated with South East Asian Nations, according to economists. However, economists recommended that infrastructure development including roads, water and electricity supply are crucial for facilitating and attracting more entrepreneurs to the ...
Republic of Korea provides US$9 million for rural development
The Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry signed a Record of Discussion online on November 1 to initiate the Integrated Rural Development Project in Champassask, Saravan and Xekong provinces. The 5-year project is being implemented until 2025 with a total ...
Times Reporters
Thailand, Laos sign agreement on 5th friendship bridge across Mekong River
Thailand and Laos on Friday signed an agreement on building the fifth friendship bridge between Thailand’s Bueng Kan province and Laos’ Bolikhamsai province. Thailand’s Transport Minister Arkhom Termpittayapaisith and Lao Public Works and Transport Minister Bounchan Sinthavong presided over the signing ceremony on Friday. Arkhom said Thailand’s ...
Environmental damage continues months after Laos dam collapse
IN July, a hydroelectric dam collapse in Laos released five billion cubic meters of water into surrounding countryside – the equivalent of two million Olympic swimming pools. The resulting flood killed dozens, devastated communities, forced thousands to flee and ripped through areas of protected rainforest. The ...
Chinese Dams Unleash Mekong Waters on Laos During ‘Dry’ Season
Chinese dams on the Mekong River have begun releasing water during the river’s normal dry season, causing trouble for wildlife, farmers and fishermen in Laos, sources in the Southeast Asian country told RFA. “The Mekong River water level is up 12 centimeters [4.7 inches] from yesterday,” ...
RFA’s Lao Service. Translated by Max Avary. Written in English by Eugene Whong.
Ministry, Lao Front cement environmental cooperation
Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MONRE) and Lao Front for National Construction (LFNC) have agreed to initiate environmental protection cooperation which will contribute to sustainable national development.The new project, known as ‘Strengthening of LFNC Capacity on Environmental Monitoring’ is being implemented with development assistance ...
Lao authorities seem powerless to stop crime in Golden Triangle economic zone
The Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone in northern Laos is a haven for criminal activities including prostitution, scamming and drug trafficking, but Lao authorities are essentially powerless to stop it, workers in the zone and police told Radio Free Asia. The zone is a gambling and ...
RFA Lao
New Lao ambassador to Japan takes post
New Lao ambassador to Japan Mr Viroth Soundara last week presented his credentials to Emperor Akihito of Japan at the Tokyo’s Imperial Palace in officially taking his diplomatic post in the country. After the presentation ceremony, a dicussion between His Majesty the Emperor Akihito and ...
Lead the battle against coronavirus as in wartime, Party committees ordered
Party committees at all levels have been told to give guidance and command the fight against Covid-19 as if it were a war situation, to counter the surge in infections. The Secretariat of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party on April 25 issued an order asking all ...
Times Reporters
Laos highlights need for digital transformation
A senior Lao leader has highlighted the need to accelerate digital transformation in line with sustainable development, while attending the ITU Digital World 2021 conference from Oct 12-14. A ceremony marked the 50th anniversary of the first ITU Telecom meeting, the forerunner of this year’s largely ...
Controversial Luang Prabang Dam Construction Well Underway in Laos
Construction of the controversial Luang Prabang Dam on the Mekong River, near the ancient Lao capital of the same name, is making rapid headway, according to Lao energy officials. Access roads, including a 14-kilometer spur to the dam from a nearby highway and a road that ...
RFA’s Lao Service. Translated by Max Avary. Written in English by Joshua Lipes.
Vietnam affirms close cooperation in transport with Laos, Cambodia
The transport ministries of Vietnam and Laos have affirmed close cooperation in all aspects of the transport sector at an annual bilateral ministerial meeting in Hanoi on 22 August. They agreed to promote transport infrastructure connectivity between the two countries. On the same day, Vietnam and Cambodia ...
Regional deal to tackle drugs
Senior officials from Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia on 10 December signed a joint statement on drug control co-operation, vowing to make the ASEAN bloc drug-free at the 15th Trilateral and Bilateral Ministerial Meeting of Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos on Drug Control Co-operation. The joint statement was inked ...
