Date post: | 25-Feb-2018 |
Category: |
Documents |
Upload: | bounna-phoumalavong |
View: | 231 times |
Download: | 0 times |
of 24
7/25/2019 2016 VTN Issue 027
1/24
7/25/2019 2016 VTN Issue 027
2/24
2 Vientiane TimesHome news Tuesday February 2, 2016
If you have a problem accessing the website, please call directly to
Tel: +856-21 336048; 020 55729209,
Email: [email protected]
Supervisor:
Savankhone Razmountry
Editor-in-Chief:
Thonglor Duangsavanh
Tel: 021 336042
Deputy Editor-in-Chief:
Phonekeo Vorakhoun
Tel: 021 336042
Deputy Editor-in-Chief
and Features Editor:
Phon Thikeo
Tel: 55624351, 021 336047
News Editor:
Sisay Vilaysack
Tel: 55615716, 021-336045,
Fax: 336046
Business Editor:
Panyasith Thammavongsa
Tel: 021-336047,
020 77707411
Graphic Designer/IT:
Malaythong Phayanouvong
Lao Press in Foreign Languages
Vientiane TimesEstablished 1994, Volume 22
Tel: (856-21)336042, Fax:(856-21) [email protected]
Tel: 021 336048, 020
55729209
Copy Sub-editor:
Elizabeth Winch
Finance Manager:
Somphone Vongsa
Tel: 336040, 020 55647291
Marketing Manager:
Phoutthasack
Inthakoummane
Tel: 021 336042,
Fax: 336041
Mobile: 020 55599209
Times Reporters
Xieng Khuang provincialauthority is continuing effortsto mobilise additional fundsfor the construction of atemple on a high mountainin Thongmixay village, Paekdistrict, with the project nowsome 30 percent complete.
President of the GoldenMountain Garden Group,Mr Phoukham Ouanouansa,who is also the head of thecommittee responsible fortemple construction, told medialast weekend that the project isnow 30 percent complete andwork will continue.
The temple was named asHai Hin Mixayaram temple. Itis one project towards culturaland tourism development inthe province.
Mr Phoukham Ouanouansa
Xieng Khuang authorities seeking
funds for temple construction
The model of Hai Hin Mixayaram temple in Thongmixay village, Paek district, Xieng Khuang province.
said once complete, it willbecome the biggest temple inthe province and have the addedattraction of being located atthe top of a mountain.
Currently the infrastructureincluding the preaching hall isalready completed and we areconcentrating on constructinga huge Buddha image afterthe groundbreaking ceremonyon December 11, 2015, MrPhoukham said.
The huge Buddha imageshall be some 39 metres talland 19 metres wide, situtatedon the top of the mountain. Itis estimated that the Buddhaimage alone will cost in excessof US$1 million or eight billionkip.
Ater coletin theconstruction of the Buddhaimage, they will also build amonastery, main hall of the
temple and other facilities.The temple is located only
around one kilometre fromthe Plain of Jars site and willoffer a view of the mysteriousarcheological site and alsoa vista of the Xieng KhuangPlain and the provincial capital.
A t e r t h e t e l e i scomplete it will become a placefor dharma and meditation
practice, while also showcasingthe culture and customs of the
people and welcoming manyvisitors.
It is expected that variousimportant festivals and eventswill also be held at the templein the years ahead.
Mr Phoukham said theauthorities are also planningdevelopment around the templearea, which could include aspecial economic zone and atourism zone.
CorrectionVientiane Ties would like to aoloise or wronly statin the nae o the Abassador-
designate of Japan to Laos on page 2 of the February 1 issue, paragraph 7 and the photo captionin the article titled Waste transfer station opens in Vientiane. The ambassadors correct nameis Mr Takeshi Hikihara.
Times Reporters
A Chinese coany and LaoState Enterprise are seekingto development a recreationalcomplex in Borikhamxay
province, featur ing a resort,golf course, and other tourismfacilities.
T h e p r o p o s e ddevelopment covers 600hectares in Huaysiat river
ba si n, about 3 ki lome tr esfrom the provinces capitaland urban centre, Pakxan.
T h e c o m p a n i e ssigned a Memorandum ofUnderstanding with the
Investors eyeing golf resort
for Borikhamxayprov ince s Depa rt ment ofPlanning and Investment lastweek for a six month feasibilitystudy for the area now knownas Pakxan Resort Project.
The proposal previously
known as Suan Koulab(Rose Garden), comprisingguesthouses and restaurants,had been previously touted bya Lao entrepreneur before itwas transerred to Korean rst,Vietnamese second, and mostrecently Chinese businessmen.
The department DirectorMr Phonephilath Sithsatonesaid the area was an attractivesite of more than 300 hectares
with a water boundary and anisland in the middle.
He said the transference ofoperations from one developerto the next had its reasons suchas the death of the Vietnamese
investor CEO.Borikhamxay provincehas an abundance of naturaland cultural tourist sitessuch as waterfalls, rapids,and temples, while there isno recreation complex in thecentral province.
More than 139,000 touristsvisited the province in 2013,and the number reached184,000 in 2014.
he said.
Health personnel workingat checkpoints have beeninforming the general publicabout MERS and its preventionwhile passengers travellingfrom outbreak countries wouldto be screened.
Borde r checkpo i n t swithout scanning machinesare advised to monitor theinbound travellers country oforigin along with suspectedsymptoms, such as fever,cough and shortness of breath.
Currently, there is novaccine to prevent MERS-CoV infection. Dr Phengta alsoadvised people help protect
themselves from respiratoryillnesses by taking everyday
preventive actions.These included washing
your hands often with soap andhelping young children do thesame; covering your nose andmouth with a tissue when youcough or sneeze, then throwing
the tissue in the trash; avoidingtouching your eyes, nose andmouth with unwashed hands;avoiding personal contact,such as kissing, or sharingcups or eating utensils, withsick people and cleaning anddisinfect frequently touchedsurfaces and objects, such asdoorknobs.
In addition, if possiblepeople are advised not to travelto MERS epidemic countriesuntil the situation returns tonormal.
Accordin to WHO, on
23 January the Omani patienttested positive for MERS-CoV. The patient, who has co
morbidities, first developedsymptoms on 14 January whilein Oman. On 18 January, hewas admitted to hospital. On21 January, against medicaladvice, the patient self-discharged from hospital. The
patient was sampled beforeleaving the hospital. The
sample tested positive forMERS-CoV on 25 January,after the patient had alreadyleft Oman.
On 24 January, the NationalIHR Focal Point of Oman wasinformed about the case for thenecessary follow up on contacts
back in Oman and investigationof history of exposure.Investigations revealed that thecase had contacts with camelsin the 14 days prior to the onsetof symptoms.
No epidemiological linkshave been established betweenthis case and the latest casedetected in Oman.
Measures are being taken to
trace all contacts of the casesin Oman, during his journey toThailand, and within Bangkok.
Globally, since September2012, WHO has been notied
o 1,633 laboratory-conred
cases of infection with MERS-CoV, including at least 587related deaths.
Laos stepping up surveillance... fROm pAgE 1
Lao workers and labourers have constantlydeveloped their labour skills along with thedevelopment of the country in each period and
they have always shown high responsibility intheir duties.Thereore they ained the condence o party
and state organisations, civil society organisations,domestic and foreign investors, he added.
Some trade union members, workersand labourers were elected and assigned tosignificant Party and state positions fromthe central to the local level and some have
become outstanding managers at factories andcompanies.
This outcome has caused the federationto take an important role in the political,economic, social and cultural aspects of societyand has been recognised by friendly countries
LFTU needs to protect... fROm pAgE 1internationally, Mr Pan said.
Because of the outstanding outcomes overthe past years, the LFTU was awarded an
Issara Order (Class 1), a Labour Order (Class1), a Labour Order (Class 2), a Labour Order(Class 3), a Labour Medal (Class 1) and someovernent certicates o conratulations.
On todays special occasion, the Laogovernment agreed to present a National GoldOrder to the federation, Mr Pan added.
On the day, there was also a trade fair atLao-ITECC from January 26 to February 3,with each sector bringing their products toexhibit and sell.
There was also a fashion show featuringmodels wearing the uniforms of ministries,organisations, companies and factories at Lao-ITECC.
7/25/2019 2016 VTN Issue 027
3/24
3Vientiane Times Tuesday February 2, 2016 Home news
Weather forecast
Times Reporters
The annualDok Ngiew(kapokower) festival in Tonheundistrict, Bokeo province hasattracted over 60,000 touristsfrom Laos and neighbouringcountries to learn about theunique Lao culture.
The event took place fromJanuary 26-31 featuring anumber of activities includinga trade fair, beauty contest,food contest and other cultural
performances.The event was organised by
Bokeo provincial authoritiesand Golden Triangle Special
Economic Zone (SEZ) andattended by Deputy PrimeMinis ter Mr SomsavatLengsavad, Dok Ngiew KhamGroup President Mr Choi
Kapok ower festival attracts
more tourists to Bokeo
Mr Somsavat Lengsavad and other ofcials cut ribbons to open Dok Ngiew (kapok ower) Festival in Tonpheung district.
Wai and other high-rankingocials.
The aim was to promotetourism in the province andgenerate income for local
people while preserving thetraditional culture of local
people. The event takes placeeach year to coincide withthe blooming of the kapokowers which row naturallyin the district. Director ofBokeo provincial Departmentof Information, Culture andTour ism Mr SomphoneKeomany told Vientiane Timesyesterday that tourists fromThailand, Myanmar, China and
other European countries alsoattended the event.
The new thing for thisyears festival celebrationis that we organised a food
festival, allowing local peopleto show off how wonderfultheir foods are among foreignvisitors, he said.
The festival directlygenerated revenue for local
people and the economy whilecreating activities for tourists tostay in Bokeo province longer.
Since the opening of abridge across the Mekong Riverbetween Bokeo and Chiang Raiprovince of Thailand in 2012,more tourists have visited the
province.But the main challenge for
the province is how to keeptourists staying longer so that
local eole can benet rothe growth of the tourismindustry.
Mr Somphone said We areimproving the quality of our
Times Reporters
The ministry o Aricultureand Forestry has announced itwill pursue three focal targetsset to ensure food security,greater commercial productionand sustainable forestry
management.In i ts five-year plan
provided recently, the ministryrevealed the rst taret is tosecure food production withsucient nutrition.
In this regard, the ministrywi l l pursue the annual
producti on of 2.5 mi ll iontonnes of paddy rice viagovernment-introduced foodsecurity projects. Of which,
between 200,000 and 400,000tonnes will be stockpiled asnational reserve.
Another taret is or theproduction of the five foodgroups to reach an average of2,600 kilocalories per person
per day.
In addition, the ministryhas announced, as identifiedin the second target, to
produce more commodi tieswith better quality on acommercial basis with focuson producing clean andorganic farm products.
The ministry said organicfarm produce were in highdemand in markets of otherAsean eber countries,China, Japan and the Republicof Korea.
Foodstuffs production hasincreased in recent years pavingthe way to attain the set target,thanks to incentive policiesand regulations introduced tofacilitate production.
Nationwide production ofrice increased from just 3.06million tonnes in 2011 to 4.2million tonnes in 2015, whichenabled Laos to export some
surplus. Production of otherfoodstuffs increased from 1.23million tonnes in 2011 to 1.41million tonnes in 2015.
Domestic average annualproduction and supply of meats,chickens and eggs increasedfrom 48 kilograms per person
in 2011 to 55 kilograms perperson in 2015 meeting thetargeted plan.
As a result, the food andAriculture Oranisationof t he Un i t ed Na t i onscertified in 2015 that Laoshad achieved millenniumdevelopment goal I (MDG1) on eradicating extreme
pover ty and hunger.Zoning projects have been
established to promote cleanand organic production ofcrops such as coffee, cassava,
jobs tear, bananas, rice, andwatermelons among others.
Notably, Laos has startedto export rice to China andis expected to increase these
exports to 8,000 tonnes in theimmediate future generatingincome of US$6 million (morethan 48.4 billion kip).
Livestock farms haveincreased in number, highlighted
by a Japanese investors large andmodern farm in Xieng Khuang
province to rear thousands ofhead of cattle.
In a move to ensuresustainable management offorests, a survey has beencompleted to facilitate theallocation of 51 productionorest areas. Allocation o
production forest will assistlogging plans.
The minis t ry sa id i twould continue to complete
the allocation of productionforest areas and village forestareas across the country tofacilitate sustainable forestrymanagement.
Ariculture inistry topursue three focal targets
hotels and other facilities aswell as opening new tourismsites to welcome the risingnumber of tourists to the
province.Mr Somphone said before
the opening of the bridge acrossthe Mekong, the number oftourist arrivals in the provincewas just 70-80,000 peopleannually but the ure rose to170,000 people in 2015.
Bokeo province is an entrypoint for many tourists arrivingfrom Thailand before theymake their way to other partsof Laos and to southern China.The province lies on Road
R3A, art o the ajor hihwayrunning from Kunming inChina through the northern Lao
provinces of Luang Namthaand Bokeo to Thailand.
Temperatures to drop again in LaosTimes Reporters
The Weather Forecasting andAeronautical meteoroloyDivision of the Meteorologyand Hydrology Departmenthas updated the latest weatherforecast for the main provinces.
In Vientiane, temperaturesranging from 18-30C are
expected on February 2, 15-28Con February 3 and 4, 16-25C onFebruary 5, 13-22C on February6, and 11-22C on February 7.
In Pakxong dis t r ic t ,Champassak p rov i nce ,temperatures ranging between7-26C are expected on February2, from 7-25C on February 3,and from 6-24C on February4, from 5-24C on February 5,4-22C on February 6 and 3-22Con February 7.
The division has forecastthe minimum temperatures forthe northeast part of Laos,withtemperatures ranging from 3-21C
predicted from February 2 to7. In
the north west parts,minimumtemperatures will range from8-28C betweenFebruary 2 to7.Meanwhile in the central parts,the mercury is expected to rangefrom 11-28C over the periodfrom February 2 to7.
Minimum temperaturesfrom 12-18C are forecast fromFebruary 2 to7in the southern
part of Laos.Temperatures in someareas were lower yesterday buthad risen in other places, theMeteorology and HydrologyDepartment noted.
The minimum temperaturein Vientiane during the heightof the cold snap last weekreached as low as 10.7 degrees,while Xamneua district inHuaphan province reported 2C,XiengKhuang 1.4C, Oudomxay3.5C, Huayxai district in Bokeo
province 6.5C, Luang Namthaprovince 5C, Luang Prabangprovince 6.5C, and Xayabouryprovince 7.4C.
Xaysomboun provincesaw temperatures drop to 6C,Phonhong district in Vientiane
province was recorded at 10.8C,Pakxan district in Borikhamxay
pr ov in ce 8. 2C , Km 20 inKhammuan province 4.5C,Savannakhet province 11.5C,Pakxe district in Champassak
pr ov in ce 14 .4 C, Sa ra va n
province 13C, Xekong province14.5C, and Attaeu rovince15.6C.
An ocial ro the divisiondelivered the latest informationto Vientiane Timesyesterday,saying the weather shall getcolder from February5-9,especially in the north east andcentral parts of Laos.
The overnight minimum willrange from 3-5Cin the north east
parts and from 11-13C in thecentral parts and Vientiane.
The south will see minimumsfrom 12-14C and mountainousPakxong district will see themercury drop to between 3-5C.
Online advertisementAdvertising your products at www.vientianetimes.org.la will bring
benets to your company. Customers around the world will appreciatethe quality of your products via the Vientiane Times website. For more
information please contact : Tel: 336042, 336048Fax: 336041, Email: [email protected]
7/25/2019 2016 VTN Issue 027
4/24
4 Vientiane TimesHome news Tuesday February 2, 2016
News in Brief
We at Vientiane Timeswould like to inform our subscribers that we nowoer newsaer boxes or use in hoes and oces. The boxes, each
of which is equipped with a lock and key, help protect your paper frominclement weather. Those interested in obtaining a box should contact the
Vientiane Timesoce or call us at: Tel: 336042; Fax: 336041
Attention Vientiane Times subscribers
Northern provinces set price controls amid potential increasesThree northern provinces of Phongsaly, Xieng Khuang and Huaphan have set ceiling
prices of food items to be sold in local markets amid fears of potential food priceincreases after freezing weather damaged crops and killed livestock.The freezing weather that swept and covered northern and central regions of Laos latelast month reportedly killed livestock and damaged crops triggering fear that localmerchants could increase the price without permission from relevant authorities.Authorities o the rovinces are onitorin rices o ood ites in local arkets,Pathetlao DailyNewspaper reported recently.The Industry and Commerce Department of Xieng Khuang province has set maximum
rice or bee at 60,000 ki er kilora and 20,000 ki er kilorae or tilaia sh.Prices of other food items were also set.Huaphan and Phongsaly have also set a maximum price of 60,000 kip per kilogrammeor bee, 30,000 ki er kilorae or ork, and 30,000 ki er kilorae o sh.
Xekong sets 2016 infant mortality reduction targetThe Health Department of northern Xekong province has announced its ambition toreduce the infant mortality rate of infants under one year of age to 45 per 1,000 livebirths. It will also strive to reduce the ortality rate or inants under ve years o ae to70 infants per 1,000 live births, the Socio-Economic Dailyreported recently.To achieve such targets, provincial authorities said recently they would promote goodhealth practices among pregnant women including encouraging them to have regularcheckups and take necessary medicines. Mothers will be educated to come and deliver
babies in places where health services are available and make sure their infants arevaccinated against potential diseases such as measles, pneumonia, tuberculosis and
polio.
Vientiane court imprisons drug dealerThe Vientiane peoles Court sentenced a an to ve years in rison and ned hi
10 million kip for the purchase and sale of illegal drugs, theKhuamsangobnewspaperreported. The defendant was named as Mr Phoungeun, 28, of Sikert village, Naxaithongdistrict. He told police he had been an addict and sold illegal drugs since 2014. He
bought amphetamines from Mr Dam, 23, and Mr Oud, 29, of Sikert village and soldthem to youths. Meanwhile, the Vientiane Peoples Court recently sentenced a man fromPhonhong district, Vientiane province, to a term of imprisonment for assaulting police.The court sentenced Mr Souvandee, 30, of Phonsoung village to four years and sixonths in rison and ned hi ore than 19 illion ki.
New school and kindergarten for PakxongChildren in Pakxong district, Champassak province, now have a brand new kindergartenand primary school to brighten their learning environment. Two buildings in Km12villae were nanced by a donor oranisation in monaco, local residents and coaniesin Champassak province at a cost of more than 500 million kip, according toPasaxon.The kindergarten has two classrooms and the primary school has six classrooms, witheach room able to accommodate 30-40 children.The roject started in Auust 2014 and was coleted within nine onths.
Times Reporters
Xieng Khuang provincialauthorities will organise theMiss Xieng Khuang contestto promote the culture andtourism attractions of thenorthern province.
Since the war period,Xieng Khuang women have
been famous for thei r boldfight together with the men
Miss Xieng Khuang contest
prepares to launch
Mr Phoukham Ouanouansa.
and their good revolutionarytraditions.
A coittee oranisorof the Miss Xieng Khuangcontes t , Mr PhoukhamOuanouansa, told media last
weekend that the event willrun from March 15-25 at SuanPhou Khamin Phonsavanxayvillage, Paek district, of the
province.It is the rst tie that a
Miss Xieng Khuang contesthas been held, with ocialsdeciding they need a MissXieng Khuang to attendt o u r i s m d e v e l o p m e n tconferences and promote theculture of the province.
The contest will select 20Xieng Khuang girls to attend.The purpose of this contestis to promote tourism andthe culture of the province aswell as agriculture becauseXieng Khuang is one province
that has many agriculturalproducts.
The contest committee willselect Miss Xieng Khuang
by testing her knowledge oftourism, culture, history andagriculture.
The auditions will start on
march 15 until the nal roundcontest on March 25.Besides that the event
will also include a singingcontest, traditional dances,and a concert featuring famoussingers from the province andother parts of Laos.
Deputy Head of theInformation, Culture andTourism Department inXieng Khuang province, MsMuansy Sitthivong, who isalso a committee organiserfor the contest, said that theevent will be held to review therevolutionary traditions of XiengKhuang province and promoteits artists, culture and tourism.
The event will also mark
the upcoming of InternationalWomens Day on March 8.
7/25/2019 2016 VTN Issue 027
5/24
Vientiane Times Tuesday February 2, 2016 Photo news 5
Vietnaese Abassador to Laos mr Nuyen manh Hun (third right) proposes a toast with DeputyPrime Minister and Minister of Education and Sports Mr Phankham Viphavanh (third left) at theVietnam Embassy in Vientiane last Thursday to celebrate Vietnamese New Year.
The Chinese Culture Centre to Laos organised a two day celebration of 2016 Chinese New Year atthe Vientiane Centre from January 30-31 in Vientiane. The art performances from China featureda lion dance, songs and traditional dances to celebrate the New Year.
Electricite du Laos recently presents educational equipment and sports items including blankets andcold weather clothing for schoolchildren in remote areas of Khammuan provinces Bualapha district.
Deputy Director of the Childrens Hospital in Vientiane, Dr Sommanikhone Phangmanixay (frstleft) explains the treatment of childhood cancer at the hospital to representatives from the KoreaFoundation for International Health Care last week. --Photo Phetphoxay
7/25/2019 2016 VTN Issue 027
6/24
6 Vientiane TimesTuesday February 2, 2016
Region
S
In brief from AsiaNews Network
IBP offers to helpOmbudsmanprosecute corruptpolsmANILA (philiine
Daily Inquirer) -- The66,000-strong IntegratedBar of the Philippines(IBP) has volunteeredto hel the Oce oOmbudsman prosecutecorrupt politicians by
providing free manpoweror its act-ndininvestigations.In a statement, Josedela Rama Jr., CentralLuzon IBP governorand former BulacanIBP president, said thegroup is prepared tosign a memorandumof agreement withOmbudsman ConchitaCarpio-Morales.
Nepal runs Zikarisk post-monsoonNEpAL (The KathanduPost) -- With Zika virusspreading rapidly inthe Aericas, there is adanger of it travelling to
Nepal, particularly in thepost-monsoon season,given the presence ofthe mosquito that carriesthe virus in Nepalsmajor cities includingKathmandu, expertswarn. Accordin tothe Epidemiology andDisease Control Division(EDCD), the mosquitolinked to the spread of
Zika in the Aericas,Aedes aeyti, is already
present in Kathmanduand other major cities.Once the temperaturesrise above 15 degreesCelsius, the mosquitowould have a conduciveenvironment for
breeding.
NAY pYI TAW (Xinhua) --Myanmars new parliamentMonday elected U WinMyint of the National Leaguefor Democracy (NLD) asSpeaker of the House ofRepresentatives (LowerHouse) and U Ti Khun Myatof the Union Solidarity andDevelopment Party (USDP) asDeputy Speaker of the House.
The election took place atthe rst session o the arliaentthat bean a new ve-year terfrom 2016.
U Win Myint, an NLD MP
Two lawmakers (centre), pose for a photo before taking their seats to participate in the inauguralsession of Myanmars lower house parliament. --Photo AP
Myanmar new parliament elects speaker
of House of Representativesto the House of Representativesfrom Pathein constituency in thelast term of the parliament, wasre-elected to the same Housefrom Tammwe constituency inthe 2015 general election.
U Ti Khun Myat is a Kachinethnic parliament representativeelected from Kutkai constituencyrepresenting the USDP.
T h e n e w l y - e l e c t e dpar liament sta rted its fir stsession with the House ofRepresentatives in Nay Pyi TawMonday morning, two days afterthe expiry of the previous term
of the parliament.The summon for the first
session of the new parliamentcame nearly three months afterthe end of the general election on
November 8, 2015, in which theNLD, led by Aun San Suu Kyi,won the absolute majority of the
parliamentary seats.Attendin the rst arliaent
session were a total of 430 MPsto the House of Representativesdominated by the NLD.
The session of the House ofNationalities (Upper House) isscheduled to start on Wednesday.
MELBOURNE (Xinhua) --Australian scientists have
witnessed the rare eruption ofan Antarctic volcano o thecoast of the frozen continent.
The scientists, fromAustralias CoonwealthScientific and IndustrialResearch Organisa t ion(CSIRO), led the volcanicevent by chance while aboardresearch vessel Investigators tudying the f r inge ofAntarcticas Heard Island.
The crew, working inconjunction with the Universityof Tasmanias Institute formarine and Antarctic Studies(ImAS), were actually lookinto study underwater volcanoes
before the land-based varietycaught their attention.
Heard Island, a remotesub-Antarctic reion, is hoeto Big Ben, an active volcanowhich is believed to have onlyerupted three times since theturn of the century.
Gi ven t he i s l and sisolation, viewing Big Ben -which is mostly covered in icethroughout the year - duringan eruption is considered ageoscientific rarity. Often,
Australian scientists lmrare eruption of remote
Antarctic volcanosatellite images provide theonly evidence that an eruption
has occurred.Chief scientist aboard TheInvestiator, ImAS roessorand eohysicist mike Con,said on Monday it was a greatthrill to l the 2,745-etrevolcano in action, becomingone of the few people in humanhistory to have witnessed iterupting.
We have 10 excitedgeoscientists aboard Investigator,and our enthusiasm has spread toour 50 shiates, Con saidin a CSIRO press release onMonday.
The crew, based 4,100km southwest of the WesternAustralian city o perth, areonly three weeks into their
58-day research voyage.Despite the trip barelyge t t i ng unde rway , t heresearchers claim to haveal ready uncovered 50
p o t e n t i a l u n d e r w a t e rhydrothermal plumes, whichmay help establish whetheractive underwater volcanoes- which create these plumes -form the foundation for life inthe Southern Ocean.
7/25/2019 2016 VTN Issue 027
7/24
Vientiane Times 77Tuesday February 2, 2016 Region
WASHINgTON (Ap) --Fifteen years into the warthat ew Aericans talkabout any more, conditionsin Ahanistan are ettinworse, preventing the cleanending that President BarackObama hoped to imposebeore leavin oce.
Violence is on the rise,the Taliban are staging newoffensives, the Islamic Stategroup is angling for a footholdand peace prospects are dim.
Ahanistan reains adanger zone. Its hobbled by aweak economy thats sappingublic condence in the new
Afghan security forces patrol in Nad Ali district of Helmand province, Afghanistan. (File photo AP)
Violence in Afghanistan forcesObama to rethink troop levels
overnent. Ahan oliceand soldiers are strugglingto hold together the country13 months after the US-ledmilitary coalition culled itsnumbers by 90 percent.
The bottom line: For asecond time, Obama isrethinking his plan to dropUS troop levels from 9,800 to5,500 beore he leaves ocein January 2017.
I d o n t s e e a n ydrawdowns in the near future,said James Dobbins, Obamasformer special envoy forAhanistan and pakistan. He
predicted that Obama would
leave the decision to the nextpresident.
They are just hopingthat things hold togetherand they wont have to facea decision on whether toactually implement the forcereduction theyre talkingabout until late summer,early fall, by which time theadministration will be on itslast legs, Dobbins said.
Top military officials,as well as Republicans andDemocrats in Congress,think that trimming the forceany more during Obamas
presidency is a bad idea.
WUHAN (Xinhua) -- Rareheavy snow hit severalcentral and eastern Chinese
provinces Sunday, disruptinga pre-holiday travel rush thatinvolves millions of people.
Heavy snow blanketed
cent ra l Chinas Hubeiprovince early Sunday, closingdown a pivotal airport inits capital Wuhan, delayingtrains and causing standstillon expressways, the localgovernment said.
The Tianhe Airort inWuhan was closed at midday.Sixteen deartin ihts werecanceled, while 18 incomingflights were forced to landin the neighbouring cities of
Snow disrupts Chinaspre-holiday travel rush
Nanchan or Chansha . Atleast 2,000 passengers werestranded at the airport.
The railway networkwas a l so unde r heavy
pressure, as large crowds ofasseners, rustrated by iht
cancellations and road blocks,ocked into train stations.
We put four additionaltrains in service for passengerst ravel ing wi thin Hubeiprovince, said an ocial withthe Wuhan Railway Bureau.But the snowy weather sloweddown most trains, causingan average delay of 30 to 50minutes.
The weather bureau inWuhan said the snow would
last in most parts of theprovince until Tuesday.
In east Chinas JiangxiProvince, snowy weathercaused serious congestions oninterprovincial expressways.On one of the most congested
sections of an expresswaylinking Jiangxi and HubeiProvinces, motor vehicles
piled up 3 km in a standstill.The provincial weather
bureau has forecast snow insix cities and a temperaturedrop of 3 to 5 degrees Celsius.
Snow hit at least 12 cities ineast Chinas Jiangsu provinceSunday. Local authoritieshave closed down fourinterprovincial expresswaysfor safety considerations.
Snow or sleet also hit therovinces o Henan and Anhui,while rain soaked Guangdong,Fujian, Jiangxi and Yunnan
provinces as well as GuangxiZhuan Autonoous Reion,
according to the NationalMeteorological Centre.
This round of rain andsnow will last for three days,according to the centre.
The bad weather is anuisance for the early birds whohave embarked on their once-a-year Spring Festival travelfor home. The 40-day travelrush, which began a week ago,was a major event in China.Students, migrant workers andother passengers take trains,
buses and planes to head homefor the Spring Festival, or theLunar New Year, which fallson February 8 this year.
Tourists visit the snow-covered Huangshan Mountain, east ChinasAnhui province. --Photo Xinhua
7/25/2019 2016 VTN Issue 027
8/24
8 Vientiane TimesTuesday February 2, 2016
World
DUBAI, United Arab Eirates
(Ap) -- The Saudi-led coalition
striking Shiite rebels inYemen says it is setting up anindependent committee to probethe forces actions amid criticismover its military operations in theimpoverished nation.
Coalition spokesman Brig.gen. Ahed Asiri was quoted
by the offic ial Saudi Pres s
Aency early monday as
saying the team is tasked withexamining military activitiesin civilian areas.
A searate stateent
from the Saudi Embassyin Washington says thecommittee will assess thecoalitions rules of engagementinvolving civil ians andwill offer conclusions and
Saudi-led coalition sets up body
to probe actions in Yemen
Shiite tribesmen, known as Houthis, hold their weapons as they chant slogans during a tribal gatheringshowing support for the Houthi movement in Sanaa, Yemen. (File photo AP)
recommendations to betterrespect international andhumanitarian law.
A docuent by a United
Nations panel leaked lastweek urged the UN SecurityCouncil to consider creatingan international commissionto investigate alleged humanrights abuses by all sides inthe conict.
LONDON (Xinhua) -- VisitingEuropean Council PresidentDonald Tusk said no dealhad been reached yet over
Britains future in Europe afterhis talks with British PrimeMinister David Cameron atDowning Street on Sunday.
Cameron and Tusk metand held talks over dinner atDowning Street on Sunday,seekin to nalize a ackae
of measures over Britainsrelationship with the EU.
No deal yet. Intensivework in next 24 (hours)crucial, Tusk tweeted afterhe left the crunch talks withCameron.
Cameron, on his part,announced on his Twitteraccount that he had a good
meeting with Tusk, who hasagreed to another 24 hours oftalks before publishing thedraft of British renegotiationtext.
Ater the eetin, a
Downing Street spokespersonsaid the two leaders had a
productive working dinner.Much progress has
been made, par ticularly inthe last 48 hours since thePrime Ministers meeting withPresident of the EuropeanCommission Jean-ClaudeJuncker on Friday, but there is
European Council president says Nodeal after talks with British PM
still more hard work required,the spokesperson said in astatement.
On welfare, the European
Commission have tabled a textmaking clear that Britainscurrent circumstances meetthe criteria for triggering theemergency brake, accordingto the statement.
This is a significantbreakth rough, mean ing thePrime Minister can deliveron his commitment to restrictin work benefits to EUmigrants for four years, thespokesperson noted.
The statement added: Butthere are still areas where thereis more to do and both agreedit was therefore worth takingthe extra time to make further
progress.Such areas, according tothe spokesperson, include theissues of economic governanceand abuse of free movement.
In t he sp i r i t o f aconstructive meeting, Tusksignaled that he plans tocirculate a draft text to allMember States on Tuesday,spokesperson said.
Ea r l i e r on Sunday ,Tusk said he would presentsolutions to Cameron onall baskets, but agreementmust be acceptable for al 28
EU member states, and therewould be no compromise onfundamental freedoms.
As art o his key deands
to renegotiate a better deal forBritain in the EU, Cameronhas been pushing for a ban onthe in-work benets or EU
migrants for four years.But EU officials have
hinted that Britain could onlyadopt an emergency brakeon EU irants benets or
up to four years under thecondition that it could proveits welfare system was underexcessive strain.
Accordin to the current
EU proposal, the emergencybr ake coul d be imposedwithin three months afterBritain applies and other EU
members states agree.Cameron said the EUproposal is not good enoughand wanted the brake to beenforced right after BritainsEU referendum with no timelimit.
Cameron has pledgedto hold an in or outreferendum on whetherBritain should withdrawfrom the EU by 2017. He
promised to campaign for hiscountry to remain in the blocif the EU agrees to refo rm asBritain has requested.
ADDIS ABABA (Xinhua)
-- Heads of states andovernents o the Arican
Union (AU) deliberated on
alternative sources o nancin
for various developmentproj ec ts and prog rammesade by the an-Arican bloc.
The AU heads o states
on Sunday wrapped up their26th ordinary session at theAU headquarters in Ethioiascaital Addis Ababa.
The heads of states onSaturday looked at the study
report on alternative sourcesof funding, said ErastusMwencha, Deputy Chairpersono the AU Coission when
addressing the press Sundayon the sidelines of the 26thAU suit.
AU summit deliberates on alternative sourcesof funding to development projects
Yesterday, there was avery extensive exchangeof the heads of states andgovernments on this verysubject when the heads ofstates and governmentslooked at the budget of 2016which they have approved
bu t al so approved on thecriteria for sharing on howto contribute on that budget,he said.
Mwencha said the historyof the subject of alternativesources of financing goes
back to 2003 when AU wasestablished.
This subject was restatedwith a new dimension, a newdimension being, we nowhave our Aenda 2063; and
Aenda 2063 envisaes that
Arica ust seek to have a
transformation of its economyif we are going to addressthe challenges that face ourcontinent, he noted.
The deputy chairpersonadded that Arican countries
can seek suppor t f romtechnology development,foreign investment and
partnerships in various ways.But, Arica ust be the
primary agent that owns andnances its own aenda, he
underlined.mwencha stated that AU
has a number of programmesunder the Aenda 2063 to
support member countries,including areas in agriculture,infrastructure, democracy andgovernance among others.
RAmALLAH (Xinhua)
-- Palestinian Presidentmahoud Abbas told US
Secretary of State John Kerrythat it is important to back the
French initiative for holdingan international conferencefor peace in the Middle East.
A reort ublished by the
Palestinian state-run newsaency (WAfA) quotedNabil Abu Rdineh, an aide to
president Abbas as sayin that
Kerry telehoned Abbas, who
Abbas welcomes and backs Frenchpeace initiative: report
is currently in Aan.Abu Rdineh stated to Waa
that the telephone conversationbetween the two men focusedon the French Initiative.
president Abbas stressedto Kerry that he welcomes theinitiative and it is necessaryto back it, end the currentstalemate and create the properatmosphere to end the Israelioccuation, said Abu Rdineh.
The Palestinian Presidencyhad earlier on Friday welcomed
the declaration of FrenchForeign Minister Laurent Fabiusthat his country will soon renewits efforts to move up its projectof holding an international peace
conference to succeed the two-state principle between Israeland Palestine.
Israel criticised the Frenchinitiative and said that it wouldencourage the Palestiniansnot to make concessions for
peace, where the United Statesexpressed reservations.
7/25/2019 2016 VTN Issue 027
9/24
Vientiane Times 9
Euro 50-500 8,798 8,842
Foreign Currencies Buying Selling
US Dollar 50-100
Thai Baht
8,128
227.9
8,168
229.6
Exchange rates as of February 1, 2016Banque pour le Commerce Exterieur Lao Public
BusinessRead more news at www.vientianetimes.org.la Tuesday February 2, 2016
Advertorial Desk
Leasing company
BNK Capital Lao,
formerly known
as Lao PDR, BS
Capital, under the umbrella of
BNK Financial Group of the
Republic of Korea, has made a
school donation as part of their
corporate social responsibility
programme.
The donation was made
under the slogan BNK
Capital Lao Leasing Co.,
Ltd. - Sharing happiness
with the Lao PDR and
was the companys third
donation to a primary school
in Nongthaneua village,
Chan t habou l y d i s t r i c t ,
Vientiane, on January 29.
The handover ceremony
for paint took place at the
school and was attended by
Managing Director of BNK
Capital Lao Mr Ryu Hui-
Seok, the village Chief Mr
Settha Soundala, the schools
pr inci pa l Ms PhonsavanhInsisouphan, teachers and
students, and as well as
representatives from BNK
Capital Lao.
Mr Ryu said his company
was very pleased to make the
donation to the school as he
thought the contribution went
to a school in need and would
help the school to look more
attractive and ensure a safe
environment for children.
Our firm was very happy
to be part of helping Lao
local society, especially local
schools and children.
During the meeting with
the school director, Mr Ryu
thanked local authorities and
the school for giving them the
opportunity to support their
schools needs and promised
that more donations would
follow in the near future.
Mr Ryu also asked Ms
Phonsavanh about the school
and childrens needs and said
BNK Capital Lao makes thirddonation to primary school
he would make a consistent
donation plan as long as BNK
Capital Lao Leasing Company
operated within the Laos.
The managing director
said their passion was sharing
with the local community and
showing the level of their love
for Laos and how well they
have planned their operations
along with the donation plan.
M r R y u a d d e d t h e
company had plans to make
more donations to other
schools in the future, all
aimed at helping Lao children
to have access to a better
schooling environment.
While thanking BNK
Capital Lao Leasing for the
materials they provided,
other i tems, inc luding
roofing, hardware and other
school equipment were still
needed, Ms Phonsavanh said.
BNK Capital Lao Leasing
did not take long to gain the
trust of local people and
their success in business
will bring more prosperity tocommunities in Laos.
BNK Capital Lao Leasing
officially began operations
last year after celebrating
their grand opening on June
8.
B N K C a p i t a l L a o
Leasing made their first
donat ion to a pr imary
school in Kang village in
Hadxaifong district, Vientiane,
on July 31, providing basic
stationery supplies including
pens and textbooks to support
the childrens academic
endeavours, as well as different
types of balls and nets for their
physical education needs.
The company made
their second donation to
No ng vi en gk ha m Pr im ar y
School in Xaythany district,
Vientiane, on Auust 31.
On September 30, the
company also awarded Korean
language scholarships for
two students at the National Schoolchildren show appreciation after receiving the new paint.
Mr Ryu Hui-Seok (right) and Ms Phonsavanh Insisouphan (centre) and Mr Settha Soundala at the painthandover ceremony.
University of Laos. The
scholarships have covered
the students fees for the
duration of their courses
and have been awarded to
outstanding students as part
of the companys corporate
social responsibility scheme.
T h e c o m p a n y h a s
formally begun operations
by co nc en tr at in g on ca r
and motorcycle loans in
the early stages. Once fully
established, BNK Capital
Lao Leasing plans to extend
its services into areas such
as light/heavy equipment
leasing and more financial
products for business owners.
BNK Capital Lao Leasing
Co., Ltd. is located on the 2nd
Floor of the Premier Building
on Setthathirath Road in
Phiavat village, Sisattanak
district, Vientiane.
7/25/2019 2016 VTN Issue 027
10/24
10 Vientiane TimesBusiness Tuesday February 2, 2016
IN BRIEF
Times Reporters
MMG LXML Sepon releasedits fourth quarter 2015
production results, reportingabove guidance copper cathode
production for the year-to-dateand record milling tonnes.
Sepon produced 20,559tonnes of copper cathode in thefourth quarter contributing tofull year production of 89,253tonnes, a 1 percent increase on2014 production.
MMG LXML Sepon GeneralManager, Mr Suresh Vadnagra,said the result demonstratesstrong achievement despite
challenges processing lowergrade, more complex ore types.
We continue to focuson improving performancethrough plant optimisationand asset utilisation to ensure
MMG LXML Sepon has recorded strong copper cathode production numbers over the last year.
MMG LXML Sepon achievesstrong production in 2015
we can offset the impact ofharder, high carbonate, ores on
production he said.I would like to highlight
the hard work by the Seponteam in delivering substantialimprovements which haveallowed us to produce aboveguidance of 80,000-87,000,he added.
MMG expects to produce80,000-85,000 tonnes ofcopper cathode in 2016.
On social development,LXML has cont r ibutedsignificantly to economicdevelopment with over US$1.3
bil lion in direct revenue in
taxes, royalties and dividendspaid to the Lao Governmentsince operations commenced atSepon and hundreds of millionso dollars in indirect benets
through local contractors,
employment, training anddevelopment.
MMG LXML Sepon isextending a unique partnershipwith the Lao Ministry ofHealth, the Lao WomensUnion and UNICEF in the1000 Day Programme tosupport maternal and childnutrition in key provincesincluding several districts inSavannakhet province wherethe mine is located.
MMG LXML Sepon isworking in close partnershipwith all our stakeholdersthrough targeted communitydevelopment programmes,
and in education, training, andemployment, to support theLao PDRs goal of graduatingfrom Least Developed Countrystatus by 2020, said MrVadnagra.
Maruti Suzukis sales dip 2.6 percent in JanuaryINDIA (The Statesan, ANN) -- maruti Suzuki India reorted a 2.6 ercent decline in totalsales in January at 1,13,606 units as against 1,16,606 units in the same month in 2015.The company said its domestic sales increased marginally by 0.8 percent to 1,06,383 unitsas against 1,05,559 units in January 2015.Sales of passenger cars declined 1.4 percent to 87,757 units compared with 89,014 units inthe year-ao onth, the caraker said in a BSE lin.The company said sales of utility vehicles, including Gypsy, Grand Vitara and Ertiga,
jumped 26.2 percent to 8,114 units last month from 6,432 units in the corresponding period
last year.
Banks reach US$154.3 million settlement on dark pool fraudWASHINgTON (Ap) --Two major global banks, Barclays and Credit Suisse, are payinga combined US$154.3 million to settle government investigations that they misled clientsabout bein able to saely trade on their dark ool nancial exchanes, the Securities andExchane Coission and the New York Attorney generals oce said on Sunday.The banks left their customers on these private exchanges vulnerable to predatory, high-requency traders that could intercet and rot o their nancial transactions, desiteassurances by Barclays and Credit Suisse to the contrary, according to a statement the NewYork Attorney general.
Asian stocks uneven as China data, Japan policy weighedSEOUL, South Korea (AP) -- Chinese stocks fell on Monday after a weak manufacturingreport while Japan extended gains following its central banks introduction of a negativeinterest rate policy to boost lending and spur growth. Other markets were mixed.Japans Nikkei 225 rose 2.1 percent to 17,883.66 and South Koreas Kospi added 0.3
percent to 1,916.78. Hong Kongs Hang Seng fell 0.6 percent to 19,567.54 and theShanhai Coosite in ainland China lost 1.5 ercent to 2,696.99. Australias S&p/ASX
200 ained 0.8 ercent to 5,043.60. Stocks in Taiwan and Southeast Asia were lower.
Over 10 mln foreign tourists visit Indonesia in 2015, exceeding targetJAKARTA (Xinhua) -- As any as 10.41 illion orein tourists visited Indonesia last year,exceeding the 10-million target, the statistic bureau said on Monday.In Bali, the centre ofcountrys tourism industry, foreign tourist arrivals rose by 6.65 percent from a year earlierto 363,800 in December, said Suryamin, head of the national statistic bureau.The Indonesian government estimates 12 million foreign holidaymakers will visit thecountry this year, accordin to Touris minister ArieYahya.
NAgOYA (Kyodo) -- ToyotaMotor Corp. said on Mondayit will suspend all domestic
production of its vehicles fromFebruary 8 through February 13as an explosion at a steel plantin central Japan in January has
caused parts shortages.It will be the first timethe Japanese automaker hasstopped all production withinthe country since 2011, whenthe massive earthquake andtsunami hitting northeast Japandisrupted its supply chain.
Production lines at a total of16 factories will be suspended,including those producingToyota vehicles at the plantsof subsidiaries Daihatsu MotorCo. and Hino Motors Ltd.
Operations are expected toresume on February 15, Toyotasaid, adding that production atits overseas plants will not beaffected.
Toyota will continue totake any measures necessaryto minimise the impactof the incident on vehicle
producti on, the automaker
Toyota to suspend domestic productionfrom Feb. 8 after explosion
Toyota Motor Corp.s Motomachi Plant, where the luxury sedanCrown is produced, in the central Japan city of Toyota.
said in a statement.The explosion occurred
on January 8 at a steel plantin Tokai, Aichi preecture,oerated by Aichi Steel Cor.The Toyota aliate is workinto resume plant operations bythe end of March.
The worlds top automakerusually produces around13,000 to 14,000 vehicles a
day in Japan.While Toyota recently
be ef ed up it s pr od uc ti onamid robust orders for newmodels, including the fourth-generation Prius hybrid
released in December, the blasthas prompted the automaker tocancel overtime work at all ofits plants in the country duringweekdays this week.
CHINA (China Daily, ANN)
-- Construction, real estatedeveloent, nancial services
and consumer services will
beincluded in Chinas corporatetax reform programme.
The reform seeks to replacesales tax with value-addedtax or VAT - that is, tax on
outputminus tax on input - thusremoving duplication of taxesand easing financial burdenonenterprises.
Under the new system,companies no longer need to
pay sales tax based on theirrevenue.
Tax burden would be easedto the extent of 600 billionyuan (US$91.26 billion) thisyear, saidtaxation expert HuYijian, a roessor o nance
and economics at ShanghaiUniversity.
Premier Li Keqiang saidin a recent meeting that a pilotrorae involvin VAT in
place ofbusiness tax has beenrunning effectively.
The programme wi l linclude more sectors this year,
Govt to ease tax burdenon four industries
Xinhua News Agencyreported.Analysts said sectors
where input taxes are high,including construction, real
estate andconsumer services,will benet the ost.
A reort ro gf Securities
Co Ltd said land is a large partof property developers costsandimpacts on input tax. But,under the new syste, rot
margin may widen greatly ifthe landcost is regarded as partof input tax.
Even for developers withdeductible taxes on othercost items such as decorationandinstallation rojects, rot
margin may widen after thereform, the report said.
Zhu Weiqun, an experton scal systes at Shanhai
Finance and EconomicsUniversity,said tax burdenon es tabl i shments tha t
prov ide consumer serv ices ,such as restaurants,hotels,entertainment centres andtourism destinations, will bereduced greatly after thereform.
Current sales tax on these
enterprises is about 5 percento their revenue. Ater the
reform, itis estimated thatthe VAT will be 6 ercent or
general taxpayers in this sector,and 3 percent for small-scaletaxpayers, according to Zhu.
A l t h o u h e n e r a ltaxayers anticiated VAT at
6 percent is higher than thecurrent sales taxof 5 percent,the actual tax paid may not behigher after deduction of inputtax, said Zhu.
for roviders o nancial
services, such as banksand brokerages, the impactof the fiscalreform maynot be immediate becausededuction of input items needsto be further clarified,andconsultation among the partiesconcerned is required to dene
deductible input items.A reort ro Beijin
Gao Hua Securities said the
iact o the scal reor ondomesticbanks and brokeragesmay be mild and manageable inthe short term.
Based on the analysis oftheir nancial erorance in
2014, banks and brokeragesrotsbeore tax are estiated
to narrow between 0.5 percentand 1.7 percent as a large partoftheir current sales revenueis not regarded a deductibleinput item.
However, in the longerterm, players whose personaloperating expenses are higherthaneers, ay benet ore
from the reform as these costs
ay be dened as deductibleitems.
A research note by pwC
China said that detailed rulesor the scal reors coverin
fourmore sectors are likely tobe introduced by March-end,and may take effect by the endof thisyear.
A property construction site in Nanjing, capital of Jiangsu province.
7/25/2019 2016 VTN Issue 027
11/24
Vientiane Times 11
Asean Economic Community
11Tuesday February 2, 2016 Business
Lao stock market report
Times Reporters
Senior ocials, business
people and experts fromLaos and the Republic
of Korea gathered last week todiscuss the current investmentclimate in the sectors ofagricultural products, food
process ing and agr icul turaldevelopment.
Meeting at the Laos-Korea Investment Forum,
the Korean participants hadbeen offered an oppor tunityto establish networks with
business representat ives andofficials in Laos through aone-on-one business meeting.
The forum was held inVientiane by Asean-KoreaCentre in collaboration withthe Ministry of Planningand Investment. The debatewas inaugurated with theopening remarks of theSecretary General of theAsean-Korea Centre mr KiYoung-sun and followed
b y t h e c o n g r a t u l a t o r yremarks of the Minister ofPlanning and Investment MrSomdy Duangdy, as well as
Abassador o the Reublicof Korea to Laos Mr KimSoo-Gwon.
In his remarks, Mr Somdynoted that the country has
Mr Kim Soo-Gwon (fourth left) Mr Somdy Duangdy (fourth right) and Mr Kim Young-sun were amongthose present at the forum.
Lao-Korean business peoplediscuss investment climate
put spe cia l effor ts int o itssocio-economic development
policy based on agriculturaldevelopment and will supportit through the National Socio-Economic Development Plan(2016-2020).
T h e m i n i s t e r a l s oexpressed his interest inthe New Village Movementof Korea, which enabledKorea to achieve notableeconomic development based
on development in rural areasand also his willingness tofurther enhance cooperationwith Korea through variouswork roraes. Accordinto Mr Somdy, a businessdelegation composed ofleading businessmen fromLaos plans to visit Korea thisyear.
Laos is the chair o Aseanin 2016, a historic year forthe launch o the AseanCommunity, and has great
potential in terms of economic,social, and cultural cooperationwith Korea.
Last December, KoreasPrime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn visited Laos and met
with his Lao counterpart, MrThongsing Thammavong.The two parties agreed to
boost bil ate ral cooperati onin the fields of politics,
diplomacy, trade, investment,infrastructure, and energy.
The forum was held aspar t of the Invest ment andMarket Research Mission
prog ramme in the fiel ds ofagricultural development, foodand beverages.
In order to obtain rst-handinformation on the investmentenvironment and exploreopportunities in Laos, Koreandelegates visited special
economic zone (SEZ), Kolao,the rst Korean coany inLaos that has listed stock,and Charoen Pokphand (CP)in Laos, one of the worlds
biggest agrofood companies.Asean-Korea Centre also
held the Product DevelopmentSeminar for Handicraft SMEsin Laos from January 27-28, incooperation with the Ministryof Industry and Commerce ofLaos.
A r o x i a t e l y 7 0participants from the handicraftSMEs learned from theexperiences of Korean expertsthrough presentations on thedesign of Korean handicraft
pr odu ct s and ma rk et ing
strategies for commercialisingthe products. Industrial visitsto the Lao handicraft SMEsfor on-site support were alsoconducted.
PHILIPPINE (PhilippineDaily Inquirer, ANN) -- Chea
oil augurs well to domesticmanufacturing even as it puts
jobs of millions of Filipinosworking in oil-producingcountries at risk, according tothe Department of Financeschief economist.
The slumping oil pricemay continue for quitesome time and enable local
producers to produce moregoods at a lower cost, FinanceUndersecretary Gil S. Beltransaid in an economic bulletin lastweek, noting that the producer
price index, which measuresmanufacturers costs, declined
by 7 percent in November lastyear.
The latest government datashowed that imports jumped10.1 percent to US$6.1 billionlast November, bringing theimport bill for the first 11months of 2015 up by 4.5
percent to US$62.6 billion.The National Economic and
Develoent Authority (Neda)
had attributed the strong end-November import performanceto higher purchases of capitalgoods, consumer products aswell as intermediate goods andraw materials.
The robust import growthof intermediate goods andcapital equipment indicate thatlocal rs are takin advantae
of robust domestic demandby utilising to the maximumtheir rated capacities and areexpanding these further withnew equipment purchases,
Beltran noted.In th is regard , the
government can ride onthis wave of optimism by
promoting the country as aninvestment site in internationalroadshows, the nance ocial
said.G e n e r a t i n g m o r e
employment opportunitieslocally would compensate for
potential job losses in overseasFilipino workers (OFWs)destinations hurting due to thedrop in oil prices, Beltran said.
For Beltran, improvingthe ease of doing business toattract more investors will
enable the country to createmore jobs and ease the impactof the possible return of 2.3million OFWs in the MiddleEast that may be affected by
political turmoil and massivedecline in petroleum prices.
The Department of Energyagreed that while it was a boon
to motorists, the continuingdecline in oil prices was acause for concern becausefurther reductions coulddiscourage investment in oilexploration and affect Filipinoworkers based in oil-producingcountries.
I am not completely happy
[with the oil price decline]because, for one , prices ofcommodities and services thatare supposedly benchmarkedon oil prices such as goods andtransport fares are not comingdown as much as oil prices.But pump prices are goingdown, benettin those with
vehicles, Energy SecretaryZenaidaMonsada said in aninterview.
The other side of the lowoil price scenario is that oilexploration and developmentcompanies are more cautiousabout investing, which couldleave nontraditional areas such
as the Philippines even lessattractive to those investors.
Another undesirable iact
of the continuing decline in oilprices was that Filipino workersin oil-producing countriescould get laid off, which wouldaffect their families in thePhilippines, Monsada said.
Cheap oil puts OFW jobs inMideast at risk
HCm CITY (VNS, ANN)-- Vietnamese textile andgarment companies face ahuge challenge with the marketset to be ooded with iortsfollowing the countrysaccess ion to the AseanEconoic Counity (AEC)
and Trans-pacic partnershi(TPP) treaty.I realise that customers
will support domestic goods,but the most important factorto retain Vietnamese clientsis to assure quality, NguyenThiDien, chairwoman andexecutive director o the AnPhuoc Shoes Sewing and
Vietnamese garment rms prepare for
tough battle at home as trade deals loom
Embroidering Company, hasbeen quoted as saying on thegovernment website.
Since 1995 Viet TienGarment Joint Stock Corporationhas set up a distribution chainwith 1,390 shops and agentsaround Vietnam. Besides the
famous Viet Tien brand name,the corporation also ownsvarious fashion brands for bothadults and children.
With over 200 shops, BlueExchange has a big marketshare of garments for young
people.In recent years demand
for garment products has
increased by 10 15 percentannually, Hong Ve Dung,deputy general director of theVietnam Garment and TextileCorporation, said.
Dien said since competitionwi th garment productsro other Asean countries
would be unavoidable, localcompanies should improvetheir quality and expandmodels to strengthen theircompetitiveness.
Despite the fact that themarket is set to become morecoetitive, An phuoc haskept its growth target of 15-17 percent.
Trade Summary
The LSX fell further on Monday after EDL-Gen shed 50 kip to 5,850. The Lao Stock Exchange
closed at 1,168.18 points, 8.18 points or 0.70 percent lower, with 90,100 shares traded.EDL-Gen closed down 50 kip to 5,850 kip. The stock opened 5,900 kip for the matching
of 16,500 shares but lost 50 kip to 5,850 kip to smooth out the exchange of 3,100 shares.
BCEL closed unchanged at 4,800 kip with 12,100 shares traded. The market also saw the
trading of 58,400 shares of PTL at 2,850 kip after four days of stagnation. SVN and LWPC
had no trade, closing at 3,400 kip and 7,100 kip respectively.
Daily Turnover by Investor Types (LAKm)
Last 7 days Trading Information
BCEL-KT Securities Company Limited Email: [email protected]
7/25/2019 2016 VTN Issue 027
12/24
12 Vientiane TimesTuesday February 2, 2016
7/25/2019 2016 VTN Issue 027
13/24
Vientiane Times 13Tuesday February 2, 2016
7/25/2019 2016 VTN Issue 027
14/24
14 Vientiane TimesTuesday February 2, 2016
7/25/2019 2016 VTN Issue 027
15/24
Vientiane Times 15Tuesday February 2, 2016
Lifestyle
SINgApORE (The StraitsTies, ANN) -- many eolehope that, one day, they will
travel the world/write a novel/learn to surf/(insert dreamhere).
Jewellery designer CarolynKan, 43, went further.
In 2008, she embarkedon what she calls a one-daysabbatical.
She quit her high-octanejob as managing director ofto advertisin aency m&CSaatchi. For a year, she pursuedwhat she had always wanted todo, one day.
I took my gap year at 36years old. If I didnt, I would bein advertising forever. I wantedto learn and explore, saysMs Kan, who founded artisan
jewellery label Carrie K after
11 years in advertising.During her year-long
hiatus, she hosted dinners for asecret supper club that she hadco-founded with friends a fewyears earlier. At Lollas SecretSuppers, strangers mingledover meals where menus andvenues were disclosed only aday before.
S h e d a b b l e d i n abusiness importing boutiquechampagne, which took herto France.
She also travelled to Britainand Italy. While taking Italian-language lessons in Florence,Italy, she was introduced to asilversmith and decided to doa month-long apprenticeship
with her.As she ade her irst
jewellery item, a silver ring,she felt a lump in her throat.It was the moment I knew Iwanted to be a silversmith anda designer. In my mind, thatwas when Carrie K started.
It was an epiphany thatpaid off.
She launched Carrie Kthe following year, sinking inUS$200,000 of her savings.The label took in US$19,000in sales in 2009.
More than six years on,Carrie K has reached newheights.
Last week , the brand inkeda deal with Disney for a year-
long collaboration to design aseries of jewellery.
While she declines to revealnancial details, other brandsthat have designed Disney
jewellery include Irish designerTom Binns eponymous label,whose statement necklaceshave been worn by AericanFirst Lady Michelle Obama;as well as Pandora, a Danish
brand known for its charmbracelets.
Unbeknownst to her, whatshe terms her second lifehad been waiting in the wingsfor years. It emerged as a
possibi lity in her mind onlywhen she was freed from theconstraints of her job.
It was almost like all myinterests had been bottled up
because I was focused onadvertising, on work. That yearwhen I went on a sabbatical,the valve opened up, she says.
It was one of thosesubconscious things that fellinto place.
Go-getter who wants to
Carrie K founder Carolyn Kan took one-daysabbatical and found passion in jewellery design
give backBefo re she wen t t o
Florence, she was already
a jewellery junkie whohad amassed a collection ofhundreds of pieces, rangingfrom Peranakan brooches tovintae and Art Deco ites -enough to start a shop.
Studying in the Conventof the Holy Infant Jesus inVictoria Street, before theschool moved to Toa Payoh,she was fascinated by thecraftsmanship shown by a nunthere, who made handicrafts toraise funds, such as a hangingmobile using a feather andcork.
In university in Melbourne,Australia, where she ajoredin psychology, she starteda sketchbook of jewellery
designs, the eventual basis forCarrie K creations.
At a job interview in her20s, when asked what job shewould do if she was not inadvertising, she replied shewould be a silversmith andforgot about it for 10 years.
Returning to Singaporefrom Italy, she enrolled in atwo-year part- time jewellerydesign programme at theNanyan Aca dey o fineArts (Naa).
In July 2009, she startedCarrie K by working from thekitchen table of her terracehouse in Opera Estate, whichshe shares with her husband,Mr Chiew Huan Chong, 49,
who is head of productionat Carrie K. They have nochildren.
A year later, her label wonElle Singapore magazinesaward for Jewellery Designerof the Year and her star startedto rise.
Carrie K is sold in sevencountries besides Singapore,where it is carried in storessuch as Tangs Orchard.
The label, whose piecesare priced between US$90 andUS$50,000, has appeared ininternational magazines suchas Vogue Italia and HarpersBazaar Australia, and has beenseen on celebrities such asactress and odel Anelababy
and tennis player CarolineWozniacki.
To build the business, shecourted local magazine editors
by send ing them photos ofCarrie K pieces. She attendedtrade shows held during ParisFashion Week, Seoul FashionWeek and New York FashionWeek.
One of the strengths of MsKans quirky style is herability to translate everydayelements in to wearable
jewel lery , says Ms JoanneLow, founder and principaldesigner of Singapore jewellery
brand Joanne L.C a r r i e K s R e b o r n
collection, launched in 2011,
features safety pins and nails.Cartier launched its Juste UnClou collection, which featuresnail rings and bracelets, laterand the pieces were inspired
by its 1970s collections.Hong Kong lifestyle brand
Kapok is showcasing a CarrieK capsule collection inspired
by wi nd ow ho ok s fo un d
on the shutters of heritageshophouses.
Aart ro ms Kan and
her husband, Carrie K hasfour other full- time staff.The couples two schnauzers,who wear crystal-studded dogcollars, are xtures at Carrie KAtelier, a 990 sq t work studio-cum-showroom in Bukit TimahRoad, which they moved to in2011.
Ms Kan also has a villageof about 50 suppliers andcraftsmen around the world,from whom she sourcesmaterials such as gemstones.
She says her supportivehusband of 16 years has beensucked into the business.
M r C h i e w u s e d t obe the genera l manage r ofthe Shanghai branch of an
international aluiniu r.In Singapore, he set up a
photography business beforeassuming his role in CarrieK, where he is in charge of
production and photography.He says: I was 25 years
in the metal industry; theresnot a huge difference betweentwo slightly different kinds ofmetal, for example. Id always
been interested to know a littlebit more.
My taking a supportingrole in Carrie K works better
bec aus e she s st ro ng atmarketing. We bounce ideasoff each other, says MrChiew, who took the same
Nafa jewellery design course
that his wife did.Ms Kan says her husband
is a better craftsman thanher, although he disagrees.He says: Carrie has always
been an easy-going person.Working with her is like secondnature. Its no different fromus deciding where to go onvacation or which restaurantto eat at.
Nevertheless, Ms Kan saysit took a year for her to adjust totheir different working styles.She had to learn to give himspace to formulate his ideas.
When Im focused onsomething, Im tenacious untilI get to a solution, she says.He lets things percolate and
Taking a year-long sabbatical to pursue the things she hoped to do one day reminded Carolyn Kanshe wanted to be a silversmith.
explores options.Besides her husband, she
credits her mother and oldersister for giving her courageto take the plunge at key
junctures of her life, such asstarting Carrie K and, earlier,accetin the job to head m&CSaatchi at the age of 29.
Her mother, a retiredoptometrist, and her father,a retired finance director, arein their 70s. She has a publicrelations consultant sister, 48,and a brother, 42, who works innance.
Mum always encouraged usto try things out, to experiment,says Ms Kan.
She recalls her mother, MsMary Chew, telling her abouthow her maternal grandfatherfrom Malaysia, a clerk, used tocycle between Ipoh and Penangfor work. He started a businesssupplying steel ropes only afterhe retired.
Thats probably why Ihave this notion ingrained in methat nothing is impossible, thatage is not relevant, she says.I explored and threw myselfinto things that I found I was
passionate about.In her late teens, an
inspirational teacher who
taught ancient civilisationshad her devouring all the booksin the library on Mycenaeand Troy. This interest latertook root in Carrie Ks 2012Odyssey collection.
Inspired by mythologicalfigure Odysseus journeys,the pieces in this collection aredesigned to look like antiques.
This way of learning throughtrying things out, however, meantthat for a couple of years as ayoung adult, she absolutely didnot know what I wanted to do.
She worked in retail and
events management beforesettling on advertising.
Advert is in heavilyinfluenced me. I went from
being in a business to runninga business, she says, recallinghow she had to manage about50 sta at m&C Saatchi, soeof whom were older than her.
Her early rise there waspartly fuelled by a go-gettingattitude.
At the ul t ina t iona ladvertising agency, she recallsasking for more responsibilitieswherever she found a chanceto contribute, such as whenshe asked to present pitchesfor new business as a juniorexecutive, a task often given
to senior personnel.In 2011, she initiated
Keepers, a quarterly gatheringof designers, artisans andartists to raise awareness ofhoe-rown desin. Aonthose whom she hosted in theearly days were a milliner, a
patissier and a terrarium-maker.I thought, if I dont do it,
nobody will. Its up to us todevelop the design community,she says.
When she was showing atParis Fashion Week, she wasstruck by how people did not
know Singapore had designersand thought of the city only as anancial centre.
A desire to ive back alsostemmed from the fact that many
people had helped her in settingup Carrie K, she says.
In 2014, she co-organised,with the Textile and FashionFederation, a 16-month pop-up space, Keepers: SingaporeDesigner Collective. It was thelargest showcase yet of home-grown products by more than50 Singapore designers rangingfrom fashion to architecture tofurniture. The 4,300 sq ft spaceat the junction of Orchard andCairnhill roads recently endedits run.
7/25/2019 2016 VTN Issue 027
16/24
16 Vientiane TimesTuesday February 2, 2016
Feature
Times Reporters
More donations
o f w i n t e r
c l o t h e s a r eowin into the
three northern provinces of
Xieng Khuang, Huaphan, and
Phongsaly, which has been hit
by an unprecedented cold snap
recently.
Big hearted people are
now donating winter clothes
after they saw shared pictures
on social networks recently
showing children in remote
areas hugging their chests
wearing thin clothes after
temperatures dropped to -1
degrees Celsius in Huaphan.
The temperatures dropped
to freezing point in some placeslast week leaving many people
affected by the sight of poor
children htin o the cold
in threadbare clothes, causing
the concerned sectors to solicit
donations from members of
the public.
Last week, social network
users smiled when they saw
the spirit of private donors,
offering money or donating
winter clothes to help poor
Spirit of warmth extended to the northpeople, especially children in
remote areas who cant access
them.
The project Presenting
warmth from Lao people toLao people, was launched
with cooperation between
the Lao Front for National
Construction, Lao Buddhists
Fellowship Organisation and
the foundation or Assistin
Poor People of Laos.
The project collected winter
clothes from donors to present
to poor people in remote
areas of Huaphan province,
while other charitable efforts
were also made by various
organisations both private and
state, showing Lao peoples
solidarity with each other.
The Minister of Educationand Sports announced that
schools in Vientiane and the
provinces should conside r
closing at the start of the second
semester if temperatures
remain exceptionally low to
ensure that children stay well.
Phongsaly authorities said
that if the province experienced
more extreme cold weather,
schools there would close
temporarily until warmer
weather returned.
It was a pleasure to
provid e aid and ass ist ance
without getting anything in
return while we are proud to
be able to share the affected
victims pain, a representative
of the project said.
For example, some people
in the team never expected to
be part of this donat ion but
Representatives of the Lao Front for National Construction, Lao Buddhists Fellowship Organisation, and Foundation for Assisting PoorPeople of Laos pose together before departing to present winter clothes in Huaphan province.
it made them aware of how
lucky they were and proud to
be able to provide help whilst
receiving nothing in return.
I had a heavy heart
and cried some silent tears
in my head as I saw some
children without winter clothes
to wear, said a donor who
pr es en te d wi nt er cl ot he s
through her Facebook account,
demonstrating the inequality
between children in the capital
and remote areas.
However she answered
comments that she was pleased
had she become a part of
efforts to provide few winter
clothes via an organisation
even though it was not a large
donation.
Some people are now
sleeping in small houses and
the walls are not enough strong
to protect them from the wind.
I cant imagine how children
and their family members feel
when they dont have blanketsand winter clothes, said anocial who works in reote
areas.
Another oicial ro
the social welfare sector in
Huaphan said it was true that
there are rural children htin
the cold without adequate
clothing but they are lighting
res to try and kee war.
Some poor children stood
outside their school and looked
at it but they could not attend
class because they didnt want
to get sick from the cold, he
said.
However, officials said
presently, there has been more
spirit from several companies,
organisations, residents and
even monks in working to raise
donations.
Dona t i ons t o a s s i s t
are flowing in to the rural
communities but it is still
not enough if compared to
local needs and they could use
further assistance.
A cold weather syste
originating in China will again
affect Laos this week after
the system weakens over the
weekend, according to the
Meteorology and Hydrology
Department.
Temperatures around thecountry will rise from January
28-31 after the cold snap
which lasted from January
24-27 but temperatures will
fall again from February
1-4, department official Mr
Bounterm Sisouphanthavong
said recently.
The mercury will not drop
as low as it did two weeks ago,
although people should still
dress warmly, he added.
This year the cold weather
lasted for a shorter time and
the minimum temperature
recorded was -1.5 degrees
Celsius in Phongsaly province,
according to the Meteorology
and Hydrology Department.Northern children sit waiting for donors to present winter clothes. --Photo Pakaad facebook page
Les numros du journal Le Rnovateur du moisde janvier 2011 fvrier 2015 sont disponibles
sur CD-ROM au bureau de la Presse lao enlangues trangres (service Vientiane Times), Ban
Phonpapao, unit 32, arrondissement de Sisattanak,Vientiane. BP : 5723.Contact Tel : (856-21) 33 60 42 ; 33 60 48
Fax : (856-21) 33 60 41.Courriel : [email protected]
Le magazine Le Rnovateurdisponible en CD-ROM
Ater we receive your subscrition, a
username and password will be sent to
you which will give unlimited access to the newspaper
every day - including advertisements. You can also
access back issues for up to seven days. Just log in
and youll automatically be registered with www.
vientianetimes.org.la. Contact Vientiane Timesor
send an email to: [email protected]
Tel: (856-21) 336042, 336048. Fax: (856-21) 336041
Online subscription
7/25/2019 2016 VTN Issue 027
17/24
Vientiane Times 17Tuesday February 2, 2016
Opinion
StreetwiseStreetwise
Mail this completed form with your cheque to:
Vientiane Times, Kamphaengmeuang Rd, Phonpapao Village,
Unit 32 Sisattanak District, Vientiane Lao PDR
PO Box 5723. Tel: 021 336042, Fax: 021 336041
Website: www.vientianetimes.org.la
Email: [email protected]
Payment in advancePlease request rates for other destinations at
[email protected] . Make your payment to
Vientiane Times bank account at the BCEL (US$) A/c
010110100989471001 or (kip) A/c 010110000989471001
4. ONLINE SUBSCRIPTION FEEWebsite is update four (4) times a day and every issue is published on our website in HTML and PDF
3 months ( 78 issues) 150,000 6 months (156 issues) 270,000 1 year (312 issues) 500,000
Please return this form with the following information to Vientiane TimesFULL NAME: _________________________________________________________________________________
ADDRESS: __________________________________________________________________________________
TEL: _________________________FAX:____________________EMAIL:_________________________________FOR ONLINE: Name:________________________________PREFERRED PASSWORD_____________________(Password not more then 8 characters)
Deliver to Provinces
+ online fee
Vientiane Times Subscription 20151. DOMESTIC SUBSCRIPTION (6 issues/week) and online fee
Regular price
Home Delivery (City Centre)Area: Thadeua Rd. Dongdok,Ban Tanmixay and Sikhayvillages.
78 issues (3 months) 305,000k +100,000k 405,000k
156 issues (6 months) 609,000k +100,000k 709,000k
312 issues (1 year) 1,217,000k +100,000k 1,317,000k
78 issues (3 months) 390,000k +100,000k 490,000k
156 issues (6 months) 780,000k +100,000k 880,000k
312 issues (1 year) 1,560,000k +100,000k 1,660,000k
2. DOMESTIC SUBSCRIPTION FOR PROVINCES (6 issues/week), inclusive of postage cost
Deliver to Provinces156 issues (6 months) 1,451,000k
312 issues (1 year) 2,902,000k
156 issues (6 months) 1,451,000k +100,000k 1,551,000k
312 issues (1 year) 2,902,000k +100,000k 3,002,000k
3. OVERSEAS SUBSCRIPTION (6 issues/week) and online fee Total + Online fee
Thailand, Vietnam,Cambodia
Asia, Australia & NewZealand
Europe (Including Russia)
America and Canada
156 issues (6 months) 3,328,000k +100,000k 3,428,000k
312 issues (1 year) 7 ,488 ,000k +100,000k 7,588,000k
156 issues (6 months) 4,368,000k +100,000k 4,468,000k
312 issues (1 year) 8 ,736 ,000k +100,000k 8,836,000k
156 issues (6 months) 4,992,000k +100,000k 5,092,000k
312 issues (1 year) 9 ,984, 000k +100,000k 10,084,000k
156 issues (6 months) 6,240,000k +100,000k 6,340,000k
312 issues (1 year) 12,480,000k +100,000k 12,580,000k
Times Reporters
Mr SonethasaKeokanya, acompany employee in
Sikhot tabong distr ict,
Vientiane:Its possible that
the roads will be completed
by the end of the year if
the contractors speed up
their works. Recently, many
road projects have started
and some roads are almost
complete. On the other
hand, some roads have
still not started yet. This
is a problem that projects
are starting late and so
then late to finish. They
often stop when the rainy
season comes. So I think
its a good time to hurry upwith the work because it s
the dry season now and I
think the roads will be of
a better quality if they are
completed before the rains
come.
Mr KhomsunKeomongkhoun, abusinessman in Xaythany
district, Vientiane:There
are many roads in Vientiane
being improved th is year.
Its like the authorities
are paying very much
attention to repairing and
constructing good roads like
concrete roads. Tha-ngone
Road in my village, it looks
like it will be completedsoon. However I worry
that they will have a break
when the rainy season
comes as its difficult for
them to keep work moving.
So I would like to call on
the contractors to hurry up
What is your opinion of Vientiane authoritiesplans to resurface a number of major roads
before the end of the year?Vientiane authorities say they plan to resurface all roads in the capital that are in need of repair, withwork scheduled for completion by the end of this year. Authorities say they have been working on roadrepairs since the end of the rainy season last year but the work had ground to a halt because of budgetconstraints. Vientiane Times reporters asked some members of the public what they think of this plan.
as now is the dry season.
Slow construction makes a
lot of problems for people
who are using or live along
the roads in question. The
authorities have to pay
attention to this problem.
Ms Phetsamone Souk-kaserm, a student atthe Institute of Banking:
Its good to hear that all
roads in Vientiane are
scheduled to be resurfaced
by the end of this year
because the capital should
have convenient roads and
avoid traffic congestion
and accidents. However
I worry that they will not
be completed on t ime as
there are many kilometres
of roads to fix and there
are many obstacles. The
authorities are working hard
to improve some roads,
or exale Asean Road
is much better now and
thats great because it is a
major road. However many
roads are still waiting to be
resurfaced before the rainy
season and I think works
will go slowly once it starts
raining.
Mr ThotsakhanhOudomphatthana,a company employee in
Vientiane:It will be quite
difficult to completelyresurface all of the roads
in Vientiane by the end of
this year. I think we dont
need to rush the work
because I would ra ther
see good quality. Many
roads break up not long
after they are laid and this
makes it more difficult
to repair. I heard that the
authorities are focusing
on resurfacing roads in
four districts of Vientiane,
especially Sithong Road,
the road from Dongnaxokto the Northern Bus Station,
and Nongbuek, Phonpapao,
Sokpaluang, Sisavath and
other important roads.
Mr SoulixaySoukkaserm, astudent from Champassak
province:Road construction
in Vientiane should be
completed according to
the target plan but this will
require the authorities to
work harder. It would be
good if they could work
at night because there
would be less danger to
the workers and less traffic
problems. The contract ed
companies should have
enough workers on site
as well as the necessary
technology and equipment
to finish the job properly
and on time.
7/25/2019 2016 VTN Issue 027
18/24
18 Vientiane TimesOpinion Tuesday February 2, 2016
What the Lao papers sayWhat the Lao papers say
Convenient roads key toboosting development
Translated by Times Reporters
Road access is an important factor to boosting development and
changing the living standards of local people for the better.
Last week this reporter went along Road No 9 from the area of
Xeno throuh Xeon district in Savannakhet rovince. Alon
the roadside we could see many houses, shops and factories so
this shows that convenient road access can boost development.
In the fiscal year 1976-77, it was difficult to travel along Road
No 9 and it took many days before ar riving in nearby provinces.
The area was also full of unexploded ordinance, especially from
Xepon district to Dong village until the Vietnamese border.
This reporter did not go to visit this area for over 30 years but
be