LAOS PDRKELSIE EDWARDS

COUNTRY BACKGROUND• Country Name: Lao People’s Democratic Republic

• Capital: Vientiane• Legal System: Civil Law (similar to French)• Political System: People’s Democratic Republic

• Marxist- Leninist One Party State• Constitution created in 1991; frequently revised

• Strategic Location• Landlocked: Myanmar, Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, China

Population: 6.9M Languages:Lao, French, English

Religion: Buddhist 66%

GDP: $37.32BGrowth: 7% (2015)

PPP: $5,300/yLower Middle Income

Ease of Business: #134 (2016) #139(2015)

CPI: #139 Labor Force: 3.5MUnemployment: 1.3%

Median Age: 22y

• “ The Battery of Southeast Asia”• Growing need for domestic electricity (+8% to 12% annually)

• 15% hydropower potential developed in 30y• Dependent on capital intensive natural resource exports

• Exports: Thailand, China, Vietnam, India• Countries invested: Bordering, France, Norway

THE OPPORTUNITY: “LAOS POWER”

• Borders incorporate significant portion of Mekong River basin.

• Intercepts from 2 directions: Gulf of Thailand, Gulf of Tonkin.

• High Precipitation favorable for hydropower plants.

WHY LAOS?FDI Proposal: Administrative Subsidiary Facility &

Infrastructure Development Project

• Location Increasingly Attractive To FDI – developing quickly• Political Stability• Low Labor Costs• Rich in Natural Resources (Water, Timber)• “One Stop” Service Unit (2011) – “Level the Playing Field”

initiative• Tax Exemptions, Tax Holidays• Access to Credits, Land Ownership

• Diversify Southern Company Portfolio • S.E. US: 44,223 MW of generating capacity (4% - Hydro)• Laos: 26,500 MW of hydropower potential (excluding Mekong River)