Month: November 2021

On 12 November 2021, the Ministry of Health received essential medical equipment delivered through a grant of more than US$600,000 from the Government of Japan to tackle the on-going COVID-19 pandemic in the Lao PDR procured through the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS).

The delivery included 100 oxygen concentrators, 100 patient monitors with carts and 100 suction pumps.

The procured equipment is currently being distributed to provincial, community and field hospitals across the country, and is expected to be fully delivered by the middle of December.

The items will help to equip frontline workers with the necessary equipment to treat COVID-19 patients, especially those suffering from severe cases.

Ambassador of Japan to the Lao PDR Kenichi Kobayashi stated “Japan has provided the Lao PDR with more than US$19 million to assist the country in its fight against COVID-19 as well as the 600,000 doses of vaccine provided to Laos in August. The critical medical equipment we provided this time is expected to reach medical facilities including in vulnerable localities with limited capacities.”

“This is another indication of Japan’s continued desire to help the Lao PDR in addressing the current serious COVID-19 situation. It is our sincere hope that the equipment will help treat and save many people of Laos who are suffering from the pandemic”.

Speaking on behalf of the Lao government, Minister of Health Bounfeng Phoummalaysith said “We highly appreciate the government and the people of Japan, and UNOPS, for the continued support to help address COVID-19 in the Lao PDR. This remarkable contribution highlights the long-lasting partnership and cooperation between the two countries.”

“The donated equipment will enable healthcare workers to provide essential treatment for patients and strengthen the government’s ongoing response to the COVID-19 outbreak – leading to more recoveries”.

On behalf of UNOPS, UNOPS project manager Caroline Spigelski, stated “The delivery of this equipment is the latest example of UNOPS commitment to the people of the Lao PDR and the strength of our partnership with the Government of Japan. Since the beginning of the pandemic, UNOPS and the Government of Japan have worked successfully together to deliver life-saving medical equipment to people in need across the world.”

“UNOPS is proud to have delivered once again and hopes that frontline medical staff and their patients are able to benefit from this equipment as soon as possible”.

Source: Lao News Agency

Laos-China railway will bring new opportunities and provide huge momentum in strengthening Laos’ economy, Valy Vetsaphong, vice president of the Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry and advisor to the Lao prime minister, has said.

The streamlined bullet train, or electric multiple unit (EMU) train for the Laos-China railway, arrived at the newly-built Vientiane Station on Oct. 16. Valy took a trial run of the EMU on the railway on Nov. 18.

“It will be a historic moment for the opening of the railway in Laos,” said Valy after the tour. “The outlook, especially the roof, is Lao style, and the decoration embodies Lao and Chinese cultures, conforms to the characteristics of the Laos-China railway. The stations are nicely built.”

The railway “will convert Laos from being geographically disadvantaged, by taking advantage of its location, to a regional land-linked hub,” said Valy.

The railway will be an important piece of infrastructure that increases the nation’s transportation connectivity with other parts of the region, Valy told Xinhua in a recent interview, adding that many business operators will switch to exporting products by using the railway, which is expected to cut the cost of transport through Laos by 30 to 40 per cent compared to traveling by road.

The Laos-China railway will lay a new foundation for the introduction of foreign investment, and Laos will take the advantage to participate in the regional and global industrial chain.

Firstly, when the railway is operational, Laos’ tourism industry is expected to benefit greatly from the expected rise in rail passenger traffic.

“Business owners must prepare to welcome an influx of visitors under new normal conditions. They must improve their facilities and services standards. Laos has a lot of places where tourists can experience untouched nature and culture. With its rich natural resources and biodiversity, Laos can offer an opportunity to promote nature-based tourism,” she said.

Addressing the opening of the National Assembly (NA) on Nov. 1, Lao Prime Minister Phankham Viphavanh said Laos needs to consider the steps to take to reopen the country, including the start of services on the Laos-China railway.

Meanwhile, many provinces in Laos are preparing for the return of tourists. Visitor attractions and accommodation will be restored and upgraded after being closed for months during the COVID-19 outbreak.

“A second opportunity lies in organic agriculture production. Many investors are interested in growing and setting up factories in Laos to process agricultural products for export, because clean agriculture production is in high demand (while Laos meets its requirements),” said Valy.

“From a personal perspective, we must develop and improve more organic agricultural production for export to regional and international markets,” she said.

The Laos-China railway “will not only benefit bilateral trade, but also benefit other countries that want to export products to China or even Europe, as using the railway could save both time and money,” Valy said.

She said a third opportunity lies in the processing industry.

“For some products, even we cannot provide parts of raw materials here, but they can process, assemble, export and ship them by rail to China and even beyond China to Europe through China-Europe Railway Express.”

She said the railway has highlighted Laos’ geographical advantages, and that industries including finance and health care can also find development opportunities in Laos.

The Laos-China railway is a docking project between the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative and Laos’ strategy to convert itself from a landlocked country to a land-linked hub.

The electrified passenger and cargo railway is built with the full application of Chinese management and technical standards. The construction of the project started in December 2016 and is scheduled to be completed and operational in December 2021.

Source: Lao News Agency

Prime Minister Phankham Viphavanh has paid a two-day visit to Cambodia in response to the invitation of his Cambodian counterpart Hun Sen.

The prime minister accompanied by high ranking officials arrived in Phnom Penh on Nov 29. Following a welcome ceremony hosted by his Cambodian counterpart at Peace Palace, the two premiers with their delegations held bilateral talks where Prime Minister Phankham told his counterpart that his visit reaffirmed the unwavering commitment of the government and people of Laos to furthering the traditional friendship and comprehensive and long-lasting strategic partnership between Laos and Cambodia.

He also expressed gratitude to the government and people for providing medical supplies, vaccines to support fight against Covid-19 in the Lao PDR.

Both sides reviewed cooperation over the past years and set forth directions for years to come.

The two leaders noted that the relations and longstanding cooperation between the two countries have been growing constantly especially after the two countries upgraded their cooperation to comprehensive and long-lasting strategic partnership in 2019.

Both sides agreed that the relations and cooperation between the two countries have been strengthened and deepened in all areas despite of changing and complicated situations in the region and the world at large and covid-19 pandemic as this has been reflected in the fact that leaders of the two countries have hold meetings on a regular basis.

They noted that the leaders of the two countries have attached importance to strengthening cooperation in areas of politics, defense and public security, and drug fight.

Cooperation in investment, economic, trade, socio-cultural and education areas has enjoyed a constant growth.

The two leaders noted that the growth in trade and investment between the two countries has shown a growing trend and reaffirmed their commitment to work together to continue to create more favourable conditions for the promotion of economic and trade cooperation between the two countries, especially the cooperation on energy as the Lao PDR holds energy production and export potential while energy demand is high in Cambodia.

They also informed each other about the socio-economic development and anti-covid-19 efforts in their respective countries and proposed a bilateral meeting on economic recovery with a focus placed on tourism.

The two leaders agreed to urge relevant authorities of the two countries to hold bilateral meetings according to existing mechanisms especially the Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation, and the Joint Boundary Commission to implement the agreements signed by leaders of the two countries.

On the following day, Prime Minister Phankham Viphavanh also paid a courtesy call to King Norodom Sihamoni, met President of the National Assembly of Cambodia Heng Samrin and President of the Senate Say Chhum and placed a wreath at the Independent Monument and the Norodom Sihanouk Memorial.

During the official visit to Cambodia, the government and people of Cambodia donated US$3 million, along with 500,000 doses of Covid-19 vaccine and two vaccine transporters, excluding US$10 million contributed by Cambodian companies.

Source: Lao News Agency