Day: February 23, 2022

Luang Prabang Station of the Lao-China Railway Co., Ltd launched yesterday its freight service to meet current demand for goods transport.

Sitting on 156 hectares, Luang Prabang Station is a major passenger and freight station of the Laos-China railway.

At present, there are four freight stations operational including South Vientiane Station, Nateuy Station, Vang Vieng Station and Luang Prabang Station.

The station is connected with four rail lines including two for goods transport purposes with the first line able to handle 25 containers and the second one capable of handling 26 containers at a time.

The station has been equipped with a 5 ha container yard with a capacity of 1,568 containers.

Main exports goods handled by the station include metals, iron ores and cements. Meanwhile coals, and general merchandise domain the list of imports.

The launch of the station for freight service contributes significantly to cutting transport time.

The Luang Prabang Station is speeding up constructing a complex facility that integrates all procedures needed for rail and customs inspection to improve the efficiency of goods inspection and cut transport time.

Source: Lao News Agency

The government’s monthly meeting for February has approved several key documents, including a draft state investment plan 2022, a draft revised law on small and medium size enterprise promotion, and a draft law on the management of transnational trade of aquatic and wild animals.

Chaired by Prime Minister Phankham Viphavanh, the cabinet’s meeting was held on Feb 21-22 in Vientiane, in the presence of vice premiers and other members of the government.

It allowed cabinet members to review the implementation of priorities of February and discuss plans for March 2022, according to Government Spokesperson, Ms Thipphakone Chanthavongsa.

A draft decree on micro finance institutes, and a national on capital market development strategy (2021-2030) and vision 2035 were also approved at the meeting along with a civil aviation development strategy 2021-2025 and vision 2030.

The government approved in principle the establishment of a digital ID system and a draft plan on reservoir management for the Nam Ou, Nam Ngum, Namtheun and Kading rivers.

As for priorities for March, the government will continue to focus on promoting and monitoring the implementation of the two national agendas in a more concrete manner, especially the addressing of economic and finance difficulties; issues related to the use of state vehicles, obstacles to business operation and investment; mining; border trade barriers; and land issues as well as Covid-19 prevention and control measures.

The government urged relevant authorities to accelerate a pilot project on digital businesses, modernize revenue collection, promote the use of electric vehicles and attach greater attention to the promotion of production, processing, trade, service and tourism activities along the Laos-China Railway corridor and discuss with neighbouring countries about how to create favourable conditions for import and export activities.

The government urged relevant sectors to encourage students to receive Covid-19 vaccines and achieve a vaccination coverage set by Notice 221 of the Prime Minister’s Office, complete the revision of the Lao dictionary and address issues related to immigration requirements for investors, technicians, tourists.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism was asked to attach attention to making comprehensive preparations for welcoming foreign visitors.

Source: Lao News Agency

Twenty seven cases of Omicron Covid-19 variant have been reported since January, according to the National Taskforce Committee for Covid-19 Prevention and Control.

“Of the omicron cases, one was a locally transmitted infection which was documented in Borikhamxay,” said Deputy Director General of the Department of Communicable Diseases Control, Ministry of Health, Dr Sisavath Soutthanilaxay.

The local Omicron infection was detected in a 60-year-old female who has no history of oversea travel in Borikhamxay Province.

“The surveillance team is currently questioning and tracing those who have had close contact with the woman to prevent a possible outbreak of Omicron in our country, or minimize its outbreak in case it really happens. Therefore all of us must be careful. We must stay cautious all the time and get all recommended doses of Covid vaccine, including boosters to immunize ourselves, loved ones and our communities,” said Dr Sisavath Soutthanilaxay.

Laos has logged 253 new cases and three new deaths attributed to Covid-19 over the past 24 hours with the total reaching 141,694 including 1,859 active cases and 616 deaths.Of the new confirmed cases, 225 were classified as domestic infections and 28 as imported transmissions.

The local infections were reported in Vientiane with 52, Xieng Khuang 32, Savannakhet 30, Huaphan 26 and Xayaboury 16.

Yesterday witnessed 471 Covid-19 patients discharged from hospitals nationwide.

As of Feb 23, over 4.8 million people, accounting to 66% of population in the country, have received at least one dose of Covid-19 vaccine. Meanwhile, over 4.2 million people, 58.34% of the population, have received all recommended doses of the vaccine.

Source: Lao News Agency