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German businesses interested in Vietnam

German news website NTV has published an article highlighting the attractiveness of the Southeast Asian country to German businesses.

According to the September 14 article, Vietnam has long been famous for shoes, garment and textile, coffee and pepper. The country is always ready to innovate and absorb new technologies, so it has a good reputation as an electronics manufacturing hub.

Meanwhile, “Made in Germany” goods and machinery are also very popular in Vietnam, along with automobiles and chemical products. Germany currently has about 350 companies with offices and facilities in the Southeast Asia country, it said.

Two-way trade turnover reached 18 billion euros (19.2 billion USD) last year, of which shipments from Vietnam accounted for 14.7 billion euros. Germany is currently Vietnam’s most important trade partner in the European Union (EU) while Vietnam is Germany’s largest partner in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Ludwig Graf Westarp, the representative of the German Association for Small- and Medium-sized Businesses (BVMW) in Vietnam, said Vietnam is a country with many development opportunities and a very vibrant market. Over the recent years, the country has poured much capital into infrastructure, roads, ports and airports. Vietnam is also expanding its renewable energy industry which requires not only experience but also technology from Germany.

According to NTV, the per capita Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Vietnam has doubled in the past 10 years. It has a young population who are ready to learn and a stable political system. Although the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the Vietnamese economy like other countries in the world, experts are still very optimistic about its economy.

The article also said that in addition to the economic field, Vietnam is also quite an attractive country for Germany in terms of geopolitics. A lot of countries such as the Republic of Korea and Japan have set up production bases in Vietnam to enjoy economic benefits.

These things clearly show Vietnam’s potential to German businesses, given an increasingly volatile world order, it added./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

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Sandro Marcos pushes financial literacy for workers

A measure providing financial literacy and entrepreneurship programs for workers to help them cope with rising prices of basic commodities has been filed at the House of Representatives. House Senior Deputy Majority Leader and Ilocos Norte 1st District Rep. Ferdinand Alexander ‘Sandro’ Marcos filed House Bill (HB) 8989, or the proposed ‘Financial Literacy for Workers’ Act,’ which aims to empower workers to generate more income and ultimately lead a life of economic and financial freedom. ‘At a time of continuously rising prices, the prevalence of financial scams, and also predatory loans, there is a need to empower employees with financial literacy programs that will include debt management, savings and investment, insurance and retirement planning, so as to avoid indigency,’ he said. Marcos said among the challenges to developing entrepreneurial skills include a lack of adequate knowledge of financial management, high cost of doing business, lack of access to finance and market information, and low productivity and competitiveness due to the lack of economic capacity. “Through better awareness and understanding of how money works and how to handle it responsibly, people are equipped to reach their financial goals, especially financial stability and prosperity,” he said. Under HB 8989, employers would be required to provide financial literacy and entrepreneurship programs to employees. It provides that the Secretary of the Department Labor and Employment (DOLE) shall award loans and grants, on a competitive basis, to eligible entities to provide financial literacy and entrepreneurship programs to workers. The DOLE Secretary may make available to deserving ‘working entrepreneurs,’ assistance in the form of grants or loans, to provide for the initial launch of their small or medium enterprises. The proposed measure defines working entrepreneurs as individuals who are employed and engaged in the operations or management of micro, small or medium enterprises. An eligible entity or entrepreneur that desires to receive a grant or a loan should submit an application to the DOLE Secretary accompanied by an itemized budget and other data as required. The bill is currently pending at the House Committee on Labor and Employment.

Source: Philippines News Agency

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Measures suggested to deepen Vietnam-Laos friendship, solidarity, cooperation

Vietnamese Ambassador to Laos Nguyen Ba Hung outlined measures to help Vietnam and Laos further preserve, nurture, and deepen their great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation in a recent interview to the Vietnam News Agency regarding the 61st anniversary of the countries’ diplomatic relations. Vietnamese Ambassador to Laos Nguyen Ba Hung outlined measures to help Vietnam and Laos further preserve, nurture, and deepen their great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation in a recent interview to the Vietnam News Agency regarding the 61st anniversary of the countries’ diplomatic relations.

Hung noted that the world and regional situations are undergoing unprecedented and rapid developments coupled with the impact of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, creating a complex mix of opportunities and challenges. The ambassador said he believes that Vietnam and Laos need to continue standing side by side, enhancing the effectiveness of their cooperation and, in the immediate future, focusing on three priorities.

First, they should continue to deepen their political relations, effectively implement high-level agreements, and maintain and improve the effectiveness of cooperation mechanisms between their top leaders. It is crucial to promote and raise the common understanding of the special relationship among their people from all walks of life.

Secondly, they should elevate their economic cooperation by expanding and upgrading the east-west transportation connectivity, establish cohesive cooperation mechanisms, and special policies to unleash resources. It is also necessary to create the most favourable conditions for Vietnamese and Lao businesses and peoples, resolve issues through breakthrough solutions, utilise new cooperation models, and lever free trade agreements serving better commercial efficiency, market expansion, and investment attraction. And

Thirdly, they should focus on the quality and effectiveness of human resources development to meet development needs and strengthen the bonds and solidarity between the two peoples.

Both countries have a solid foundation to maintain confidence in a bright future for their sustainable and special solidarity, the diplomat stated.

According to him, the bilateral political and diplomatic ties are becoming increasingly close and trustworthy, with high-level exchanges and interactions held regularly through all channels. Cooperation in defense-security and border affairs continues to be a vital pillar in the overall cooperative relationship, with the countries effectively teaming up in preventing and combating organised crime, transnational crime, and drug-related offenses.

Economic, investment, trade, cultural, and scientific-technical collaboration has been expanded, becoming more substantial and effective. Vietnam remains one of the largest investors in Laos. The connection of the two economies, especially infrastructure, transport, and energy, has been vigorously promoted. A significant strategic achievement is that Vietnam has facilitated Laos’s access to the sea through its Vung Ang port, opening up new development prospects for the nation.

Joint work in education and human resource development are also a highlight. Over time, tens of thousands of Lao students have studied and conducted research in Vietnam, while thousands of Vietnamese students have studied in Laos.

Notably, Vietnam and Laos have focused on enhancing mutual support and assistance within regional and international forums, making a significant contribution to boosting each country’s role and position regionally and internationally.

Source: Lao News Agency

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Stakeholder Consultation Meeting on Improving Disability Data in the 5th Population and Housing Census held

The Lao Statistics Bureau (LSB), Ministry of Planning and Investment, and United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), in collaboration with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the CBM/Global Disability Inclusion network, World Education and Humanity Inclusion last week organised a stakeholder consultation meeting on improving disability data in the 5th Population and Housing Census in the Lao PDR The Lao Statistics Bureau (LSB), Ministry of Planning and Investment, and United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), in collaboration with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the CBM/Global Disability Inclusion network, World Education and Humanity Inclusion last week organised a stakeholder consultation meeting on improving disability data in the 5th Population and Housing Census in the Lao PDR.

Organisations of Persons with Disabilities actively engaged in the consultation with key Ministries to ensure meaningful representation. This is in preparation of the upcoming census in Laos on disability inclusion in line with the “Nothing about us, Without us” participation approach and the guiding principle “Leave No One Behind” of the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework 2022-2026.

This workshop was organised as a follow-up to the discussions of the first stakeholder’s consultation meeting held in March on the census thematic areas disability data.

During the meeting, participants reviewed challenges and lessons learnt from the previous census (2015 PHC) and proposed practical solutions to improve the disability data in the upcoming census. They also discussed the preparation of the enumerators, manuals and questionnaires and highlighted the technical and financial assistance needed to support LSB in quality data collection and analysis of disability data.

”The population and housing census is a massive exercise. It requires huge investments: financial, technical and human resources. It will take approximately 13,151 field personnel to complete it. Ensuring a consultative approach in preparing the census questionnaire and that enumerators are fully aware of the different dimensions of disability inclusion is amongst the key approaches for quality results. We want the census to be completed with the full integration of all international standards, ensuring the inclusion of each and everyone of us in Laos, particularly focusing on genderdized and disability inclusive data,” said Ms Phonesaly Souksavath, Head of Lao Statistics Bureau, Ministry of Planning and Investment.

“In addition to this, and on behalf of the Ministry of Planning and Investment and the Lao Statistics Bureau, would like to take this opportunity to call for the kind support and collaboration of all government sectors, international organisations, development partners and society to make this census happen successfully and be able to provide useful information for the NSEDP and SDGs monitoring of the country,” She added.

This year is an important milestone for the census preparation since two of the most important tools will be developed and tested, namely: the draft questionnaire and the GIS-mapping system.

As per the United Nations guidelines, the questionnaire elaboration should take into account various population groups particularly persons with disabilities, marginalised vulnerable people, ethnic groups to ensure everyone is counted.

In his opening remarks, Dr Bakhtiyor Kadyrov, UNFPA Representative congratulated LSB for their commitment, dedication and continued efforts to ensure highest standards for the census preparation and roll-out.

“The UNFPA Disability Inclusion Strategy recognises that persons with disabilities are actors of change, and possess unique knowledge and lived experience that other party actors do not. This corporate strategy outlines a “whole of institution approach” aiming to further strengthen the capacity for quality population data collection, analysis and utilisation in policymaking and programming around population issues, gender equality and sexual and reproductive health, including population data in humanitarian settings. Mapping vulnerabilities through increased disability-related data is integral to the UNFPA mandate and fulfilling the three transformative results through leaving no one behind and reaching the furthest behind first,” He added.

The ongoing census preparation is a great platform for multilateral cooperation, consultation, exchange and inclusion. Under the leadership of LSB and with the technical support from UNFPA, the different partners from line ministries, NGOs and development partners recognized the unique value of the census data, which in the absence of a comprehensive and well-functioning data system, represent an essential source of disaggregated data to help understand the conditions and struggles of each and every citizen. This is a basis for developing adequate policies and programs that meet the needs of people in Laos, in all their diversity.

Mr Michael Ronning, USAID Country Representative to Laos, expressed his appreciation for the expanding comprehensive partnership between the United States and the Lao PDR. “USAID is proud to support LSB, UNFPA and partners in this important work. The data collected will ensure policies will benefit every person in Laos, including persons with disabilities,” said Mr Michael Ronning.

Considering the scale and cost, the census requires strictly sequenced and interlinked interventions. A delay in any intervention has a knock-on effect on subsequent ones. Therefore, all sectors and people are encouraged to participate and contribute to the census process in a timely manner. Thanks to the commitment from the Government of Laos and to the contributions of the World Bank, USAID and DFAT, the funding gap has decreased. Currently,USD 10 million still needs to be mobilised, for the 2024 preparations.

Source: Lao News Agency

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Australian Government, USAID announce their new partnership to support MoES through BEQUAL

The Australian Government and United States Agency for International Development (USAID) announced a new partnership for the expansion of the Basic Education Quality and Access in Laos PDR 2 (BEQUAL II) at Thongkang Primary School in Vientiane on Sep 10. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sisouk Vongvichit, Vice Minister of Education and Sports, Dan Heldon, Chargé d’affaires of Australia in the Lao PDR, and Michelle Outlaw, Chargé d’affaires of the United States of America in the Lao PDR, announced a new partnership for the expansion of the Basic Education Quality and Access in Laos PDR 2 (BEQUAL Phase 2) at a primary school in Vientiane Capital on Sep 10.

The Governments of Australia and the United States of America, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), signed the partnership agreement in June 2023 for the expansion of BEQUAL Phase 2. Funding from USAID of US$2.4 million (approximately LAK46.2 billion) will be added to Australia’s investment of AU$30 million (approximately LAK375.2 billion) for increased support for Lao language literacy programs for children who start school not yet able to speak Lao, and for multigrade teaching.

This partnership has also enabled the BEQUAL Phase 2 program to establish reading corners for Grades 3, 4 and 5 in all primary schools nationwide. To commemorate the new partnership, the two officials handed over storybooks for reading corners to the Lao Government, represented by the Vice Minister of Education and Sports, who also observed reading activities in the classrooms.

“Establishing reading corners in all primary schools is MoES’s priority under the Education and Sports Sector Development Plan 2021-25; the Ministry recognizes the challenges schools face in accessing good quality storybooks in Lao, especially in rural and remote areas. I would like to thank the governments of Australia and the United States of America for their support and shared commitment to literacy development through reading promotion,” said Ms Sisouk Vongvichit.

A total of 30,000 sets of 21 different storybooks have been distributed to all grades 3, 4, and 5 classrooms nationwide. Grades 1 and 2 classrooms already received storybooks during the first phase of the BEQUAL Program. In the current school year, 3,265 additional grades 1 and 2 sets of 39 storybooks have been reprinted to replenish stocks in the classrooms of schools that were affected by flooding in 2019. All the storybooks were carefully developed to ensure they represent all Lao people and promote values such as diversity, gender equality, disability, and social inclusion. The storybook set for grade 5 includes a story written by the Ministry of Education and Sports Division for the Advancement of Women, mother and child, and edited and approved by the Research Institute for Educational Sciences. The story promotes the value and importance of girls completing their primary education and continuing to secondary education. It also highlights the importance of community involvement in promoting education for all.

“The objective of the reading corners is to increase access to reading materials and promote a culture of reading among children. Storybooks are important for children and teachers. They are not only entertaining for children, but also stimulate their imagination and language development, increase their knowledge, and help children develop their problem solving skills,” Dan Heldon added.

Chargé d’affaires Outlaw highlighted the expanding partnership between the United States and Lao PDR in basic education.“The United States Government is proud to join the Australian Government in support of the Ministry of Education and Sports to enhance primary education for the children of Laos. Prioritizing literacy skills supported by BEQUAL II is essential for fostering a bright future for young girls and boys,” she continued. “The United States remains committed to preparing Lao children for success,” she said.

The delegation was invited to observe three different classrooms during their reading activities. They appreciated that the young students were actively participating in the class, collaborating with each other, engaging with the learning materials, and using creative and artistic skills to express themselves.

Source: Lao News Agency

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Laos Students in Guangxi Learning High-speed Rail Technology witness the China-ASEAN Transit Interconnection

Mr Wu Mingxiong, a 21-year-old Lao student, his first trip to China was full of surprises. In April this year, Wu Mingxiong took the China-Laos Railway connecting Laos and China, and went to Liuzhou Railway Vocational and Technical College in China to “learn” high-speed rail related technical knowledge Mr Wu Mingxiong, a 21-year-old Lao student, his first trip to China was full of surprises. In April this year, Wu Mingxiong took the China-Laos Railway connecting Laos and China, and went to Liuzhou Railway Vocational and Technical College in China to “learn” high-speed rail related technical knowledge.

Wu Mingxiong remembers that he was nervous and excited when he first took the transnational high-speed rail. At the beginning of September, he recalled in an interview, “The high-speed train is very fast. I feel a bit awkward at first, but later I find it is running very steadily.” He took high-speed train from Luang Prabang, Laos, and arrived at Mohan Station in Yunnan Province, China, only 2 hours. Then, he transferred from Yunnan to Liuzhou, Guangxi by high-speed train, and the whole journey cost him 800 yuan.

As a high-quality landmark project under “the Belt and Road Initiative”, the opening of the China-Laos Railway has greatly promoted the exchanges and economic development of cities along the route in Laos. “In the past, it took a day to take a bus from Luang Prabang to Vientiane, but now it takes only about 2 hours after the high-speed rail was opened.” Being optimistic about the development prospects of high-speed rail , Wu Mingxiong chose to study operation management in China in hope that he can make contributions to his motherland after his study in China.

“Railway transportation is an emerging industry in Laos and the future is promising.” Like Wu Mingxiong, Wang Yi, a Lao student, is optimistic about the development of the railway industry. Wang Yi, a 20-year-old girl from Laos, came to China to study with her cousin. She wants to be a “high-speed train attendant” in the future and dress up beautifully every day to serve the passengers of Laos and China.

At present, a number of “the Belt and Road Initiative” co-construction projects such as Jakarta-Bandung High Speed Railway and Sino-Thai Railway are also progressing in an orderly manner. With the continuous promotion of interconnection between China and ASEAN countries, the demand for compound railway talents is increasing, and the exchanges between China and ASEAN countries are getting closer.

As a vocational college with a railway background in Southwest China, Liuzhou Railway Vocational and Technical College has enrolled international students from Thailand for 4 years and from Laos for 2 years. Of the 45 Thai students who have graduated, 26 were employed by rail transit enterprises in Thailand.

At the same time, Guangxi continued to accelerate the construction of an international gateway for ASEAN and comprehensively improve the access to transportation infrastructure. Guangxi has built a total of 43 and transport corridors (highways and railways) to neighboring provinces and countries, which have been connected with neighboring provinces and countries, and jointly built a land transport corridor interconnecting and reaching the north, south, east and west of the province, initially forming an international corridor with Beibu Gulf Port as the seaport, shared by railways and highways, connecting southwest and northwest, and facing ASEAN countries.

Next, Guangxi will make efforts to establish a “land, sea and air” transport situation. According to the plan, there will be 13 expressways in Guangxi leading to the border ports connected with Vietnam; In terms of sea transport, Guangxi will speed up the construction of berths No.9 and No.10 in Dalanping South Operation Area of Qinzhou Port and Berths No.1 and No.2 in Chisha Operation Area of Fangchenggang Port. In terms of air transport, Guangxi will speed up the construction of a large aviation corridor facing ASEAN countries.

Source: Lao News Agency