Lao Morning News For May 22

Nam Ngiep 1 Project Starts Impounding Water
Nam Ngiep 1 Hydropower Project (NNP1) commenced impounding water in its re-regulation reservoir on 15th May 2017, with electricity generation scheduled to start before the mandated date in early 2019 after all electrical and mechanical installation is completed and the 115 kV transmission line is built by Electricité du Laos.
– Lao News Agency

Surrogacy group caught
A CROSS-BORDER network that uses Thai women as illegal surrogate mothers-for-hire has been exposed after the arrest of seven suspects on the weekend in Nong Khai.
– The Nation

Cooperation vital to energy development say Foreign Affairs
Laos is seeking the advancement of cooperation in energy development, especially in promoting investments in the renewable energy sector, officials say.
– Vientiane Times

IFC Helps BFL Expand Financing to SMEs in Laos
IFC, a member of the World Bank Group on May 19 granted a loan of $10 million to BFL Ltd to finance small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Lao PDR. With this, the lender aims to double its SME loan portfolio to more than $100 million by 2020.
– Lao News Agency

Laos has yet to fully benefit from trade privileges
Although Laos is enjoying Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) exemption from over 50 nations around the world, the country is still unable to fully benefit from the special treatment.
– Vientiane Times

Oil pipeline project to cut petrol prices
A planned oil pipeline project connecting a Vietnamese harbour to the central province of Khammuan will reduce oil prices significantly, a feasibility study has shown.
– Vientiane Times

Asbestos: Out of sight but not out of mind in Asia
Asbestos resembles polio. Just when you think it’s beaten, it returns like some ghoul. If you think this is overly dramatic, last year Laos was struck by a polio outbreak. This year we learned that Laos now ranks amongst the globe’s major importers of asbestos.
– Independent Australia

Laos, Japan discuss progress of development projects
Officials from Laos and Japan met last week to discuss the progress of development projects supported by Japan and ways to improve their effectiveness.
– Vientiane Times

UNICEF strengthens support for Lao women
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Lao Women’s Union (LWU) have strengthened their cooperation in preventing violence against children, improving nutrition and hygiene, and providing more clean water supplies.
– Vientiane Times

Workshop mulls ways to further assist farmers’ groups
Some agri-business operators have been successful while many are still struggling, facing challenges including a lack of implementing capacity and marketing as well as difficulties in accessing finance.
– Vientiane Times

Phoukhoun District Construction Needs 2.3 Trillion Kip Investment
The new Phoukhoun district urban development project, a top priority project of Luang Prabang province, needs an investment of roughly 2.3 trillion kip (US$ 279.923 million).
– Lao News Agency

Clients, therapists say culture plays key role in mental health treatment
Ale Bugaro is listening to her new client’s uncertainty about seeking therapy for her depression and anxiety.
– Daily Herald

Feature photo stolethetv
Find our previous morning news feature photos in the AEC News Today Morning News Feature Photos gallery where you will find a pictorial display of daily life throughout the Asean Economic Community (AEC).

Introducing The AEC News Today Mobile App

In an era of hectic schedules where time is precious, the AEC News Today mobile app enables you to stay up to date with the latest Asean news on governance and policy issues affecting the Asean Community while you are on the move and whenever you have a few minutes to spare.

See full details, including our AEC News Today Mobile App Privacy Statement here: Stay up to Date With The AEC News Today Mobile App.

Download the AEC News Today mobile app from Google play or the App stores by clicking the icons below.

Lao morning news by AEC News Today is your one stop source for Lao PDR news on matters of governance and policies affecting Asean business communities. It is published M-F by AEC News Today: Governance, not government; policies not politics.

Lao Morning News For May 22 added by John Le Fevre on May 22, 2017
View all posts by John Le Fevre →

Bio
Latest Posts

John Le Fevre

Thailand editor at AEC News Today

John is an Australian national with more than 40 years experience as a journalist, photographer, videographer, and copy editor.

He has spent extensive periods of time working in Africa and throughout Southeast Asia, with stints in the Middle East, the USA, and England.

He has covered major world events including Operation Desert Shield/ Storm, the 1991 pillage in Zaire, the 1994 Rwanda genocide, the 1999 East Timor independence unrest, the 2004 Asian tsunami, and the 2009, 2010, and 2014 Bangkok political protests.

In 1995 he was a Walkley Award finalist, the highest awards in Australian journalism, for his coverage of the 1995 Zaire (now Democratic Republic of Congo) Ebola outbreak.

Prior to AEC News Today he was the deputy editor and Thailand and Greater Mekong Sub-region editor for The Establishment Post, predecessor of Asean Today.

In the mid-80s and early 90s he owned JLF Promotions, the largest above and below the line marketing and PR firm servicing the high-technology industry in Australia. It was sold in 1995.