Lao morning news for April 9

Energy sector powering growth in Laos
Laos’ energy sector is set to boost its installed capacity to about 9,152.9 megawatts (MW) in 2019, once 12 more power plants kickstart commercial operations.
— Xinhuanet

1,000 Chinese on visit to Laos to promote tourism year
A group of 1,000 Chinese tourists including 50 officials arrived in Vientiane on Saturday, in support of efforts by the Lao and Chinese governments to boost tourism during Visit Laos-China Year 2019.
— Vientiane Times

Laos urged to address dam project impacts
Cambodia, Thailand and Vietnam have urged fellow Mekong River Commission member Laos to address cross-border and environmental impact issues following consultations on its Pak Lay hydropower dam project.
— Khmer Times

Laos, U.S. Meet For 9th Comprehensive Bilateral Dialogue
The Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR) and the United States held their 9th annual Comprehensive Bilateral Dialogue on March 27, 2019 in Washington D.C., reflecting the growing, broad-based relationship between the two nations.
— KPL

Laos: Villagers and farmers fear displacement due to influx of Chinese investments in economic zone
Laos’ Boten Specific Economic Zone (SEZ) is enjoying strong interest from Chinese investors as the Lao-China railway nears completion, but local villagers are fearful of the rapid change.
— Business $ Human Rights Resource Centre

Japanese govt further supports private sector, Japanese investment in Laos
The Japanese government has approved a new Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) project through the Laos-Japan Human Resource Development Institute (LJI) to support development of the private sector and Japanese investments in Laos.
— ANN/ Vientiane Times

New Military Facility Transfer Highlights Vietnam-Laos Defense Ties
Last week, Vietnam handed over a new office building to Laos. Though the development was just one among many in the capacity-building aspect of the defense relationship, it nonetheless highlighted the importance of the broader relationship between the two Southeast Asian countries.
— The Diplomat

Future Electric: EV Destiny Driving Rapidly Towards Laos
Promising prospects for electric vehicles (EV) in Laos as an agreement signed between power producer ລັດວິສາຫະກິດໄຟຟ້າລາວ EDL and electric-powered vehicle proponents EVLao, The Laotian Times reports.
— The Laotian Times

Strengthening Government’s Capacity For Better Use Of Data For Nutrition
As part of the National Information Platforms for Nutrition (NIPN) initiative, the European Union (EU) and UNICEF are building the capacity of Government staff to make better use of evidence and data to design and implement nutrition related policies and programmes through a workshop in Vientiane on April 3.
— KPL

Increased farm production to drive nation’s food security, nutrition
Lao farmers will continue to be encouraged to grow enough crops for their families’ consumption and commercial production to push forward efforts to ensure the nation’s food security strategy and nutrition improvement.
— Vientiane Times (paywall)

Lao students in Thua Thien-Hue celebrate Bunpimay festival
Some 500 Laos students, who are studying in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue, gathered on April 7 to celebrate their traditional New Year festival of Bunpimay.
— Vietnam Plus

Lao migrant killed, five others injured in Loei pickup crash
A pickup truck hired to transport six Lao migrants back home for the Songkran holidays overturned in Loei’s Mueang district on Monday morning, killing one of them and injuring the other five.
— The Nation

Govt presents way forward for post-flood recovery
The Lao Recovery Consultation meeting yesterday brought together government agencies and development partners to discuss the way forward and build on the findings of the Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) conducted in 2018.
— Vientiane Times

2 Lao drug traffickers arrested in Vietnam
Border guard forces of Vietnam’s central highlands Kon Tum province said Monday they have detained two Lao drug traffickers and confiscated nearly 40,000 pills of synthetic drug.
— China.org.cn

IP Fair 2019 To Be Held Next Month
The Intellectual Property Fair 2019 under the theme “Intellectual property for Socio-Economic Development and Sustainable Culture” will be held in Pakse City, Champassak province on May 24-29.
— KPL

Agriculture officials beef up on Farmer Field Schools scheme
Government officials and development partners are coming together this week for training on the Farmer Field Schools approach across the country’s agricultural regions.
— Vientiane Times (paywall)

Cattle farmers benefit from project participation: Case Study
Farmers in Phaksi village in Luang Prabang provincial capital are now able to earn more from paddy rice production and the cultivation of fodder for their cattle, thanks to a project to improve biodiversity and the marketing of cattle.
— Vientiane Times

Tokyo 2020’s Road: Para-Swimmers Dive In As All Laos Meet Proves Milestone En Route Toward National Teams, Paralympic Dreams
With just some 500 days or so to go to the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, inclement weather did not stop swimmers including prospective Lao Paralympic Athletes heating up the lanes at the first national competition for para-swimmers in Laos’ capital Vientiane as 25 swimmers from 12 Laos provinces took part.
— The Laotian Times

Walkers stride out to deliver road safety message
Over 1,000 officials and schoolchildren took part in a walk in central Vientiane on Saturday to remind road users of the importance of safe driving.
— Vientiane Times (paywall)

MRC awards green campaign winners to celebrate Mekong Day
The Mekong River Commission (MRC) has awarded the winners of its green campaign to celebrate Mekong Day and raise awareness of the danger of plastic waste in the Mekong River basin.
— Vientiane Times (paywall)

Law students get lessons in regional diplomacy
Students from the Faculty of Law and Political Science, National University of Laos, took part in discussions and learnt about regional issues under the Model Asean Meeting (MAM) programme held in Vientiane on Saturday.
— Vientiane Times (paywall)

Feature photo United Nations in Lao PDR

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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 April 9 added by Stella-maris Ewudolu on April 9, 2019
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Stella-maris Ewudolu

Journalist at AEC News Today

Stella-maris graduated with a Bachelor of Arts, Education from Ebonyi State University, Nigeria in 2005.

Between November 2010 and February 2012 she was a staff writer at Daylight Online, Nigeria writing on health, fashion, and relationships. From 2010 – 2017 she worked as a freelance screen writer for ‘Nollywood’, Nigeria.

She joined AEC News Today in December 2016.