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Headlines:
Laos-Vietnam-Cambodia Cooperation
70 Years of US-Laos Relations Face Tariff Threat
Arsenic Contamination Threatens Mekong Basin
Emergency Warnings for the Vulnerable
Potash Mining Suspended After Land Collapse
Economic Reforms for More Tax Revenue
ADB Invests $65.8 Million in Agrifood
Counterfeit Currency Warning
Education Crisis Forces STEM Push
Chinese Aerospace Giant Eyes Lao Airlines Stake
Filipino Food Chain Expands to Laos
ASEAN Relations Strengthen at FM Meeting
Laos-Vietnam-Cambodia Cooperation
Young leaders from Laos, Vietnam, and Cambodia came together in Vientiane for a trilateral week-long program to share experiences in socio-economic development and discuss traditional relations. Military forces from the same three countries are also working together on a joint disaster relief exercise focused on flood-prone areas near the Xong and Namxan Rivers. The exercise involves cooperation in communication, security, engineering, medical services, aviation, and vehicle technology.
Read more: Khmer Times (Youth Program), Asian News Network (Disaster Relief)
70 Years of US-Laos Relations Face Tariff Threat
The US Embassy in Laos is celebrating 70 years of diplomatic relations. Reportedly, nearly half a billion USD has been invested in UXO clearance that made 5,600 hectares of new land safe last year. This celebration comes as President Trump continues to threaten Laos with a 40% tariff if a bilateral trade agreement isn't wrapped up by August 1.
Read more: Laotian Times (Diplomatic Relations), The Straits Times (Tariff Threat)
Arsenic Contamination Threatens Mekong Basin
The Mekong River Commission says there are dangerous levels of arsenic contamination in the Mekong and Kok Rivers along the Myanmar-Lao-Thai border. Tests show arsenic concentrations of 0.025 mg/L (that’s two and a half times WHO safety limits) at four out of five sampling spots. The contamination is likely the result of rare earth mining in Myanmar's United Wa State Army territory. The MRC has designated this a "moderately serious" transboundary issue, with a regional meeting scheduled for July 21 in Chiang Rai to set monitoring and data sharing protocols.
Read more: Laotian Times
Emergency Warnings for the Vulnerable
The UN World Food Program ran a workshop in Vientiane in support of the development of disability-inclusive early warning systems for disasters. The program brought several government departments together to hammer out how to resolve communication barriers faced by persons with disabilities during emergencies. The workshop is part of the Early Warnings for All Roadmap, which is intended to make sure inclusive warning systems are ready by 2027.
Read more: Laotian Times
Potash Mining Suspended After Land Collapse
The government has stopped all potash exploration and mining activities in Vientiane Capital after a land collapse in Thong Mang village. Oversight of the suspension has been assigned to several organizations, including the Ministry of Industry and Trade. Officials say that existing projects need to be re-inspected, and violators of the rules may be disqualified from any compensation. The decision to put a pause on things is a good sign that the government is taking environmental safety and community impact in the mining sector more seriously than traditionally has been the case.
Read more: Laotian Times
Economic Reforms for More Tax Revenue
At the 4th International Conference on Financing for Development in Spain, Laos presented its tax reform agenda. Deputy Prime Minister Saleumxay Kommasith said the goal is to increase tax revenue from 11.7% to 20% of GDP by 2030. The strategy is reliant on the digitalization of tax collection, better training, and improved budget management.
Read more: Laotian Times
ADB Invests $65.8 Million in Agrifood
The Asian Development Bank has approved $65.8 million in financing for Laos' Sustainable Agrifood Systems Sector Project. The project will run in six provinces to develop commodities including bamboo, coffee, durian, cassava, and tea with the intention of improving food security, nutrition, and income. The funding is the result of bringing together resources from the ADB, the ASEAN Infrastructure Fund, the EU-ASEAN Catalytic Green Finance Facility, and grants.
Read more: ADB
Counterfeit Currency Warning
The Bank of the Lao PDR is warning about counterfeit 100,000 kip banknotes from the 2020 series. Problems were first discovered in Houn district, Oudomxay Province where counterfeiters are using A4 paper that uses fraudulent security threads to try and pass as authentic cash. A similar story was reported in April 2024 involving counterfeit 50,000-kip notes. Keep your eyes open.
Read more: Asian News Network
Education Crisis Forces STEM Push
Laos is making efforts toward STEM education in response to a problematic education crisis. Data shows more than 6,000 Laotians graduated from foreign institutions between 2021-2024, and 3,000-4,000 students study abroad every year. Domestically, the National University of Laos has seen a dramatic decline in enrollment, falling from 15,000 students in 2016-2017 to just 5,457 last year. The country is also battling teacher shortages and high dropout rates in rural areas. To try and plug the gap, 2,000 military personnel have been sent into rural areas to teach on a “volunteer” basis.
Read more: Laotian Times
Chinese Aerospace Giant Eyes Lao Airlines Stake
Chinese state-owned aerospace manufacturer COMAC is still working to finalize its purchase of a stake in Lao Airlines by the third quarter. The investment would be in support of Lao Airlines' focus on the Chinese market and comes alongside discussions of the airline's privatization by Vientiane.
Read more: CH-Aviation
Filipino Food Chain Expands to Laos
Shakey's Pizza Asia Ventures Inc. has signed franchise agreements to expand its Potato Corner brand into Laos. Currently operating in 15 international markets, which account for 20% of total sales, SPAVI plans to open more than 400 stores globally this year.
Read more: Tribune
ASEAN Relations Strengthen at FM Meeting
At the 58th ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Kuala Lumpur, the Vietnamese Deputy PM and Foreign Minister met with his Laotian counterpart. During their talks, the officials remarked on the health of bilateral traded talk about how to improve infrastructure connectivity between the two countries. They wrapped up by agreeing to work together on upcoming national anniversary events and re-committed to mutual support for ASEAN and Mekong sub-regional cooperation issues.
Read more: Vietnam Plus
That’s all for this week, thanks for reading.
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