Laos 20240424: Solidarity, Scarcity, Conundrum
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Headlines:
Cambodia, Laos Vow to Boost Ties
Vietnam, Laos Double Down on Cooperation
Lao Prez Backs Cambodia's Funan Techo Project
Energy Sector Struggles with Skill Shortage
Coffee Growers Face Labor Crunch
AUS Funded Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge Turns 30
PM Pushes Digital Innovation for Sustainable Development
Laos Set to Lead ASEAN on Conservation
China, Thailand Double Down on Lao Hydropower Despite Eco Worries
High-Speed Train for Travel and Tourism
Cambodia, Laos Vow to Boost Ties
Cambodia and Laos are talking about strengthening their already close relationship status. During a powwow between Cambodian PM Hun Manet and Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith in Phnom Penh, the two leaders chatted about ramping up cooperation in energy, border issues, and fighting transnational crime, among other things. Both countries stressed the need for stable and timely energy supplies and promised to stick to their commitments under the 2023 Cambodia-Laos Border Demarcation Treaty.
Read more: Khmer Times
Vietnam, Laos Double Down on Cooperation
Vietnam and Laos are taking their bilateral relations to the next level. In recent high-level meetings in Hanoi, the prime ministers of both countries laid out plans to beef up cooperation in key areas like defense, security, trade, and infrastructure. The goal in mind is to boost economic ties and keep things stable in the region. They also pledged to have each other's backs in international forums, further cementing a partnership that balances old-school friendship with mutual economic and security interests.
Read more: VOV (Future Cooperation), VietnamPlus (Working Session)
Lao Prez Backs Cambodia's Funan Techo Project
Laos President Thongloun Sisoulith is giving his thumbs-up to Cambodia's Funan Techo Canal project, which is to connect the Bassac River to Cambodia's coastline without (apparently) messing with the Mekong River's flow or the environment. His support comes as Cambodia gears up to break ground by year-end on the 180 km project, which includes hefty infrastructure like dams and bridges. The whole shebang is set to wrap up in four years with a price tag of $1.7 billion.
Read more: Phnom Penh Post
Energy Sector Struggles with Skill Shortage
Laos is in a bit of a pickle when it comes to managing its energy and mines sector, due to a serious shortage of skilled workers. Despite a boom in hydropower and mining projects, the Ministry of Energy and Mines is seriously understaffed, with a need for around 2,500 more employees by 2025. This shortage is making it tough to enforce industry standards and regulations, and a lot of companies are dropping the ball on their contractual and legal obligations. To make matters worse, the government's coffers are running low, putting an extra strain on the situation.
Read more: Radio Free Asia
Coffee Growers Face Labor Crunch
In southern Laos, coffee growers are facing a major labor shortage as workers ditch their jobs for higher-paying gigs in Thailand and other sectors within Laos, thanks to sky-high inflation. The huge wage gap - local coffee picking pays a measly $10-13 per day compared to much higher wages abroad - is only making things worse. Coffee farms, which are a big deal for Laos's agriculture exports, are scrambling to find enough workers to harvest beans, and some farm owners are even doubling wages just to get temporary help.
Read more: Radio Free Asia
AUS Funded Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge Turns 30
Thailand, Laos, and Australia just celebrated the 30th anniversary of the Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge, a crucial link that's been promoting peace, trade, and economic development between the two countries since it opened in 1994. Funded by Australia, the bridge has been a major player in boosting cross-border cooperation and regional connectivity. The celebrations highlighted its role in boosting tourism and transport, and there are even plans for a new railway bridge to keep up with growing demands and further integrate the region's infrastructure.
Read more: The Star (bridge history), eTurboNews (anniversary celebrations)
PM Pushes Digital Innovation for Sustainable Development
PM Sonexay Siphandone, speaking at the 80th Session of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, talked up the role of digital tech in hitting those Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). With only 15 percent of SDG targets on track, he stressed the need for digital innovation to kick SDG implementation into high gear. The PM laid out Laos' strategic plans for digital economic development through 2040, which aim to integrate digital advances with socio-economic growth, boost human resources, and strengthen international cooperation for sustainable and green growth.
Read more: Asia News Network
Laos Set to Lead ASEAN on Conservation
As the 2024 Chair of ASEAN, Laos is in a position to tackle some of the region's most pressing environmental issues, especially the impacts of UXO and Mekong River degradation. The country's tragic title as the most bombed per capita has left a lasting legacy of hazards, which are only compounded by threats like dam construction and climate change that put the Mekong's biodiversity and the livelihoods it supports at risk. With Laos at the helm, ASEAN could steer towards more sustainable development practices, looking out for the need for protective measures and environmental protection to safeguard natural and human resources.
Read more: Inkstick Media
Thailand Backs Lao Highway Maintenance
Thailand is shelling out 1.8 billion baht to help Laos maintain and improve Highway R12, a vital corridor that connects Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam. This funding will cut down on travel times, streamline trade, and give the region's economic integration a boost. The project also involves upgrading infrastructure along the route, including cargo terminals and tourist spots, with the goal of increasing goods transportation by 50% and strengthening ties within the Greater Mekong Subregion.
Read more: Thai PBS World (funding details), VietnamPlus (regional impact)
China, Thailand Double Down on Lao Hydropower Despite Eco Worries
China and Thailand are still pouring money into Laos's hydropower sector, with several new projects like the Pak Beng dam in the works. These investments, fueled by huge electricity demand from neighboring countries, are a key part of Laos's economic strategy to become a major energy exporter in Southeast Asia. But there are still concerns about the social and environmental impacts of these dams, with local communities facing displacement and ecological disruptions. This has sparked calls for better management and fair compensation practices to help mitigate the negative effects.
Read more: China Global South
And now for something completely different.
Check out this travelog on travel via high-speed train through Laos to China, good story, beautiful photos:
High-Speed Train for Travel and Tourism
Laos’ new high-speed train connecting the northern border to the capital, Vientiane, part of China's Belt and Road Initiative, has totally transformed the traditional travel landscape of Laos, allowing for speedy transit across routes that used to be a real slog. Not only does the train make it easier to access remote regions, boosting tourism and local economies, but it is now bringing an entirely new kind of traveller to the country.
Read more: Travel + Leisure
That’s all for this week, thanks for reading.
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