VientianeThe First NationalTimes English Language Newspaper WEDNESDAY JULY 11, 2012 ISSUE 159 www.vientianetimes.la 4500 kip Laos calls in army PM calls on Saravan to boost for UXO clearance commercial production Khonesavanh Latsaphao with many teams they can still only clear 5,000 hectares each Times Reporters grown cash crops could be In the first three quarters, Regarding education, The Lao National Regulatory year. sold after learning that many the province’s gross domestic the governor informed the Authority (NRA) is seeking Almost 30,000 hectares of Prime Minister Thongsing farmers, including banana product reached more than premier that all school-aged the assistance of the Lao UXO-contaminated land have Thammavong on Monday growers, had stopped planting 2,568 billion kip (94.08 percent children in four of the eight People’s Army to join forces been cleared since 1996. advised authorities and the crop because there was no of the yearly plan). districts have completed with the Lao National UXO Mr Phoukhieo said the officials in Saravan province market. The authorities had been primary school. Officials are Programme (UXO Lao) Army teams have to be further to make full use of untapped Mr Thongsing advised able to collect revenue in now working to ensure that for unexploded ordnance trained by the NRA and potential to boost agricultural the province to do more excess of the year’s plan and, all children in the other four clearance this year. UXO Lao before they will be “We will work with the allowed to clear land. production in the southern to ensure that more young as of June 28, had collected districts complete primary Army’s UXO clearance teams “In one year Laos can province. people enrolled in schools, more than 47.5 billion kip, the school by 2015. because we want to clear clear about 5,000 hectares, He suggested the provincial especially girls. He said many governor said. Mr Khamboun assured the more of our land each year,” but with the assistance of the authorities carry out surveys to children in remote areas were Per capita income exceeded premier that all cluster villages NRA Director Mr Phoukhieo army’s clearance teams we identify areas where certain not attending school or had 6.8 million kip (US$856), now have a dispensary with Chanthasomboun told will be able to do much more. crops grow well, and encourage not completed compulsory but is lower than the national medical staff stationed there to Vientiane Times on Tuesday. However, we cannot say just local farmers to grow these primary education. average of just over US$1,000. offer services to local people. By 2020 the government how much more as we have crops on a commercial basis. Saravan provincial So far, 124 state-invested He noted that the number of aims to have cleared UXO insufficient funding from the The premier made the Governor Mr Khamboun projects worth more than people visiting the dispensaries from 200,000 hectares of government to fully carry out suggestion during a two-day Douangpanya briefed the 26.8 billion kip have been was increasing. land, removing devices from the task,” he said. premier on socio-economic implemented, out of 156 20,000 hectares each year. The NRA must look visit to the province that ended During the visit to the UXO Lao employs teams for international donors to yesterday. development in the province projects worth more than 34.6 southern region, Mr Thongsing of 22 people to clear one supplement the government He asked officials to over the first nine months of billion kip outlined in the plan and his delegation also toured hectare each month, but even CONTINUED PAGE 3 identify markets where locally this fiscal year. for the year. the Xekong Coal Mine No. 1. European tourism to Laos in decline Khonesavanh Latsaphao tourist arrivals by 2015. That regions. number would be expected “Half of the tourists in The number of Europeans to generate about US$500 Laos are from Thailand. They visiting Laos is falling as million in revenue. like to come here because the financial crisis in the Mr Chaleune also said Lao and Thai people speak region continues, according that last year more than 2.7 similar languages so they can to the Deputy Minister of million tourists overall visited understand each other without Information, Culture and Laos, generating revenue of the need for interpreters,” Mr Tourism. almost US$400 million. Next Saly pointed out. Speaking to journalists year, Laos will host the Asean According to the ministry, in Vientiane on Tuesday, Mr Tourism Forum in Vientiane American people of Lao origin Chaleune Warinthrasak said from January 17-24. are returning in increasing that whilst this was true, “the Director General of the numbers to tour the country. total number of tourists in Laos ministry’s Tourism Marketing “We have plans to attract is not falling because we are Department, Mr Saly more tourists from Europe and now promoting tourism within Phimphinith, said people from the USA because the income Asean and the region, for the the Republic of Korea consider derived from these tourists is culture and natural scenic Laos a popular tourist destination quite high,” he added. beauty we offer.” because they like to play golf Visitors from Europe and This year the country is Mr Chaleune Warinthrasak (second left), Vice President of the Lao Journalists’ Association Mr here as it’s not expensive. the USA spend about US$72 running the Visit Laos Year Somsanouk Mixay (third left) and other tourism officials attend the meeting. Golf tours from Korea per day while people from campaign to attract more are arriving in Laos on Lao neighbouring countries spend tourists. and natural attractions. country’s cultural heritage and and Singapore with significant Airlines flights three times per US$20-US$30 a day. “Actually, The growth of tourism The revenue generated provide a better life for nearby numbers also from Japan and week. Laos hopes that many more benefits local people and will from tour groups will help rural communities. the Republic of Korea. Currently, about 70 percent people from Europe and the help those living in rural areas the authorities to achieve Most visitors to Laos at The Ministry of of all visitors come from USA will come here because by providing much needed their vision of sustainable the moment are coming from Information, Culture and neighbouring countries, with they contribute more,” Mr Saly income to protect historic sites tourism, which will protect the Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Tourism is targeting 3.5 million only 30 percent from other said. ÍçÖéÅèÈ Öà× ÍçÖéÀàÌÁíÌųà LAO FREIGHT FORWARDER CO., LTD Offers transport, forwarding and packing of all kinds of outgoing and incoming goods by overland, river, air and sea. Always at your service for reliable, smooth and speedy delivery Please contact us at: Authorized Cargo Agent for: Km 3 Thadeua Road, Inside TG Thai Airways International ASEAN agrees on rules for Malaysia Vientiane, Lao PDR. P.O. Box 3145 Laos marks World (opposite French School ) South China Sea conduct PAGE 16 Tel: 313321, 313351, 314524, 315165, 313392 Fax: ( 856-21 ) 314831 Population Day Email: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], laoffexp@ PAGE 6 laotel.com, [email protected], www.laopdr.com, www.laofreight.com PAGE 3 2 Wednesday July 11, 2012 Vientiane Times Home news Clean water supply comes to Xebangfay Mr Sangkhan Times Reporters of more than 15 billion kip through the prevention of Choumkhamphanh (US$2 million) to build the waterborne diseases. (left) makes an Some 7,525 people in water treatment plant in The new water treatment opening speech at Khammuan and Savannakhet Xebangfay district. plant is a vital boost to the training course in Vientiane last provinces are set to have clean The Lao government development in the area and week. water, and the health and meanwhile has contributed will also help encourage more sanitation benefits that will more than 7 billion kip (US$1 investment by the private flow from that. million) to build asphalt roads sector, largely in guesthouses, A treatment plant being in Nongbone village and a road restaurants and hotels. built in the area is now 90 leading to the project site. The Phoutpaseuth percent complete and will Xebangfay residents Construction Company is the officially open in October this currently use wells as a water contractor responsible for year, according to project head source, but often there is not building the water treatment Mr Phouthone Souliyong. enough water in the dry season plant, a holding reservoir and The plant will have the and occasionally the wells the associated pipeline network capacity to produce 900 become contaminated. which is about 25 kilometres in cubic metres of water per A clean water supply and length. Radio crews turn up volume on day, supplying people in five proper sanitation are essential Between 1991 and 2011, nearby villages. Four of them for development and contribute KOICA provided more than human trafficking message are in Xebangfay district in significantly to improving 390 billion kip (US$49 million) Khammuan province and villagers’ living standards. to Laos for 25 development Times Reporters more interesting and attention rebroadcast for many people in one is in Xayboury district Mr Phouthone said projects. grabbing scripts for their our target audiences.” in neighbouring Savannakhet residents will be able to access This year, KOICA plans Media personnel from both the public awareness campaigns, The instructors advised the province. clean drinking water directly to provide US$9 million for capital and the provinces have in order to get their message radio producers about forming The Korean International at their doors, and that this seven projects in the areas of undergone a training course across more effectively.