MonDAY march 30, 2015

Vientiane Times ISSUE 75

The First National English Language Newspaper
60th
22/3/1955
22/3/2015

The 60th Anniversary of the

Founding of the Lao Peoples
Revolutionary Party

4500 kip

Businesses looking to hire

large foreign workforce
Souksakhone Vaenkeo
Businesses and project operators
have asked for permission to
hire a large number of foreign
workers to fill job vacancies,
a senior government official
has said.
From September 2014 to
March 2015, the government
has approved requests by
various projects and businesses
to hire 40,690 foreign workers
of various nationalities,
according to the Ministry of
Labour and Social Welfare.
This figure represents a
significant increase compared
to last year when permission
was granted for only 24,609
foreign workers to be hired
over the whole year.
Deputy Director General of
the ministrys Skill Development
and Employment Department,
Ms Keo Chanthavixay, said
the total workforce, compared
to 10 percent as permitted
under the old law.
In addition, foreign
professionals may now make
up 25 percent of white-collar
employees, up from 20 percent
previously.
Ms Keo said the ultimate
number of foreign hires could
be considerably more than the
number approved so far as the
door remains open for further
requests.
Consideration and
approval of further requests
will be undertaken accordingly
and appropriately, she said.
Officials noted that the
surge in demand for foreign
workers reflects the fact that
the Lao economy is expanding
and the local workforce does
not meet the growing demands Paving of a concrete road that will pass through the new provincial capital, Viengkham district, on the way to Pakkhayoung bridge is
of the job market. nearing completion.
Although a significant

Mixed success with new roads

more and more businesses have
been asking for foreign workers
following an amendment to the
Labour Law, which allows
employers to take on a larger
number of foreign hires.
Businesses actually
requested an even larger
number, but the ministry needs
to give the matter appropriate
consideration before giving
authorisation, Ms Keo told
the Vientiane Times recently,
referring to authorisation
allowed under the law.
The National Assembly
passed the amended Labour
Law in December 2013, giving
employers the right to hire
more foreign nationals.
Under the amended law,
a workplace or enterprise
can hire workers engaged in
physical labour up to a number
that constitutes 15 percent of
number of Lao workers will
enter the job market from
2016-2020, this is estimated to
be far from sufficient.
A s man y as 7 1 6 , 0 0 0
additional Lao workers will enter
the job market from 2015-2020,
bringing the total to 4.11 million,
according to the ministrys five-
year plan which was presented
recently at a national meeting of
the ministry.
At least 31,130 workers
will be needed by 2015 to work
in nine sectors, according to
information reported previously
by the Lao National Chamber of
Commerce and Industry.
The garment sector will
require the largest number of
workers at an estimated 9,900,
followed by construction with
5,500, while the furniture
production sector requires
about 5,000 people.
in Vientiane provincial capital
Times Reporters
Two of six main roads that will
pass through the new capital of
Vientiane province are now more
than 90 percent complete and are
already being used by motorists.
An official from the secretariat
in charge of urban development
in the province, Mr Thavone
Phengsangsay, said on Friday
that road construction was part
of infrastructure development
required for the new provincial
capital, Viengkham district.
The road construction
project in Vientiane province
involves six main roads over
100km in length. But only two
of these roads that pass through
our new capital are on schedule
with 90 percent of the concrete
surface laid and traffic islands in
place, he said.
Work on four other main
roads has not progressed as
planned and wont be finished
this year. The contractors dont
have enough funds to do the
work and pay for everything in
advance before the government
reimburses them within 10
years after completion.
Wo r k o n t w o o f t h e
roads has been temporarily
suspended; from Phonhong
village in Phonhong district to
Phonmi village in Viengkham
district, and from Pakkhayoung
village to Naxang village to
connect with Road No 10, he
added.
The authorities had tried to
push the contractors to continue
with the work to keep things
moving forward, but they didnt
have enough financing at present.
On average, the six roads
are now 30 percent complete
after we signed a contract to
begin the project in 2011 with
completion set for the end of
this year. Our target is for all
the infrastructure projects for
the new capital to be basically
complete by 2020, Mr Thavone
said.
The target date for full
completion is 2030, when all
facilities and buildings will
be in place along with other
infrastructure.
Vientiane province has 10
districts in all, namely the new
capital Viengkham, Keo-oudom,
Phonhong, Thoulakhom, Maed,
Meuangfeuang, Xanakham,
Hinheup, Vangvieng and Kasy.

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[Page 3] [Page 6] [Page 33]
2 Home news Monday March 30, 2015
KOICA sends more volunteers to Laos Schoolchildren become leaders
Times Reporters Champassak province.
All new volunteers will
The Korea International attend a local adjustment training
Cooperation Agency (KOICA) programme in Vientiane for two
has dispatched another six months, consisting of on the job
volunteers to Laos to take part training and home-stays with
in the countrys socio-economic local people. This programme
development, in response to focuses on understanding the
requests from Laos and the socio-economic, cultural and
political situation in Laos
effectiveness of the Korea
Overseas Volunteer (KOV) through intensive Lao language
programme. training and the provision of
After arriving in Vientiane essential information. This will
on March 24, the volunteers help them to easily adapt to
will fulfill their humanitarian their new environment during
mission for two years though their mission.
the KOV programme. This is The KOV programme is
the 98th KOV group since Laos a KOICA programme that
and the Republic of Korea agreed provides technical assistance
to cooperate on this programme through dispatching Korean
in 2000. volunteers to 44 partner
The six volunteers will countries all over the world to
contribute their skills and share expertise, knowledge and
experiences in the fields of experience to make practical
nursing, tourism, health care, contributions to socio-economic
computer education and development.
Korean language education as This programme provides
lecturers, trainers and teachers not only human resources but
also fulfills significant needs
at the Childrens Hospital and
of the host organisation by
Xaysettha Secondary School in
Vientiane, water supply state conducting the need assessment
enterprise in Borikhamxay of volunteers, according to the
province, Vangvieng Secondary KOICA Laos office.
School in Vientiane province, Since 2000, the Korean
National University of Laos government has dispatched
and Champassak Technical around 360 volunteers to Laos
Vo c a t i o n a l C o l l e g e i n through KOICA to work in
New Korean volunteers are welcomed on their arrival at Wattay International Airport.
Lao Press in Foreign Languages
Vientiane Times
Established 1994, Volume 21
Tel: (856-21) 336042, fax: (856-21) 336041
editorvtimes@gmail.com
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significant fields such as
education, health care and rural
development. Currently, there
are many kinds of volunteers
such as general volunteer,
senior volunteer, international
cooperation doctor and so on.
At present, 47 volunteers are
actively working in Laos.
With their skills and mission,
KOICA believes that these six
new volunteers as well as the
existing volunteers are playing
important roles as catalysts,
contributing to Koreas grant aid
programme and assistance for
socio-economic development,
enhancing mutual understanding
between the two countries,
KOICA reported.
So far, KOICA has provided
about US$86 million (more
than 696 billion kip) and has
supported more than 25 projects
in Laos.
Any Lao government
organisation that requires the
assistance of a Korean volunteer
can send a requisition form for
dispatch to the KOICA Laos
Office or Ministry of Planning
and Investment. After further
evaluation of the request
considered for the organisation,
the KOV manager will assess
whether the organisation is
suitable for selection.
Phayanouvong
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Vientiane Times
in hygiene and sanitation
Times Reporters
Thirty children from each school
in Pha-oudom district, Bokeo
province, last week took part in
activities to promote hygiene and
sanitation.
According to Plan
International Laos, the school
activities took place recently to
educate and influence childrens
parents and peers to adopt good
hygiene and sanitation habits.
Going to the bush instead
of the toilet is very shameful and
unclean I think, said Chanhsone,
a 10-year-old pupil. Chanhsone
said that when her parents saw
that she had volunteered to join
the campaign they were very
proud of her.
The event aimed to strengthen Schoolchildren organise activities promoting hygiene and sanitation
schoolchildrens capacity to at their school in Pha-oudom district, Bokeo province.
collectively encourage their
parents and relatives to change event in the morning. There were I am so happy to be part of the
unhealthy behaviour, because four booths in which children tried World Water Day celebration,
unlike when they try to change to influence villagers to stop open said Tadam, a 12-year-old student,
defecation, keep water and food at the World Water Day event in
adults individually, the impact
is greater when they do it safe, keep the environment clean, Pha-oudom.
collectively. and practise personal hygiene. Childrens confidence, skills
We try to reverse the way The children developed and knowledge to lead these
we work with children and simple tools they can use at home campaigns were improved
communities. In the past, it to monitor the hygiene behaviour through a series of discussions
was adults who tried to change of themselves and their family. held at schools by Plan
children. Now it is children In school health promotion club International and district Health
educating adults. We have been meetings they will discuss the and Education Officers.
able to help schoolchildren changes they observe through Plan also supported similar
become confident enough to drive these tools. World Water Day activities in
the change in their schools and In Pha-oudom district, some Paktha and Meung districts in
their communities, provincial of these school communicators Bokeo province and in Houn
Water, Hygiene and Sanitation also led the World Water Day district, Oudomxay province.
Programme Manager of Plan activities supported by Plan Plan International in Laos
International Laos, Ms Nali International Laos and the district helps communities to acquire
Senthavong, said. Health Office. improved sanitation, community
During the hygiene and It is fun to share knowledge water systems, toilets, water tanks,
sanitation campaign, children as and experience with my friends water taps, hand-washing stations,
communicators ran a half-day and the grown-ups around me. and drinking water stations.
Plans announced for World
Autism Awareness Day
Phetphoxay Sengpaseuth
The Association for Autism in
Vientiane (AFA) held a joint press
conference on Friday to announce
the programme for World Autism
Awareness Day on April 2, an
annual global event.
Speaking at the press
conference, acting chairman
of the Association for Autism
Ms Phokham Douangdara said
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
and autism are both general terms
for a group of complex disorders
in brain development. These
disorders are characterised, in
varying degrees, by difficulties
in social interaction, verbal and
nonverbal communication and A teacher gives lessons to autistic children at the Association for
repetitive behaviour. Autism in Vientiane.
In Laos we still have
problems looking after autistic autistic children. World Autism as slow developers or, in more
children as we have no specialised Awareness Day will be celebrated severe cases, as mentally retarded.
medical personnel who are able over four days in Vientiane, from Treatment often starts with putting
to recognise and diagnose the April 2-5 under this years slogan a frog on the tongue of a small
condition. There are no experts Together for Brighter Futures. child. It is believed that this will
in special needs education who World Autism Awareness encourage speech development.
are trained to deal with the Day is being highlighted at the Later shamans may add some
disorder and help these persons Joma Bakery caf, with a photo magic chants and spells. The
live a joyous and meaningful exhibition at the Mercure hotel children are stigmatised and
life and provide support for their and Walking for Health at sometimes the parents as well.
families so that they can be fully Patouxay. The first time the day According to widespread belief,
integrated. There are more than was officially marked in Laos a lack of love for their children
17,000 children with autism in was in 2011. and wrong educational concepts
Laos at the present time and at Ms Misouda added The may have lead to abnormalities
the Association for Autism in photo exhibition at the Mercure in the development of their child,
Vientiane we are only able to care hotel is provided by artists from she said.
for 100 of them. Laos, Thailand and Vietnam. The World Autism Awareness Day
Secretary General of the AFA photos are available for sale and aims to increase public awareness
Ms Misouda Heuangsoukhoun the income generated will be used about people, especially children,
said The AFA is a member of for an education fund for autistic with autism. The day often
the Asean autism network and children. features educational events for
cooperates within a wide range The events over the four days teachers, healthcare workers and
of international organisations aim to disseminate knowledge parents, as well as exhibitions
to exchange experiences, about and raise awareness of showcasing work created by
train Lao experts and secure autism. In Lao society people children with autism, according
the funding needed to support with autism are usually regarded to the AFA.
Vientiane Times
Scholarship winners
prepare to head to Japan
Times Reporters
Seventeen students who received
scholarships from Japans
Ministry of Education, Culture,
Sports, Science and Technology
(MEXT) will travel to Japan next
month to begin their studies.
The Embassy of Japan held
a send-off reception for the
departing students in Vientiane
last week. The reception was
attended by President of the Lao-
Japan Friendship Association,
Mr Ponmek Dalaloy, and Deputy
Minister of Education and Sports,
Ms Sengdeuane Lachanthaboun.
The students were tested
before passing the selection
process for the scholarships,
with the programme seeking
Scholarship recipients and officials pose for a photo at the send-off party in Vientiane.
Vientiane spreads road safety
information about the students
academic track record.
During the past 20 years,
the Japanese government has
awarded various scholarships to
more than 950 Lao students to
study in the country.
Of the 17 students embarking
on MEXT scholarship
programmes this year, two
are beginning doctorate
programmes, five are taking
masters degrees, one is studying
for an undergraduate degree,
four will attend technical college
and five will attend specialised
training colleges.
Japanese Charge dAffaires
to Laos Mr Ryotaro Suzuki
said 450 students applied to
take tests for the scholarship
programme this year, which was
more than last year. Mr Suzuki
said the students must prepare
themselves for a new language,
culture, and climate in Japan.
I hope these students will
focus on their studies and bring Antonino Faibene
back a wealth of knowledge and
experiences to Laos, he added.
Ms Viengsavanh Sayakone,
who received a scholarship to
do a masters degree, said that
this time she was able to pass
the test and won a scholarship,
and would now be spending
three years studying economic
development.
She said she would learn as
much as she could to develop
the necessary skills to bolster
economic growth in Laos.
OXFAM, Lao Womens Union
promote gender equality
Ms Sirikit Boupha
(left) and Mr
shake hands
after signing a
Memorandum of
Understanding.
Times Reporters
OXFAM Novib has extended
support to the Lao Womens
Union to begin a project
promoting womens involvement
in environmental protection as
well as gender equality in mining
and hydropower.
Officially titled
Strengthening Womens
Capacity Building in
Environmental Protection and
Gender Equality in the Mining
and Hydropower Section, the
project will be implemented
in target districts of various
provinces.
At an estimated cost of more
than US$223,000, it is expected
the project will be launched
this month following the MoU
signing ceremony on Thursday.
The timeframe for the project
is three years, from March
Monday March 30, 2015
Vi e n t i a n e b y E x e c u t i v e
Committee Member of the Lao
Womens Union and Director
General of the Lao Womens
Development Department, Ms
Sirikit Boupha, and Associate
Country Director of OXFAM,
Mr Antonino Faibene.
The project aims for Lao
women to play a greater role in
planning and decision making in
their local communities, promote
gender equality and greater
opportunities for women as
well as contribute to poverty
reduction initiatives.
Initially it will work in
each of the target districts and
provinces to collect relevant
information to provide a baseline
for the project.
Local authorities will prepare
the budget plans to manage
the project and also support,
monitor, and assess overall
Home news 3
supporters on an ongoing basis.
The various activities of
the project will also strengthen
the Lao Womens Union by
organising group exchange
sessions with other womens
groups throughout Asean.
It will also work to promote
and upgrade womens skills in
target communities by building
community savings funds.
It also aims to build womens
understanding of ways to
improve their livelihoods and
ways to deal with the effects of
mining and hydropower projects.
In addition, the project will
assess gender equality in the
mining and hydropower sector
and ascertain whether women
are underrepresented when it
comes to employment in the
sector.
Project facilitators plan
to work in collaboration with

message ahead of Pi Mai Lao 2015 to February 2018. The

Lao Womens Development
Department will oversee the
project.
The MoU was signed in
project management in the target
districts.
After that they should report
on progress to the Ministry
of Foreign Affairs and project
other cooperation partners and
share experiences with officials
and experts working in the field
of womens empowerment and
gender equality.

Weather forecast
Officials and
students
ride bicycles
along Fa
Ngum Road
in Vientiane
to spread the
road safety
message.

Phomphong Laoin by Handicap International, through Vientiane announcing

Vientiane authorities are
reminding road users about the
importance of road safety in a
bid to reduce the rising toll of
accidents ahead of the Lao New
Year (Pi Mai Lao) holiday in two
weeks time.
The Ministry of Public
Works and Transport and
various private companies have
teamed up to hold events to
mark the third Global UN Road
Safety Week 2015, supported
by Handicap International and
the World Health Organisation.
The theme for this years
Road Safety Week is Children
and Road Safety. Events
took place in support of the
programme on Saturday and
Sunday near Chao Anouvong
Park alongside the Mekong
River in Xieng Nheun village,
Chanthabouly district.
Booths publicising road
safety awareness were set up
Vientiane Rescue, Vientiane
Traffic Police, and the Lao Red
Cross, among others.
Officials manning the
booths handed out information
on the traffic regulations and the
dangers of careless driving. The
activities will lay the foundation
for the work of traffic police
during the Lao New Year
festival.
There were also quizzes
on the traffic rules, and shirts,
jackets and helmets were given
away as prizes.
The event was attended by
Deputy Minister of Public Works
and Transport, Mr Lattanamany
Khounnivong, WHO
representative Dr Gao Jun, Chief
of the Vientiane Traffic Police
Department Lieutenant Colonel
Youttaphong Souvannasing,
other officials, and students from
schools in Vientiane.
The authorities, students and
other participants rode bicycles
road safety messages.
According to a traffic police
report, last year there were 1,054
fatalities from road accidents
in Laos, of which 264, or 25
percent, were elderly people and
children.
The Vientiane Traffic
Police Department is currently
monitoring driver behaviour
around offices, schools,
residential areas and traffic lights.
Traffic police have been
spreading the road safety message
near schools and offices in the
most populated neighbourhoods.
During the Lao New Year
holiday, police will check
motorists speed and their level
of sobriety.
Every morning, police are on
the streets clearing traffic jams
on the capitals narrow roads
and making announcements
about the traffic regulations in
preparation for the Lao New
Year revelry.
4 Home news Monday March 30, 2015
Authorities, community
chip in for new bridge
The new Khua Sa Mak Khee Bridge opens in Phonsoung village, Phonhong district, Vientiane province.
Phomphong Laoin
Authorities and villagers have
joined together to mobilise
funding for construction of
a replacement bridge in
Phonsoung village, Phonhong
district, Vientiane province,
which opened last week.
The opening ceremony
for the Khua Sa Mak Khi
Bridge (meaning solidarity
and friendship) took place last
Thursday and was attended by
Phonhong district Governor Ms
Inkham Phandala, officials and
villagers.
Chief of Phonsoung village
Mr Ornta Luemany reported that
construction of the new bridge
began at the start of January and
was completed on March 6.
The authorities mobilised
the construction cost of 142
million kip from Phonsoung
villagers, who contributed
40 million kip, while 57
million kip came from nearby
villages. Local businesses and
residents contributed goods
and equipment in kind valued
at 69 million kip for both
bridge construction and the
opening ceremony.
The concrete bridge is 12
metres long and seven metres
wide. Mr Ornta said The old
wooden bridge was rickety.
Every year villagers had to fix it
because it was always breaking
after bad weather or overuse so
people could not visit each other
as they needed to.
Villagers and shops
contributed money and goods
towards the new bridge. It
is important so that the 223
families who live here can get
to where they need to be to do
their jobs, he added.
During the opening
ceremony, Ms Inkham praised
the villagers efforts and
community spirit in raising
funds for construction of the
bridge to augment the money
provided by the government.
Local people were setting
a good example by developing
their village which was timely
for the celebration of the 60th
anniversary of the Lao Peoples
Revolutionary Party, she added.
Vientiane Times
News in Brief
Two motorbike riders killed in Vientiane
A man was killed in Thanakham village, Sangthong district, Vientiane, after his motorbike
collided with a tractor recently.
Sangthong traffic police said the man, named as Mr San, 27, of Nahoy village, Sangthong
district, rode his motorbike at high speed and crashed into a tractor driven by Mr Nota, 19, of
Nakham village, Sangthong district.
On the same day two motorbikes were involved in a fatal collision on Road 13 South in Naxone
village, Pakngum district, Vientiane. Mr Somesy, 22, of Sisomseun village, Sikhottabong district,
was killed instantly. Police are continuing their investigations into the incident.
Savannakhet tourism officials learn English
The authorities in Savannakhet province recently held a meeting on the use of English by tourism
officials in the Information, Culture and Tourism Department.
The meeting was led by the Deputy Head of the department, Mr Siha Phannavong, and other
officials. Mr Siha said that in preparation for the Asean Economic Community, officials would
need to learn some English because the language would be needed during the course of their work.
During the meeting officials were taught some basic words related to services and tourism, so
they could communicate with foreigners.
Luang Namtha to build public park
Sing district in Luang Namtha province has agreed to the building of a garden for recreational use.
The garden will be 40 metres wide and 80 metres long, and will be located in Chienglae village.
The construction cost of about 2 billion kip will be paid for by the district. The garden is expected
to be complete in March 2016 and will be a place where people can come for relaxation.
A Memorandum of Understanding on the project was signed at the Sing district office by district
Governor Mr Khamphay Sorchantha and the Director of Oudomxab Construction Company.
Xayaboury producer groups awarded One District, One Product logos
Xayaboury district, Xayaboury province, recently announced that One District, One Product
(ODOP) logos will be awarded to five producer groups in four villages of the district.
The groups produce handicrafts, Lao whisky, fried bananas and other food products.
The district is placing a focus on trade, aiming to promote agricultural and handicraft
products. It hopes to increase the number of ODOP-certified products and bring in more
income for villagers. There are currently 25 producer groups and five products that carry
the ODOP logo in Xayaboury district.
Vientiane Times
Luang Prabang provincial Governor Dr Khampheng Xaysompheng (third right) last week hands
over 50 million kip in assistance for the people of Nanoy and Huaymon villages in Viengkham
district, Luang Prabang province last week after their houses were damaged in a hailstorm.
Children from the Association for Autism perform during a press conference on Friday in Vientiane
to highlight World Autism Awareness Day on April 2. --Photo Phetphoxay
Monday March 30, 2015 Photo news 5
President Choummaly Sayasones wife, Dr Keosaichay Sayasone (fifth right), visits a construction
project at the That Luang Marsh Specific Economic Zone in Vientiane on Friday. On the same day,
Dr Keosaichay visited a silk shop and the Kaysone Phomvihane museum, and made a donation
towards the cost of repairs at Salakham village secondary school in Hadxaifong district, Vientiane,
after it was damaged by strong winds last month.
Vientiane headquarters police show they are also grime fighters as they sweep up the roadside
outside their offices recently to mark the 60th anniversary of the Lao Peoples Revolutionary
Party. --Photo Phetphoxay
6 Monday March 30, 2015
Region
Forced landing for
Chengdu-bound flight
A photo shows the inside of Orient Thai flight OX682 which made a forced landing in Kunming,
Southwest Chinas Yunnan province, on its way from Phuket Island to Chengdu.
CHINA (China Daily) Orient
Thai airlines flight OX682 was
forced to land in an airport in
Kunming, Yunnan province
on its way from Phuket Island
to Chengdu, Sichuan province
at 12:03 am on Saturday. The
reason is unclear, Western
China Metropolis Daily
reported on Saturday.
The plane was scheduled
to take off on 2:40 pm from
Kunming to Chengdu on
Saturday but was delayed.
According to a staff member
from the airport, the flight was
supposed to fly from Phuket
Island directly to Chengdu
and the reason why it land in
Kunming is still not clear.
According to the
newspaper, a passenger on the
plane said the forced landing is
because one of the engines was
broken. Many passengers on
the plane suffered symptoms
Myanmar ethnic joint
group calls for ceasefire
amid peace talks
YANGON (Xinhua) -- A
Myanmar ethnic joint group
has called for an immediate
ceasefire as armed clashes
continued in the north of the
country amid peace talks, the
local Democracy Today daily
reported on Sunday.
The United Nationalities
Federal Council (UNFC)
issued a four- point statement,
expressing regret that not only
the ground fighting but also
air strikes intensified amid
coordination to reduce the
military conflict.
These incidents have
caused fruitless talks, further
delaying the step of achieving
peace in Myanmar, said the
UNFC.
UNFC General Secretary
Khu Ura demanded a ceasefire
between the government
such as ear congestion, nose
Policeman arrested in killing
bleeding or fainting.
Many passengers transferred
to another flight to continue the
trip to Chengdu while doctors
advised some to avoid more
of Thai monk monk, cop says
flying based on their medical
THAILAND (The Nation)
conditions.
Pol Sr Sgt-Major Charnchai
The airline has sent plane
Soisangwan, apprehended
to carry on the incomplete
last week after fleeing to
journey to Chengdu.
Laos, has alleged Ek Udon
Compensation has not been
Hospital chairman Banjerd
discussed.
Chatphaithoon paid him
Bt300,000 to arrange the
murder of revered Udon Thani
monk Phra Bundit Supanditto
on March 1.
Charnchai also claimed he
didnt know the hospital boss
until former Udon Thani police
chief Maj-General Boonlue
Korbangyang assigned him
to follow a female |doctor
in relation to her alleged
|inappropriate contact with
Phra Bundit, who was the
abbot of Wat Ban Pa Seesiad.
He said he followed the
doctor for about a month and
didnt see anything suspicious.
He claimed Banjerd gave
him negative information
about the monk and hired him
to arrange to have Phra Bundit
shot dead.
Charnchai said he arranged
the murder for the money. But
he believed his former chief
Boonlue had no knowledge
of the plot and he didnt tell
Boonlue about Banjerd hiring
him.
Charnchai said he initially
paid janitor Panja Chareesaen
Bt50,000 to buy a gun and
kill the monk then paid him
another Bt110,000 following
the murder.
He also paid Bt55,000 to
Bunnag Hongsakham, a driver
with an |irrigation office, to
serve as a lookout for the
murder and advised him on an
escape route.
Charnchai spoke at a press
conference yesterday at the
Royal Thai Police (RTP)
headquarters in Bangkok, in
which only he and Bunnag, the
driver, were present.
forces and the Kokang ethnic
army at once.
The 7th round of peace talks
between the governments
Union Peace-Making Work
Committee (UPWC) and
the Nationwide Ceasefire
Coordination Team (NCCT)
of ethnic armed groups have
been underway in Yangon
since March 17. The talks will
resume on Monday to finalize
a draft nationwide ceasefire
accord.
Heavy fighting continued
between the government
forces and the Kokang ethnic
army almost on a daily basis
and fighting recurred in the
northern Kachin state last
weekend with governments
jet fighters striking the Kachin
Independence Army in the
Mansi town.
National police chief General
Somyos Poompanmuang
affirmed that everyone involved
in the murder would be
punished, without exception.
Hospital chairman Banjerd
has maintained his innocence
and refused to take part in
Sunday conference, saying
he would only testify in
court. Somyos said that was
Banjerds right and the case
would be forwarded to the
Crime Suppression Division
to ensure transparency.
Somyos said, based on the
suspects testimony, the case may
have stemmed from jealousy
but it had been established on
solid evidence, some of which
couldnt be revealed to the press
at the moment.
He said it was unlikely
that Boonlue, who recently
commanded the special
training division at the Border
Patrol Police Bureau, was
involved in the murder plot.
Boonlue told him that
Banjerd had asked for help
to arrange a subordinate to
follow the doctor, he said.
Subsequently, Boonlue told
Charnchai to observe her,
and after Banjerd kept asking
Boonlue for updates, he told him
to talk with Charnchai directly.
Somyos said last weeks
transfers of Boonlue and
Udon Thani police chief Maj-
General Chaiyat Saithin to
the RTPs operations centre
was to ensure transparency in
the matter so the public had
confidence in the process.
After the press conference,
it was reported that Somyos
signed an order reinstating
Boonlue and Chaiyat to their
previous positions.
And the three suspects
were taken back to Udon
Thani to conduct a crime re-
enactment.
Vientiane Times
In brief from Asia
News Network
Two graft-involved
Chinese fugitives
taken back from
Laos
BEIJING (China Daily)
- A former official and a
businessman, suspected of
bribery, were taken back
to China on Saturday after
about three months of exile
in Laos, the Ministry of
Public Security announced.
Pang Shunxi, a former
tax official of Tianjin
municipality, was suspected
of accepting bribes while
An Huimin, former general
manager of a trade company
in Tianjin, was suspected
of bribing, said a ministry
statement.
They fled to Laos after
prosecutors started
investigating them in
December last year.
The two turned themselves
in recently to the Chinese
embassy in Laos, the
statement said.
The ministry urged all
fugitives abroad to follow
suit and seek leniency
through voluntary surrender.
On Thursday, China
announced that it will launch
an operation code named
Skynet in April, pooling
the resources from several
government and Party
departments to hunt corrupt
officials who fled abroad.
Seven Sabah
islands to come
under restricted
zones
MALAYSIA (The Start)
At least seven islands in
Sabah would be converted
into restricted areas to
further strengthen cross-
border security.
Sabah Federal Secretary
Borhan Dollah on Friday
visited the islands - Bohey
Dulang, Terumbu Sibangkat,
Pulau Selakan, Mantabuan,
Pom-Pom, Sibuan dan
Maiga - off Semporna to get
first hand briefing on various
security issues at the islands.
He was accompanied
and briefed by Eastern
Sabah Security Command
(ESSCOM) commander
Abdul Rashid Harun.
Rashid said security forces
have long suspected that the
islands were being used as
a staging point to carry out
kidnapping, smuggling and
bring in illegal immigrants.
This was the reason to place
the islands under restricted
areas, he said.
There are 360 islands under
Eastern Sabah Security Zone
(ESSZONE) of which 83
are in Semporna. ESSZONE
covers 10 districts - Kudat,
Kota Marudu, Pitas, Beluran,
Kinabatangan, Sandakan,
Lahad Datu, Kunak, Tawau.
Chief Minister Musa Aman,
who is state security council
chairman, had agreed that
certain islands be gazetted as
restricted areas.
Vientiane Times
Former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger (centre) is accompanied by Ho Ching (right) wife of
Singapores Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong (second left) as he pays his respects to the late Lee Kuan
Yew, Saturday. --Photo AP
Singapore bids farewell to Lee
Kuan Yew in elaborate funeral
SINGAPORE (AP) --
Singaporeans are lining a
15 kilometre route through
the city-state to witness an
elaborate funeral procession
for longtime leader Lee Kuan
Yew.
During a week of national
mourning that began Monday
after Lees death at age 91,
DPRK denounces new UN
resolution on its human rights
PYONGYANG (Xinhua) -- The
Democratic Peoples Republic
of Korea (DPRK) on Saturday
slammed a new UN resolution
on its human rights record,
calling it a farce staged at
the UN human rights arena as
a product of the US hostile
policy toward Pyongyang.
The resolution brought
to light the ulterior motives
of the US and other hostile
forces to hurt the dignity of the
DPRK and tarnish its image
by making much fuss about
its groundless human rights
issue, said a statement issued
Japan agrees with EU, others
to align auto safety measures
JAPAN-- The European Union
and four other countries have
broadly agreed to standardise
their safety criteria for
automobiles as early as 2016,
according to sources.
They plan to standardise
40 points for safety checks,
including the gripping power
of tires, the strength of seat
belts and methods for collision
experiments. This would shorten
safety screening procedures
in countries to which cars are
exported to a few months or
as little as one month. It would
probably also allow cheaper
Japanese cars through mass
production.
Japan, the European Union,
Russia, Ukraine, Australia
and South Africa broadly
agreed to the standardization
during talks at the United
some 450,000 people queued
for hours for a glimpse of Lees
coffin at Parliament House. A
million people visited tribute
sites at community centres
across the island.
People began arriving
along the cortege route
not long after dawn for the
procession which begins early
by an unnamed spokesman for
the countrys foreign ministry.
The statement came one
day after the UN Human
Rights Council passed a new
resolution condemning the
DPRK for its serious violations
of human rights.
But Pyongyang rejected
the resolution and reiterated
that the document was adopted
mainly based on testimonies
made by defectors from the
north, which are no more than
fabrications.
Washington should not
poke its nose into the internal
Nations World Forum for
Harmonisation of Vehicle
Regulations held in early to
mid March. Automobiles
safety criteria currently differ
according to the country and
region. Standardising the
criteria will make procedures
for exports and imports easier.
To export automobiles to
the EU, Japanese automakers
must test their cars on 60 points
based on safety standards
set by the EU. Automakers
also change specifications
to match EU standards.
Standardisation would make
nearly 70 percent of safety
screenings unnecessary.
It would not be necessary
for Japan to change its domestic
system drastically, as Japan
has nearly finished a revision
of ministerial regulations
Sunday afternoon.
Leaders and dignitaries from
more than two dozen countries
are attending the state funeral.
Lee was Singapores prime
minister for more than three
decades, ruling with an iron grip
until 1990 and is regarded by
Singaporeans as the architect of
their islands prosperity.
affairs of other countries,
the statement said, while
warning Japan and the European
Union, two co-sponsors of
the resolution, to stop blindly
following the US policy.
In November 2014, the
Third Committee of the 69th
UN General Assembly passed
a resolution that recommends
the Security Council refer the
DPRK to the International
Criminal Court for crimes
against humanity.
Pyongyang has voiced
strong rejection and called for the
withdrawal of the resolution.
regarding the safety of
automobiles, in anticipation
of the standardisation.
Japan and the EU plan to
call on other countries to adopt
the criteria agreed upon in the
forum, the sources said.
In Japan-US talks on the
Trans-Pacific Partnership free
trade agreement, the United
States has called on Japan to
adopt its standards of safety. By
establishing common standards
with the EU and other parties,
Japan aims to dodge that
demand, the sources said.
The standardisation of
safety criteria was urged by the
EU. In return for accepting the
standardisation, Japan intends
to call on the EU to abolish the
current 10 percent import duty
on Japanese cars, according to
the sources
Korean courts ruling on adultery
reflects cultural, generational schisms
SOUTH KOREA (The Korea
Herald) -- The ruling against
the 62-year-old adultery law at
a Constitutional Court hearing
in February was not merely the
conclusion to a controversial
decades-long debate. It also
reflected changing norms in a
traditionally patriarchal Korean
society.
Amid a rapid rise in
individualism and sexual
openness, perceptions of
marriage and sex are also
changing, the judges said at
the hearing.
While the court stoutly
maintained that adultery was
unethical, it said the law had to
adapt to changing values among
members of its society, including
attitudes to love and sexuality.
Divorce in South Korea,
which is rooted in Confucian
principles and patriarchal gender
roles, was not too long ago
considered unthinkable.
Before the countrys recent
industrialisation, families and
households were the primary
units of economic activity,
according to Noriko O. Tsuya
and Larry L. Bumpass, editors
of Marriage, Work and
Family Life in Comparative
Perspective.
Women, and to a lesser
degree, men depended on the
ensuing family relations and
kin network, and conjugal and
parent-child relations were
considered unbreakable, lifelong
commitments, wrote professors
Tsuya and Bumpass.
With the rise of individual
wage earners displacing family-
based production, the once
sacred notions of marriage ... and
obligations to ones family (gave
way) to individual well-being
and self-satisfaction.
The shift from collectivistic
values to individualistic self-
identity is illustrated in the rise
of the love marriage in place
of the conventional arranged
Monday March 30, 2015
marriage that were traditionally
family alliances, the joining
of two ancestral lineages,
according to Culture and
Customs of Korea, written by
Donald N. Clark.
Koreans are now marrying
later and choosing to have
fewer or no children, according
to census data. The fertility rate
has rapidly declined since the
1970s and reached a record low
in 2005 in the country with the
lowest birthrate among OECD
member states.
The crude divorce rate also
increased sevenfold from 0.5
per 1,000 in 1975 to 3.5 in 2003
before declining to 2.6 in 2005,
which nonetheless surpasses
the rates in EU countries and
Japan, according to Statistics
Korea.
Premarital sex is almost
universal, though out-of-
wedlock childbearing remains
extremely low at 1-2 percent of
all births, according to a 2009
study by Lee Sam-sik from the
Korea Institute for Health and
Social Affairs.
Accompanying these
trends is a steady increase
in socioeconomic gender
equality. The female labour
force participation rate, which
comprised one-quarter in 1970
and rose to one-half in 1996, is
currently at 55.6 percent, though
it remains lower than the OECD
average rate of 61.8 percent.
We cannot ignore the
intensifying debate in this
changing society that free
engagement in sexual self-
choice is being considered with
regard to self-respect and the
pursuit of happiness, said the
Constitutional Court on Feb.
26 on the petition against the
adultery law.
But the judges drew
attention to the undeniable
fact that the anticheating
law had historically protected
women, who were economically
Region 7
disadvantaged, giving them
important leverage to secure
compensation and alimony in
the case of divorce.
The Constitutional Court,
however, cited other more
recent laws in the civil court
that now guarantee custody
without gender prejudice and
help protect underprivileged
women in place of the adultery
law. In fact, the adultery law
was often used by husbands
as a resort for revenge and
to acquire financial benefit
over temporarily wayward
housewives, according to the
court.
Since the law, which
punishes adultery for up to
two years in prison, takes effect
only when and for as long as a
spouse presses charges, the
adulterer and his or her lovers
legal fates (hung) completely
in the partners hands.
The most high-profile such
case was in October 2008, when
legal debate and public interest
over the 1953 statute reached
its peak. Korean actress Ok
So-ri filed a petition against
the adultery law, following
her husband actor Park
Chuls lawsuit against her for
having an extramarital sexual
relationship with his friend, an
operatic pop singer.
Oks lawyers said the
statute had degenerated into
a means of revenge and
that it constituted a serious
violation of its citizens right
to sexual freedom.
Justice Kim Hee-ok said
during the legal hearing that the
adultery law punished an act
that ought only to be criticised
ethically.
The Constitutional Court
came one vote short of
overturning the law. Ok and
her lover were sentenced to
eight and six months in prison,
respectively, suspended for
two years.
8 Monday March 30, 2015 Vientiane Times

World
Eiffel Tower goes dark in Nigerias election accreditation
kicks off amidst large turn-out
symbolic move for Earth Hour LAGOS (Xinhua) -- Voters in Nigeria
on Saturday turned out en masse
to vote in the fifth presidential and
national assembly elections since
1999.
I n L a g o s , N i g e r i a s m o s t
economically important state,
thousands of electorate who turned
out to vote for candidates of their
choice were disappointed as
accreditation was delayed.
Some voters are angry with the
Independent National Electoral
Commission (INEC) over shoddy
preparation as poor logistics mar the
ongoing exercise in some parts of
Lagos, Southwest Nigeria.
In most places, accreditation
started late, in some others, the card
reader machines are not working
while in others, INEC officials are
yet to show up as at 10 am, local time.
The situation is across Lagos,
with lots of hitches, but in some
places, accreditation was going on
without hitches.
Electoral materials left INEC
office around 9 am, local time due to
logistic problems.
As you can see the turn here
has been fine so far, since we started
8:00 am, people have been coming
out, even it has been so ethic for me
dealing with the stress of the crowd,
but weve gone through some stages
and the accreditation process, by
1:30 pm people will start coming
out for voting as theyve come out
already for accreditation, Kuforiji
Akinfolabi, the presiding officer for
Surulere 002 unit said.
A party agent in Victoria Island,
Blessing Martins, told Xinhua that
everything has been peaceful at her
polling unit.
So far so good, everything has
been going on peacefully, though
the officer arrived late and right now
they are having challenges with the
card reader, it cannot read the voters
card properly. So, they have to used
an alternative means by going to their
registration book to verify peoples
name, card and their numbers, she
added.
The streets of Lagos have been
deserted as residents complied
with the directive of non vehicular
movements during the election
period.
However, voters in remote areas,
especially in the restive northern part
of the country, went to the polling
units amidst security concerns with
reports of explosions and attacks of
suspected Boko Haram militants.

In this two photo combination picture, the Eiffel Tower with its usual lighting at left, and after the lighting was switched off
at right, at the occasion of the Earth Hour. --Photo AP
PARIS (AP) -- The Eiffel Tower went
dark briefly to mark Earth Hour, the
campaign to raise awareness about
climate change.
The five-minute dark-out on
Saturday night was a symbolic gesture
in the City of Light. Cities around the
world also marked the event, with other
Germanwings pilot planned
big gesture, says ex-girlfriend
BERLIN (Xinhua) -- The co-pilot
suspected of deliberately crashing a
passenger plane in the French Alps
told his girlfriend he was in psychiatric
treatment, and that he was planning
a spectacular gesture that everyone
would remember, the German daily
Bild reported on Saturday.
The newspaper published an
interview with a woman who said
she had had a relationship in 2014
with Andreas Lubitz, the man
French prosecutors believe locked
himself alone into the cockpit of the
Germanwings Airbus on Tuesday and
steered it into a mountain, killing all 150
people on board.
When I heard about the crash,
I remembered a sentence, over and
over again, that he said, the woman,
a 26-year-old flight attendant the paper
gave the fictional name of Maria W. to
protect her identity, told Bild. One day
landmarks like the Kremlin and the
Empire State Building going dark.
France has been preparing for
months to host an international
climate conference in Paris at the
end of the year, pressing nations
to set attainable goals for reducing
greenhouse gases and mobilizing
Ill do something that will change the
system, and then everyone will know
my name and remember it.
I didnt know what he meant by
that at the time, but now its obvious,
she said.
He did it because he realised that,
due to his health problems, his big dream
of working at Lufthansa, of a having job
as a pilot, and as a pilot on long-distance
flights, was nearly impossible.
He never talked much about his
illness, only that he was in psychiatric
treatment, she told the paper, adding
they finally broke up because she was
afraid of him.
He would suddenly freak out in
conversations and yell at me, she
recalled. At night he would wake up
screaming we are crashing because
he had nightmares. He could be good
at hiding what was really going on
inside him.
international finances to fight climate
change.
Earth Hour was launched in 2007 by
the World Wildlife Fund to encourage
awareness of environmental issues. The
idea is to turn off lights for an hour
not possible for safety reasons for the
Eiffel Tower.
German authorities said on Friday
they had found torn-up sick notes
showing that the co-pilot was suffering
from an illness that should have
grounded him on the day of the tragedy.
Germanwings, the budget airline of the
flag carrier Lufthansa, has said he had
not submitted any sick note at the time.
The woman also told the paper:
We always talked a lot about work and
then he became a different person. He
became upset about the conditions we
worked under: too little money, fear of
losing the contract, too much pressure.
A Lufthansa spokesman declined to
comment. However, the company and
its lost-cost subsidiary Germanwings
took out full-page advertisements in
major German newspapers on Saturday,
expressing its deepest mourning.
Lufthansa and Germanwings
offered condolences to the friends and
families of the passengers and crew
and thanked the thousands of people in
France, Spain and Germany who have
been of help since the crash.
German officials said there would
be a ceremony on April 17 in Cologne
Cathedral that would also be attended
by German Chancellor Angela Merkel
as well as senior government officials
from other countries such as France
and Spain.
A member of Lubitzs flying club in
Montabaur, Dieter Wagner, told Reuters
television the Germanwings co-pilot
took part in one of the regular trips
the club made to the Alps and that he
apparently knew the region well.
However he added: I dont think
he picked the place out, I dont know. It
would be too much of a coincidence...
Yemeni president urges Saudi-led
coalition to continue pounding Houthis
SHARM EL SHEIKH, Egypt (Xinhua) The Houthis, who have seized
-- Yemeni President Abd Rabbou large parts of the country including
Mansour Hadi urged on Saturday the its capital Sanaa, ousted the Yemeni
Arab states to continue their military president who fled to the southern port
operation against the Shiite Houthi city of Aden.
group until it is fully defeated. The Yemeni president said he
Speaking at the 26th Arab League faced real hazards to be able to attend
summit in Egypts Sharm el-Sheikh
city, Hadi urged the Saudi-led coalition
Saturdays summit meeting in order
to represent Yemens legitimate and
forces which have been pounding the
Iran-backed Houthi group to go on with
their airstrikes until the rebels surrender
constitutional authorities.
We invited all parties to dialogue,
but these militias and their allies
and defeat. outside the country have led an all-
Saudi Arabia and fellow Gulf out bloody war in Yemen, Hadi said.
Cooperation Council (GCC) member This is why I had to ask for
states launched airstrikes on Houthi international protection, he stressed,
positions in Yemen on Thursday, adding that the Saudi-led campaign is
a move condemned by Iran but meant to protect the Yemeni people.
supported by the United States, Egypt, Earlier on Saturday, Egyptian
Jordan, and Morocco. President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi said
The airstrikes came hours after the Arabs have the right to deter any
Yemen officially called for an Arab hostile actions against any Arab friendly
militarily intervention to thwart the country.
Houthis bid to seize power. During the opening session of the
Yemen has been gripped by 26th AL summit, Sisi, who chairs this
widespread violence in the southern years meeting, said the Arabs will not
region since early February, raising attack any country, but they have the
fears that the impoverished country right to defend themselves from any
is slipping into a civil war. hostilities.
Survey shows women are equally
qualified for top jobs, but barriers persist
WASHINGTON (Xinhua) -- The majority of Americans see women as equally
capable of being a qualified political or business leader as men, and attribute fewer
women at top positions in government and business to a double standard held
against them in US society, a recent survey suggested.
According to a survey by Pew Research centre, most Americans do not
distinguish between men and women when it comes to characteristics that apply to
political and business leadership. Among those who do draw distinctions, women
are perceived to have advantages over men in key areas.
One key area where women do better than men is the ability to work out political
compromises. While 55 percent of Americans see there is no difference between
two genders, 34 percent think women are better than their male counterparts.
Women politicians are also perceived to have an edge over men in other key
areas, such as being honest and ethical, with 34 percent saying women are better
at this while only 3 percent saying men are better at it.
As in the political realm, the majority of Americans do not see major differences
between men and women on business leadership traits. For those who say there is
difference, women also have a clear advantage over men in key areas except for
the tendency to take risks and ability to negotiate profitable deals.

Vientiane Times
Read more news at www.vientianetimes.org.la
Mr Li Zaohang (third right) and senior officials from Laos and China join in cutting a ribbon to open
the Bank of China branch at the Vientiane Centre.
Bank of China opens
branch in Vientiane
Advertorial Desk
T
he Bank of China has
opened a branch in
Vientiane to boost
economic exchange
between China, Laos and
other Asean countries, while
particularly contributing to
economic development in Laos.
The banks Vice President
conveyed his confidence in
China-Laos business relations
during the opening ceremony
of the bank in Vientiane on
Thursday.
By attaching great
importance to business
development in Laos, the Bank
of China sees the opening of
the Vientiane branch as a new
start, and will make full use of
the group cross-border service
advantages, Mr Li Zaohang
said.
This will also make full use
of the diversified professional
service abilities to provide all-
round financial services for
all the friends from Laos and
China, he added.
The Bank of China was
formally established in February
1912. Thirty-seven years after
its establishment, the bank
served consecutively as Chinas
central bank, international
exchange bank, and specialised
international trade bank.
At present, the bank provides
a comprehensive range of
Business
Mr Li Zaohang.
financial services to customers
across 42 countries (including
Laos) and regions in every
continent, and has correspondent
banks in 180 countries.
In 2014 the total overseas
assets of the Bank of China
were US$745.07 billion, which
accounts for 27.4 percent of the
banks total assets. The profit
before tax was US$8.66 billion,
or around 23 percent of total
profit before tax.
Mr Li Zaohang said the
bank would strongly support
the economic and social
development of Laos, and play
a positive role in economic and
financial cooperation between
Laos and China, and between
Asean and China.
With regard to the Lao
economy, he said economic
development was growing
rapidly this year and society
maintained stability, while
economic cooperation
between the two countries
was becoming more intimate.
The Vientiane branch
of the Bank of China will
cooperate with national
strategies, give top priority
to corporate finance, make
full use of domestic and
international customers and
business advantages, make
a big push in the area of
international settlement and
trade finance, and actively
carry out cross border
renminbi (RMB) business,
Mr Li Zaohang said.
The Bank of China is the
only financial institution from
China or any emerging economy
to be recognised consecutively
as a Global Systematic Financial
Institution for four years since
2011. The bank has been listed
in the Fortune Global 500
companies for 26 years, and
ranked seventh in the Bankers
Top 1000 World Banks in
2014.
The new Bank of China
branch is located in the new
Vientiane Centre development
on Khouvieng Road on the site
of the former Nongchan marsh.
9
Monday March 30, 2015
UniqTeK company helps boost
skills for Lao land surveys
Advertorial Desk
UniqTeK Company Limited, a
surveying instrument provider,
provided a three-day training
course recently for survey staff
from the Department of Land
Administration at the Ministry
of Environment and Natural
Resources.
The training aimed to help
upgrade the skills of land
surveyors and improve the
speed and efficiency of their
work. The training explained
how to use CHC Navigation
GNSS receivers, the Beidou
Satellite System and their
GIS software LandStar Land
Title.
The instrument used for the
training is RTK X91+ which
Mr Walter Hu, an expert in GPS/GNSS receivers from CHC
has an accuracy of 1cm level;
the software can also help
surveyors draw Land Title
- Shanghai Huace Navigation Technology Ltd, explains
maps on the field straight away.
how to use the GPS/GNSS receiver and GIS software As a result, time is saved and
LandStar Land Title to survey staff at the Department of the process shortened. It also
Land Administration, Ministry of Natural Resources and helps increase the efficiency
Environment. and effectiveness of doing the
survey by reducing the number
of people required and the time spent to survey one plot of land.
After the training, the department believes the technology will be suitable for their
current use and has the ability to collect all land files throughout the whole country, which
can be used as a basis to solve disputes concerning land plots and increase the expected
income for the government progressively.
Additionally, UniqTek Co., Ltd. donated a Laptop with GIS software, and 10 car
batteries for the department to use for its survey work in rural areas, with a total value
of 14 million kip.
The training was provided by UniqTeK Company Limited, a distributor of GNSS
(Global Navigation Satellite Systems) technology, which is manufactured by Shanghai
Huace Navigation Technology Ltd (CHC Navigation), a leading manufacturer of survey
equipment from Shanghai, China. CHC Navigation has three offices worldwide, in China,
the USA, and France, and has over 52 distributors worldwide, including in Laos.
Experts from CHC Huace Navigation Ltd and UniqTeK Company Limited explain how to use a
GPS/GNSS receiver and GIS software LandStar Land Title.
Exchange rates as of March 27, 2015
Banque pour le Commerce Exterieur Lao
Foreign Currencies Buying Selling
US Dollar 50-100 8,088 8,119
Thai Baht 250.52 251.78
Euro 50-500 8,791 8,834
10 Business Monday March 30, 2015
In brief
Opposition mounts
to New Zealands
undemocratic
foreign trade pacts
WELLINGTON (Xinhua)
-- Opposition to the New
Zealand governments
trade policies mounted
Thursday as critics
claimed new international
agreements were
undermining the
countrys democracy and
sovereignty. The focus
was thrown on to two
completed agreements --
the free trade agreement
(FTA) with the Republic
of Korea and a World
Trade Organisation-
brokered Government
Procurement Agreement
-- as well as the ongoing
secret negotiations of the
12-nation Trans-Pacific
Partnership.
On Monday Trade
Minister Tim Groser
signed the FTA in Seoul
to criticism that its
investor-state dispute
provisions would allow
big corporations to sue
the government over
laws and regulations that
affected their profits.
Japans inflation
rate slides to
zero in February
jeopardising BOJs
reflation target
TOKYO (Xinhua)
-- Japans annual core
consumer inflation rate
slid to zero in February,
marking its lowest level
in nearly two years as a
fall in oil prices continued
to weigh, according
to data released on
Friday by the Ministry
of Internal Affairs and
Communications.
The ministrys data
showed that growth had
been the slowest since
May 2013, and excluding
volatile fresh food prices,
came in at 102.5 against
the base of 100 set in
2010.
Export outlook
for German
manufacturing keeps
improving in March
MUNICH (Xinhua)
-- Export forecasts for
German manufacturing
in March rose for the
sixth consecutive month,
research group Ifo
institute announced on
Thursday.
The outlook value in
March climbed to 12.2
points in March from 11.8
points in February, the
think tank said. According
to Ifo president Hans-
Werner Sinn, the robust
US economy and the
low euro exchange rate
are benefiting German
exporters.
Pakistan govt likely to miss 5.1
percent growth target: ADB
PAKISTAN (Dawn, ANN) --
The Asian Development Bank
(ADB) said Pakistans economy
is showing signs for moderate
growth of 4.2 percent during
this fiscal year (FY15) on the
back of low international oil
prices.
The PML-N government
has projected economic growth
target of 5.1 percent for 2014-
15.
But, according to the ADB,
this target is likely to be missed.
If it happened, it would be the
second consecutive year for
the government to fall short
of the growth target, largely
because of slow pace of reforms
in energy, taxation and public
sector enterprises.
The growth for the next
fiscal year (2015-16) was
projected at 4.5 percent, which
could be higher if economic
reforms proceed at a faster pace.
The projections
assume steady progress in
macroeconomic and structural
reforms, manageable political
and security challenges, and
normal weather.
The Asian Development
Outlook 2015 launched
recently points out that the
government has made some
progress in implementing
macroeconomic and structural
reforms to strengthen its fiscal
position, alleviate energy
shortages, and restructure and
privatise loss-making public
enterprises.
However, progress remains
slow in a challenging political
and security environment.
Lower expenditures are
budgeted for FY15, with
current expenditures reduced
by 1 percent of GDP from the
Toyota outlines architecture to grow after recall lull
TOYOTA, Japan (AP) -- Toyota
Motor Corp. is ready to ramp up
its growth again, emerging from
an intentional soul-searching lull
brought on by its massive global
recall scandal that began in 2009.
The worlds top-selling
automaker outlined a new
architecture Thursday centered
on product development and
manufacturing initiatives it hopes
will be more fail-proof against
quality problems, and allow it to
keep growing in a sustainable
way.
The first cars under the
system, medium-sized front-
wheel drive cars, will roll out
later this year, and be expanded
to half its lineup by 2020, the
Japanese automaker said.
Executive Vice President
Mitsuhisa Kato acknowledged
that managing the companys
global scope and model lineup
had become an increasing
challenge.
It is making our effort to
come out with ever better cars
increasingly difficult, he told
reporters at headquarters in
previous year, partly reflecting
a cut in subsidies to bring them
down to 0.7 percent of GDP.
As receding oil prices
reduce the cost of generating
electricity in thermal plants,
which account for 33 percent of
the countrys power generation,
it is possible to limit electricity
tariff increases further while
reining in power subsidies.
Risks to the budget targets
include elevated expenditures to
enhance security, a build-up of
power sector arrears, and failure
to realise planned revenues.
Missed targets could force
down development spending,
which, at 1.1 percent of GDP
in the first half of FY15, was
already badly trailing its budget
allocation equal to 4.2 percent.
The plan to finance the fiscal
deficit during 2014-15 relied
largely on domestic borrowing
from commercial banks and
non-bank sources.
A lower consolidated fiscal
deficit projection at 4.9 percent
of GDP in FY15 assumes that
the Federal Board of Revenues
tax collection increases by
0.7 percent of GDP to 2.8
trillion rupees. The target was
revised down to 2.6 trillion
rupees in February 2015
because revenues fell short of
expectations in the first half
(July-December).
Taxable transactions fell
steeply amid lower world
commodity prices, reductions
in administered electricity
tariffs and prices for petroleum
products in the first half of the
fiscal year, and weak large-scale
manufacturing. The report says
the non-bank financing was 43
percent of the budgeted amount
during the first half of FY15.
Toyota city, central Japan.
He pointed to how President
Akio Toyoda had decided to
taken an intentional pause in
rapid growth to strengthen the
automakers competitiveness.
The recall fiasco resulted in
more than 10 million vehicles
being recalled around the world,
mostly in the US, for a range
of problems, spanning faulty
brakes, sticky gas pedals and
ill-fitting floor mats. Toyota paid
penalty fines in the US and faced
a number of lawsuits.
Before the scandal, Toyota
had a reputation for high quality,
centered around its super-
lean production methods that
empowered workers to hone in
on quality control. Toyota has
acknowledged repeatedly that it
had tried to grow too fast.
There was no single massive
change being pushed at Toyota
under the new programme, but
rather a combination of efforts
to guard against quality flaws
while maintaining an edge in
product appeal, such as cool-
looking exterior designs and
Investor interest rises in
Savan-Seno zone
Prof. Dr Soukkongseng Sayngaleuth addresses the seminar on
job opportunities at the Savan-Seno Special Economic Zone at the
National University of Laos on Friday.
I
Times Reporters
nvestment in the Savan-
Seno Special Economic
Zone (SSEZ) is now
booming, with 60
companies having
registered to operate in the
zone, valued at US$223.1
million, according to the zones
senior official.
T h e a u t h o r i t y s Vi c e
Governor, Mr Thongsay
Sayavongkhamdy unveiled the
latest update of the registered
companies for business
operation at the zone at a
seminar in Vientiane on Friday.
The seminar was jointly
organised by NUOLs Laos-
Japan Human Development
Institute and Savan-Seno
Special Economic Zone
authority, and supported
by Japan International
Cooperation Agency (JICA).
The number of registered
companies at the zone is
actually more than 60 but these
are the most active companies,
he said.
According to Mr Thongsay,
Toyota Motor Corp. Executive Vice President Mitsuhisa Kato (left) is escorted after a photo session
as Toyota unveils all new fuel cell vehicle FCV Mirai in Tokyo.
safety technology.
The plan that Kato kept
calling TNGA, short for
Toyota New Global Architecture,
is similar to solutions being
pursued by other global
automakers, such as Japanese
rival Nissan Motor Co. and
the foreign companies
registered at the zone come
from Canada, Netherlands,
France, Japan, the Republic of
Korea, Hong Kong, Malaysia,
Thailand and Laos.
He also said that many
foreign companies still want
to hire more Lao employees to
work with them.
The Japanese investment
and joint venture businesses at
SSEZ are now valued at over
US$21 million, Mr Thongsay
said.
Teachers, students and
administrative staffers at
the National University of
Laos (NUOL) took part in
the seminar to hear about
the carrier opportunities
and job recruitment
information at Savan-Seno
Special Economic Zone in
Savannakhet province.
NUOL President Prof. Dr
Soukkongseng Sayngaleuth
attended the seminar, noting
that the gathering of teachers
and students of NUOL
marked a significant interest
for Savan-Seno Special
Volkswagen AG of Germany,
which are grappling with the
challenges of global growth
while maintaining quality.
Toyota said it will also focus
on keeping costs down, while
taking on the new steps such
as using existing plants and
Vientiane Times
Economic Zone.
It is also part of the sharing
of ideas about economic
integration, especially
the Asean Economic
Community, he said, adding
that teachers and students
will be able to expand the
knowledge of SEZs and the
AEC as well.
Deputy Director General
of the Lao National Committee
for Special Economic Zones
Secretariat, Dr Kheungkham
Keonouchanh, also said
that 158 companies have
registered to operate
businesses in special and
specific zones nationwide.
The government already
earns over US$10 million but
when more companies have
registered to operate in these
zones, it will generate at least
US$5 million per year for the
government budget, he said.
Most importantly, the
Japanese multinational
corporations Nikon and
Toyota recently decided to
build factories in the Savan-
Seno special economic zone
as Laos becomes more closely
integrated with the region and
the world.
Presently, the existing
SEZs in Laos include the
That Luang Marsh specific
economic zone in Vientiane,
Savan-Seno special economic
zone in Savannakhet province,
Golden Triangle special
economic zone in Bokeo
province, Boten Dankham
specific economic zone in
Luang Namtha province,
Vientiane Long Thanh Golf
Course in Vientiane, and the
Phoukhiew specific economic
zone in Khammuan province.
facilities to carry out the changes.
Production lines will be
simplified and slimmed down,
downsizing facilities such as
painting booths, and switching to
equipment that sits on the plant
floor, rather than suspended from
above, as is standard today.
Vientiane Times
The cooperation of the two sides would also help the industry better exploit the Asean market of 600
million people, when the Asean Economic Community becomes effective by the end of the year.
Vietnam, Thailand look for garment,
textile cooperation
HCM CITY (VNS, ANN) -- The
garment and textile industries
in Thailand and Vietnam
should strengthen co-operation
to improve competitiveness
and exploit the Asean market,
delegates said at a meeting held
in HCM City.
Nguyen Van Tuan, deputy
general secretary of the Vietnam
Textile and Apparel Association,
said in recent years that Vietnam
had emerged as a production hub
for garment and textile products.
However, the industry has
had to import up to 85 percent of
materials needed for production.
He said cooperation with
Thailand was necessary as it has
advantages in textiles, design
and administration.
Phasiree Orawattanasrikul,
vice chairwoman of Thai
Garment Manufacturers
Associations (TGMA) Trade
and Investment Promotion
sub-committee, said Thailands
textile and garment industry
had an entire supply chain cycle
from upstream to downstream,
from yarn manufacturing to
apparel manufacturing. It also
includes fashion design.
Meanwhile, Vietnam has
the skills and ability to become
an apparel production hub for
international buyers, but it
lacks upstream and midstream
channels, she said.
Therefore, establishing
fully vertical integrated-supply
chain between Thailand and
Vietnam is one of the big steps
toward granting and sustaining
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org.la will bring benefits to your company. Custom-
ers around the world will appreciate the quality of
your products via the Vientiane Times website. For
more information please contact: Tel: 336042, 336048
Fax: 336041, Email: itvtimes@gmail.com
our competitiveness, she said.
Tuan said total global
apparel trade was worth US$800
billion last year, and is expected
to top US$1,664 billion in 2030,
offering a huge opportunity for
the industry.
Asian production will
account for 60 percent the
worlds total production by
2030 from the current level of
50 percent, he said.
With increasing costs in
China as well as competitiveness
with other industries, many
garment and textile producers
have shifted their production
base to Asean countries,
including Vietnam.
Vietnam has signed, and is
negotiating, a number of free
trade agreements, including
the Trans Pacific Partnership,
which are expected to bring
huge benefits to the garment and
textile industry.
However, to enjoy benefits,
Vietnamese companies must
meet product origin as well as
yarn-forward regulations.
With Thailand not included
in the TPP, Thai enterprises
should enhance co-operation
with Vietnamese firms to
produce fabric and materials
in Vietnam to take advantages
of benefits brought from trade
agreements, he said.
The co-operation of the
two sides would also help the
industry better exploit the Asean
market of 600 million people,
when the Asean Economic
Community becomes effective
Asean Economic
by the end of the year.
Vietnams textile and
garment industry is always
on the lookout to improve
competitiveness and achieve
higher productivity, thus
increasing its edge in the world
market, he said.
Asean apparel shows
The upcoming GFT, the
most comprehensive show
for garment and textile
manufacturing industry in Asean,
will bring opportunities for
Vietnamese firms in the field to
broaden knowledge, and update
trends and latest technology and
network across Asean, Duangrat
Udomsomporn, senior manager-
portfolio Reed Tradex Company,
said.
To be held in Bangkok
from July 9 to 12, the GFT
will be held concurrently with
the Garment Manufacturers
Sourcing Expo 2015 (GMS),
Aseans only exhibition on
materials, accessories, and
equipment for garment and
textile manufacturing. It is
expected to meet the needs of
manufacturers from downstream
to upstream, she said.
Besides exhibiting
technologies and solutions
from around 250 leading brands
from 25 countries, the expo
will also include the Asean
garment and textile summit and
business matchmaking, allowing
participants to receive exciting
and in-depth perspective on
current and future trends of the
industry.
Laos can overcome LDC
status: report
Times Reporters
L
aos could be one
of the countries
to experience the
greatest economic
gains from trade measures
under the Asean Economic
Community (AEC), according to
a new report by the International
Labour Organisation (ILO) and
the Asian Development Bank
(ADB).
The report was unveiled
and presented in Vientiane on
Wednesday at a national policy
dialogue on the AEC organised
by the Ministry of Labour and
Social Welfare.
The study by the ILO
and ADB entitled, Asean
Community 2015: Managing
integration for better jobs and
shared prosperity said the
AEC will offer opportunities
for accelerated growth
and development in Laos,
potentially contributing to
its goal of graduating from
the ranks of least-developed
countries (LDCs) by 2020.
But this will only happen
if decisive action is taken to
manage the process effectively.
The report indicated that the
AECs trade and investment
liberalisation measures will
affect the structure of the Lao
economy, jobs, skills, wages,
and labour mobility.
Indonesia opening to improve
services: World Bank
INDONESIA (The Jakarta Post,
ANN) -- The World Bank (WB)
says Indonesias commitment
to opening up the services
sector to its Southeast Asian
neighbors will largely up its
competitiveness and in turn
benefit the economy.
Upon the full implementation
of the Asean Economic
Community (AEC) next year,
some of the commitments in the
services sector will help improve
the countrys manufacturing
industry and boost its competitive
edge in exports, according to the
Washington-based global lender.
Services liberalisation is
increasingly becoming very
important for manufacturing,
enabling you to get cheaper
services. When you allow
foreign investors to come in
and operate logistics, that will
lower export costs, WB chief
economist for East Asia and
Pacific region Sudhir Shetty said
on Wednesday.
The content of services in
Indonesias exports is still lower
compared to other neighboring
countries, standing at around
20 percent to its gross exports
in 2013, according to an
Monday March 30, 2015
It also finds that the
countrys GDP could expand
19.5 percent by 2025, creating
an additional 130,000 job
opportunities. More than half
of the additional positions,
however, may be in vulnerable
work.
Deputy Minister of
Labour and Social Welfare
Ms Baykham Khattiya said
Laos recognises the AEC
will bring both important
opportunities and challenges
to the country, and we will
do our best to prepare for
integration to ensure that its
prosperity is enjoyed by all.
An officer in charge of
the ILO Country Office for
Thailand, Cambodia and Laos,
Mr Maurizio Bussi, warned
that the uneven distribution
of benefits could exacerbate
existing economic and labour
market weakness, if not
properly managed.
Productivity and wages
in Laos are lower than in
other Asean member states
and without substantial
improvements in education
and skills development, Laos
may miss the opportunity to
reap the job prospects of the
AEC, said Mr Bussi.
The ILO-ADB study
highlights five priority areas
for action. These include
investment in infrastructure to
estimate by the Geneva-based
International Centre for Trade
and Sustainable Development.
Indonesia is working to
revise its regulatory environment
in compliance with the Aseab
Framework Agreement on
Services (AFAS), which covers
liberalisation in 128 subsectors
across 12 business sectors.
Based on the accord, each
Asean member will permit
foreign investors to control up
to 70 percent stake in business
entities operating within its
territory, higher than the current
51 percent. Under prevailing
regulations, foreign ownership
in firms operating in Southeast
Asias largest economy is still
limited to between 49 percent
and 60 percent, depending on
the sector.
On regional integration,
Shetty said that thus far,
commitments made by members
of the regional grouping did not
represent huge liberalisation
and that there was still a lot
of work to do to address
constraints hampering its
full implementation, such as
synchronising domestic rules
across nations.
Business 11
boost productivity and income
in rural areas, technology
dissemination, education, and
increased access to capital,
market information, and trade
facilitation.
National education and
skills development should
be enhanced. Quality basic
education should remain a
priority, while secondary
education and technical and
vocational training will become
increasingly significant as the
country industrialises.
Social protection coverage
needs to be extended, including
social security insurance
which covers both formal
and informal sectors and the
poor. This will help mitigate
the effects of economic
transformation and facilitate
human capital development
and poverty reduction.
Decent employment
opportunities and better wages
should be promoted to help
the country tackle poverty
and move away from least
developed status.
Lastly, there is a need to
improve both the protection
of migrant workers and
systems for recognising
their skills, particularly in
sectors dominated by low and
medium-skilled workers such
as agriculture, construction,
and domestic work.
The next step should
be looking at those domestic
regulations and seeking ways
to harmonise them across
countries, which is not an easy
thing to do. But, its certainly
something that needs attention
sooner or later, he said.
Shetty expressed optimism
that the 10-member bloc might
materialise the necessary
reforms toward continued
regional integration.
The good news is that
this is a very open region. The
fact that theres talk of TPP
[Trans-Pacific Partnership],
talk of RCEP [Regional
Comprehensive Economic
Partnership] and various FTAs
[Free Trade Agreements] gives
you a sense theres an appetite
for opening up to the rest of the
world, recognising that is still
the way forward for this region,
he said.
Real steps to allowing
integration in the services sector
in the short-term are underway.
Earlier this week, financial and
banking authorities in Asean
signed the umbrella agreement
for the Asean Banking
Integration Framework.
12 Monday March 30, 2015 Vientiane Times
Vientiane Times Monday March 30, 2015 13

Vacancy Announcement
(Lao National Only)
Lao Tobacco Limited (LTL) is an international Joint Venture established in 2001 between the
Government of Lao PDR and Imperial Tobacco Group (ITG), the 4th largest tobacco group in
the world with 33,800 employees in 160 countries.

LTL has 605 employees and works with people with a variety of backgrounds, experience
and perspectives. LTL offers a culture of opportunity, competitive rewards, and a good work
environment with support for individuals and families. If this is the environment and career
challenge you seek, please read on and join us.

Leaf Finance Controller 1 position

Contribute to policy development in the area of financial controlling.

Including customizing policies, procedures, and practices within the leaf departments.
Conduct analyses and provided recommendations for improvements in both the efficiency
and integrity of the leaf operation.
Manage account receivables for farmers activities.
Regular auditing of leaf technicians.
Implement and administer established accounting policies, procedures, and practices.
Ensure accurate and timely recording and reporting of operating results.
Provide financial analysis, interpretation of variances from budget and advise management.
Oversee the preparation of budgets and forecasts.

Requirements:

Bachelor Degree in Finance and Accounting Management preferred.

3 year plus experience in accounting/finance including at least 1 year in supervising role.
Able to travel in remote areas (once a month).
Fluent in English and Lao language.

Corporate Affairs Executive 1 position

Influencing and informing government, authorities and clients.

Supervise and regularly monitor work progress with corporate officers.
Visit and share information to relevant local authorities.
Update all information or data received from sales team and business Intelligence manager.
Scan the media for potential issues relevant to the tobacco industry.
Reporting.
Manage the communication of LTL activities such as EETV, newsletter, exhibitions and
introduction of government initiatives internal and external.
Manage media contract and those of other suppliers.
Responsible for corporate branding and profile development.
Support other assignments as required by Head of Marketing and Corporate Affairs.
Undertake special projects on an ad hoc basis such as special analyses, providing key
insights & support the business planning process in conjunction with the Legal Affairs &
Finance Manager.

Requirements:

Bachelor Degree in Business Administration Preferred.

Minimum 2 years business experience in consumer goods industry.
Influencing and negotiation skills.
Ability to communicate and present ideas/concepts persuasively at all levels.
Must have the ability to work be flexible within the work environment and be able to work
unsupervised and with the upmost confidentiality.
Microsoft Office, Excel & PowerPoint capability must be of a high level..
Fluent in English and Lao language.

Business Intelligence Executive 1 position

Provide analysis of market data, market research and commercial data for LTL and provide
relevant reports for all departments.
Set up, analyses & interrogate LTL databases in order to provide internal and external
management with sales force distribution, merchandising, and brand & trade marketing
information.
Initiate analysis of the market and provide a detailed insight into the total market situation.
Equip Marketing, Trade Marketing and Managing Director with relevant market information
based on salesforce data, in order for them to fulfill business objectives.
Analyses the salesforce data and provide insightful market information in order for them to
fulfill their objectives & meet their KPIs.
Monitor and report on key competitor & brand activities.
Develop and commission consumer research which provides business development insights.
Undertake special projects on an ad hoc basis such as special analyses, provide key
insights & support to the business planning process in conjunction with the Legal Affairs &
Finance Manager.

Requirements:

Bachelor Degree in Business Administration preferred.

Minimum 2 years business experience in consumer goods industry preferred.
Experience of using market data to meet the requirements of decision makers.
Microsoft Office, Excel & PowerPoint capability must be of a high level.
Ability to communicate and present ideas/concepts persuasively at all levels.
Must be flexible and be able to work unsupervised and in a confidential manner.
Fluent in English and Lao language.
Good analytical, literacy and numeracy skills.
Ability to derive insights from data/information, draw conclusions and make firm
recommendations.
Fluent in English and Lao language.

Benefits:
Attractive salary range based on the qualifications of the applicant and social benefits.
Access to company leisure facilities, including football and badminton.
Regular training and development courses in the region.
Opportunities to grow into more senior positions based on performance.

Interested applicants - send your CV and a covering letter detailing your suitability by 17 April
2015 for the attention of:

Human Resource Department, Lao Tobacco Limited

Km8 Thadeua Road, PO Box: 181, Vientiane Capital, Lao PDR
Tel: (+856 21) 352 780,
Fax: (+856 21) 313 144, E-mail: recruitment@la.imptob.com
14 Monday March 30, 2015 Vientiane Times
Vientiane Times Monday March 30, 2015 15
16 Monday March 30, 2015 Vientiane Times

AEC Seminar 2015 - what does it all mean?

On 07 April 2015 at Lao Plaza Hotel
The European Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Lao PDR (ECCIL) together
with DFDL Legal & Tax are proud to present a seminar on the ASEAN Economic
Community 2015 (AEC).

The half-day seminar will provide an overview of the AEC and international trade
agreementsincluding WTO, AEC, AFTA, ASEAN+, etc. The seminar will focus
on what these agreements mean in practice, and will discuss the key provisions
relating to:

Does the AEC affect tax laws and administration in ASEAN?

What are Lao PDR commitments under its free trade agreements?
How does the investment protection work for foreign investors?
How is competition affected under the AEC?
What impact will AEC have on trading of good and services?
What is the relationship between agreements under AEC, WTO, AFTA,
ASEAN FTA and BITs?

Our speakers will include Jude Ocampo, Deputy Head of the Regional Tax Practice
at DFDL.

The seminar will also have a panel discussion with a group of experts.

- The seminar will be held on Tuesday, 7April 2015, 09.00-12.00, at Lao Plaza
Hotel, Vientiane
- In English only
- Registration fee is: LAK 290,000 or USD 35 / 1 participant for member of
ECCIL.
LAK 450,000 or USD 55/ 1 participant for non-member

- Deadline for the registration is 6 April 2015.

- For further information please feel free to contact. Ms. Soupanith(soupanith.
lounalath@eccil.org). 020 95519988, or Ms. Dalunee (contact@eccil.org) 021
285 111 Ext 507
Vientiane Times Monday March 30, 2015 17

Vacancy Announcement
(Lao National Only)
Lao Tobacco Limited (LTL) is an international Joint Venture established in 2001 between the Government of Lao PDR and Imperial Tobacco Group (ITG), the 4th largest
tobacco group in the world with 33,800 employees in 160 countries.

LTL has 605 employees and works with people with a variety of backgrounds, experience and perspectives. LTL offers a culture of opportunity, competitive rewards, and a
good work environment with support for individuals and families. If this is the environment and career challenge you seek, please read on and join us.
Wholesales Manager 2 positions base in VTE/ North and South Good spoken and written English.
Full driving license as this role will require substantial driving, for which a pick up
Ensure alignment of front line team. is provided free of charge.
Ensure team know customer and shopper needs and then can facilitate effective
on-time in-store communication. Retail Advocacy and Cycle Planning Manager 1 Position based in VTE
Set and ensure distribution and availability within agreed range. (Re-advertised)
Support the on-time effective availability of new products.
Build a sustainable availability platform against defined causes. Prepare budget plan.
Adjust coverage frequency to support value-creating activities. Prepare and review cycle planning.
Build sustainable business relationships with assigned customers. Prepare the agenda for Cycle WIP
Identify and action additional commercially viable value-creating activities. Represent marketing in the business annual planning process
Create, organise and execute inspirational events to maximize team effectiveness Manage the entire product line cycle planning to tactical activities annual and monthly
in achievement of business objectives. planning cycle.
Effectively engage direct reports with the company and functional values, objectives Monitor the progress against cycle plan target.
and strategy. Work with core business planning colleagues.
Collection, analysis and reporting of relevant information/ data. Work closely with sales team.
Provide proactive insights to the health of the brand.
Requirements: Develop strategic brand ideas.
Bachelor Degree in Marketing Business Administration or related field.
Strategic and commercially astute business mind. Requirements:
Understands customer and shopper needs & behavior. Bachelor Degree in Marketing or Business Administration or related field.
Focused on achievement of outcomes in addition to process compliance. Strong knowledge of Marketing.
Able to be enthusiastic and foster a collaborative work environment. Experience with a Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) Company preferred.
Able to coach and mentor rather than direct people. Possess passion for strong results.
Recognize different talent and working styles and coach accordingly. Knowledge and experience in Lao market will be an added advantage.
Good spoken and written Lao.

Wholesales Executive 1 position base in VTE Sales Manager General Retailer 1 position base in North

Review the customers business including non-tobacco products to understand their Agree and deliver the coaching & development plan including regular feedback
business in detail. sessions for each direct report.
Set and ensure distribution and on-shelf availability of an agreed range. Collection, analysis and reporting of relevant information/ data.
Educate the wholesalers and semi wholesalers and their employees to the features Create, organise and execute inspirational events to maximize team effectiveness
and benefits of our products and assets. in achievement of business objectives.
Build lasting business relationships between wholesalers and their semi Effectively engage direct reports and demonstrate values, objectives and strategy.
wholesalers. Manage all LTL assets within an agreed framework i.e. showcases, POSM.
Ensure the on-time effective availability of new products. Ensure alignment of front line to known customer and shopper needs.
Aligning Imperial total tobacco portfolio based on consumer needs. Set and ensure distribution and availability of an agreed range.
Building a sustainable availability platform against defined causes. Support the delivery of customer compliance to contractual agreements (where
Influence and shape cycle activity to meet customer needs. relevant).
Leveraging and capitalizing on commercially viable service opportunities Build sustainable business relationships with assigned customers.
Build a sustainable availability platform against defined causes.
Requirements: Identify and action additional commercially viable value-creating activities.
Bachelor degree in Marketing or Business Administration or related field.
Lateral thinkers make wider connections about current and future activities. Requirements:
Aspiration & ambition to contribute more widely & grow their area/ the wider Bachelor degree in Marketing or Business Administration or related field.
business. Understands customer and shopper needs & behavior.
Challenge the norm raise new ideas & perspectives. Logical and organised operator.
Leverage deep understanding of customers & shoppers beyond the Tobacco Able to be enthusiastic and drive others and foster a collaborative work environment.
category. Able to coach and mentor rather than direct people.
Be flexible and organise their activities around the business & customer needs. Recognize different talents and working styles and coach accordingly.
Striong negotiation skills and able to look for win-win solutions.
Focused on the business outcome in dealings with retailers. Sales Promoter 2 positions base in North
Builds the retailer relationship to create value.
Understands retailers needs & seen as trusted advisor. Check compliance of the outlet against the agreed TIP includeing merchandising,
Strategic & commercially astute business mind and be able to think on their feet, POSM, Range, Stock days etc).
keeping the long term in mind. Collection and reporting of relevant information/ data.
Maintain accurate and up-to-date master data.
Area Sales Manager 3 Positions Based in VTE, North and South areas) Ensure effective on-time in-store communication.
(Re-advertised) Maintain customer compliance to contractual agreements.
Execute retail engagement and activation programs.
Identify opportunities and drive business growth within all channels on your specific Build sustainable business relationships with assigned customers.
area. Checking price parity and/ or relativity across the portfolio.
Design yearly business plan that will deliver growth and improvement by setting
milestone and reviews. Requirements:
Develop merchandising strategy to maximize the impact of LTL brand on trade and Bachelor degree in any field is an advantage.
smokers. Organised and logical thinker.
Determine appropriate channel strategies for the placement and promotion of LTL Attention to detail and accuracy.
mid and high price products. Understands customer environment and shopper needs - and can flex execution
Identify performance gaps with your team and deal with them promptly to achieve of activities accordingly
high standards of field work performance. Understands customer plans and rationale and therefore able to communicate to
Provide team with necessary training & coaching to drive teams performance. outlet manager effectively
Develop a professional, business, relationship, with your customers to understand
their needs, and share our needs to drive our businesses forward. Benefits:
Ensure that all data collected by your team is accurate at all times. Attractive salary range based on the qualifications of the applicant and social
Manage and utilize advertising & promotion budget to achieve promotional objectives. benefits.
Access to company leisure facilities, including football and badminton.
Requirements: Regular training and development courses in the region.
Bachelor degree in Marketing or Business Administration or related field. Opportunities to grow into more senior positions based on performance.
Minimum 5 years sales and/or marketing experience in senior managerial position
with Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) Company. Interested applicants - send your CV and a covering letter detailing your suitability by
Proven track record in sales & marketing FMCG products. 17 April 2015 for the attention of:
Sales management and field force management experience is essential.
Strong leadership is important to drive people to achieve agreed objectives. Human Resource Department, Lao Tobacco Limited
Possess strong communication and interpersonal skills. Km8 Thadeua Road, PO Box: 181, Vientiane Capital, Lao PDR
Possess passion for strong results. Tel: (+856 21) 352 780,
Knowledge and experience in Lao market will be an added advantage. Fax: (+856 21) 313 144, E-mail: recruitment@la.imptob.com
18 Monday March 30, 2015 Vientiane Times
Vientiane Times Monday March 30, 2015 19
20 Monday March 30, 2015 Vientiane Times
Strengthening Technical and Vocational Education and Training (STVET)
ADB Grant No.: 0211-Lao

VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT (URGENT)

Position: Gender Specialist (International)

Duty Station: Ministry of Education and Sports, TVED PIU/EMIS, VTE Capital, Lao PDR
Duration: 2 months
Starting Date: As soon as possible, 2015

I. Background Information
Lao PDR has received a Grant from Asian Development Banks Special Resources Funds
to assist in improving the quality of the TVET sector through the implementation of the
Strengthening Technical and Vocational Education and Training (STVET) Project.

II. Description of duties:

Under the guidance of the Director General and the Deputy Director General, TVET
Department, and in consultation with STVET Consultant Team Leader, the Specialist will
undertake the following specific tasks.

III. Task:
i. Review all 17 skill standards, modular TVET curricula and competency based assessments
as well as the gender related modules and provide inputs to ensure that these are gender
sensitive.
ii. In the review of policy and funding frameworks for TVET, provide inputs on gender and
social equity issues.
iii. Review the training materials on Code of Conduct on Prevention of Sexual Harassment/
Exploitation and provide inputs for improving the training materials.
iv. Develop the terms of reference for a "role model/mentoring program" for female students
with female faculty and/or with women in related fields, including guidance notes on key
activities to be undertaken by TVET institutions to establish this programme.
v. Identify issues, and challenges in implementing unachieveing gender indicators and provide
recommendations to address the issues and challenges
vi. Lead on implementation of GAP, especially lead on implementing unachieving or ongoing
gender indicators
vii. Identify activities
viii. Review and update GAP
ix. Guide project gender focal point to continue updating GAP.
x. Review the social marketing strategy and campaign and provide recommendations to
increase female enrolment in the none- traditional skills areas.

IV. Key Deliverables:

Written inputs and guidance on the skills standards, modular curricula and competency
based assessments
Written inputs on gender and social equity issues integrated in policy and funding
framework under review.
Written inputs on the Code of Conduct training materials and with supplementary talking
points.
Terms of Reference for "role model/mentoring program" for female students with a set of
guidance notes on key activities to be undertaken by TVET institutions to establish this
programme.

V. Qualifications or Specialized Knowledge/ Experience Required:

The International Gender and TVET Specialist should:
Hold an advanced university degree in Education/ TVET
A minimum of 8 years of experience in the field of gender and development and TVET
issues.
Proven track record of providing technical guidance and support to governments and
international agencies on gender and TVET strategies and plans.
Knowledge and skills in gender/ social analysis as well as TVET.
Excellent ability to analyze and synthesize vast amounts of information
Excellent inter-personal, negotiations and advocacy skills
Experience and capacity to transfer knowledge and undertake and facilitate training events
Excellent ability to work in different cultural contexts and in politically sensitive situations.

Interested candidate should submit CV with cover letter and other relevant certificates to:
Ministry of Education and Sports, Technical and Vocational Education Department
STVET Project Implementation Unit (STVET PIU)
Lane Xang Avenue, P.O. Box: 067, Vientiane Capital, Lao PDR.
Tel/Fax (office): +865-021-240008
E-Mail: ithongsa@gmail.com.
Please marked on Subject Line: Application for Gender Specialist

Deadline: 13 April 2015, before 16:00 (Lao Time).

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
Vientiane Times Monday March 30, 2015 21
22 Monday March 30, 2015
JOB VACANCY
Driver
Lao Nationality
The Project Microfinance in Rural Areas- Access to Finance for the Poor (AFP) commissioned by German
Development Cooperation is currently seeking 1 qualified Laotian candidate for a Driver position.
Duration of Assignment: 12 months, extension possible
Work Location: Khob district, Sayabouly province
Starting date: As soon as possible
Job Description
Drive office vehicles safely and drive office staff, official visitors and guests to official destinations
Assists in the transport of goods
Regularly cleans the inside and outside of the office vehicle
Checks oil, water, brake and clutch fluids on a daily basis; tyre pressures, battery water, and overall
vehicle condition on a monthly basis or after 5000 km whichever comes earlier; tests lights, brakes,
bodywork for dents, etc.
Is responsible for project vehicle documents and its care, keeps vehicle logbook on a daily basis and
registers each monthly check
Calculates the petrol, oil, and lubricant (POL) use on a monthly basis, is responsible for a special petty
cash for POL and submits vouchers to accounting on a monthly basis
Reports the need for maintenance and undertakes minor repairs
Immediately reports any involvement of the project/office vehicle in any, even minor accidents, or any
damage or theft of equipment from the vehicle
Uses all available information (incl. actual radio news on traffic situations) to update knowledge of
street conditions, effective routes and locations daily
Exchanges this information with other office drivers
Serves all passengers in a friendly manner
Runs errands for the project/office, e.g. delivery of letters/messages, payment of bills, and makes
minor purchases of office supplies
Other Duties/Additional Tasks
The major part of the driving activities is within the Sayaboury province with regular journeys to the
neighbouring provinces (Luang Prabang, Vientiane)
The project can also assign for a limited period of time the driver to another province
If there is no outside driving activity, she/he stands by in the office, supports other colleagues in case
of need, and does other office work as assigned
Reports any incident whilst off duty that may affect his/her driving licence entitlement, as well as any
newly known health problems that may affect his/her ability to drive
Takes care of matters in relation with electricity, e.g. cable, etc.
Assists in and/or carries out other activities and any tasks as assigned
Required Entry Qualifications and Competencies
Formal Education
high school
Other Qualifications
Possession of a valid drivers license
Knowledge of basic English is an advantage
Discipline and punctuality
Stress tolerance and patience
Familiarity with driving on mountainous and dirt roads.
Professional Experience
At least 3 years of working experience as a driver, with references
No history of major accidents within the past 3 years
E. Reports to: Project accountant/Secretary
F. Deputy of Position: Other drivers
G. Deputized by: Other drivers
Interested candidates are asked to submit an application CV and cover letter explaining how
your experience meets the requirements. The application deadline is Wednesday, 08 April 2015
before 4.00 PM and the applications should be sent to the HR Division of GIZ Office Vientiane,
P.O.Box 9233, Vientiane Capital, or by e-mail to job-gizlaos@giz.de
All applications will be treated confidentially and only short-listed candidates will be notified.
Vientiane Times
VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT
(Announcement No. 15/06)
OPEN TO: All Qualified Candidates
POSITION: Political Specialist, FSN-9
OPENING DATE: March 24, 2015
CLOSING DATE: April 17, 2015
WORK HOURS: Full-time; 40 hours/week
SALARY: Actual salary will be based on the qualifications of the applicant.
NOTE: THIS IS A LOCAL POSITION. THE SELECTED CANDIDATE WILL COME UNDER LOCAL LABOR LAW, AND BE
PAID ACCORDING TO THE EMBASSYS LOCAL COMPENSATION PLAN. ALL ORDINARY RESIDENT APPLICANTS
MUST BE RESIDING IN LAOS AND HAVE THE REQUIRED WORK AND/OR RESIDENCY PERMITS TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR
CONSIDERATION.
The U.S. Embassy in Vientiane is seeking an individual for the position of Political Specialist(Interpreter/Translator)
in the Political/Economic Section.
BASIC FUNCTION OF POSITION
As Political Specialist, the incumbent is responsible for regular factual and analytical reporting on Lao politics, party,
government, and law development from a broad variety of human and media sources, published and unpublished. He/
she follows Lao government, international organizations, and INGO/NPA work in their economic a social development
activities. He/she attends Lao government, international organization, and INGO/NPA meetings, identifies items of
interest, and prepares reports as requested. He/she assists in maintaining up-to-date information for the Political/
Economic Section and provides specialized background reporting on Lao laws and decrees.
The incumbent interprets for the Ambassador, DCM, Political/Economic (P/E) Section Officers, and other Embassy
staff members in meetings with Lao Government officials, in public ceremonies, at Embassy functions, and during
Embassy travel. He/she also translates Lao government decrees, regulations, and other documents from Lao to
English, as well as Ambassadorial speeches and USG documents from English to Lao as assigned. The incumbent
drafts diplomatic notes and arranges travel itineraries for visits of U.S. officials to Laos, and Lao officials to U.S-funded
events as required.
QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED
NOTE: All applicants must address each selection criterion detailed below with specific and comprehensive
information supporting each item.
1. Education:University degree, in social sciences or liberal arts. Service with an appropriate Lao government
agency could substitute for a degree in special circumstances.
2. Prior Work Experience:Two to four years of progressively responsible experience in governmentor other
organizations.
3. Language Proficiency:Level IV English and Lao are required. (Fluent knowledge of written and spoken English
and Lao). Knowledge of other languages including Vietnamese or Chinese would also be beneficial.
4. Knowledge:Knowledge of Lao laws and regulations, the legal system and its development, political institutions
and structures, Lao Peoples Revolutionary Party doctrine and structure, and historical developments.
5. Skills and abilities:Ability to communicate effectively with all levels of Lao government and U.S. officials. Ability
to undertake interpretation and write clearly and coherently in both English and Lao. Filing, word processing,
and data management skills are also required.
HOW TO APPLY
Interested applicants for this position must submit the following for the application to be considered:
1. Universal Application for Employment (Form DS-174). Download the form at: http://laos.usembassy.gov/
job_opportunities.html
2. Candidates who claim U.S. Veterans preference must provide a copy of their Form DD-214 withtheir application.
3. Any other documentation (e.g., essays, certificates, awards, copies of degrees earned) thataddressesthe
qualification requirements of the position as listed above.
SUBMIT APPLICATION TO
Human Resources Office
American Embassy Vientiane
Thadeua Rd., Km 9, Ban Somvang Tai
P.O. Box 114, Vientiane, Laos
(Hardcopy or e-mail attachments are accepted)
POINT OF CONTACT
Telephone: 856-21-487176/7259
Fax: 856-21-488002
E-mail: VientianeHRO@state.gov
Interested persons should contact Embassy Human Resources Office for more information. Blankapplication forms
may be picked up from the cabinet inside the Embassy entrance.
Only shortlisted candidates will be notified.
CLOSING DATE FOR THIS POSITION: April 17, 2015
An Equal Opportunity Employer
Vientiane Times Monday March 30, 2015 23

Poverty Reduction Fund (PRF)

Request for Expression of Interest

Oxfams goal in Laos is to contribute to a fair and open Lao society where women and men Country: Lao Peoples Democratic Republic
equally enjoy their rights to a sustainable life. Oxfam has been working in Lao PDR since 1989. Project: The Poverty Reduction Fund
As part of the Oxfam Program, Oxfam-Solidarity Belgium is implementing a Disaster Risk Description: Short term Graphic Designer
Reduction Program in Vientiane Province and is seeking one experienced Programme Officer Grant No.: H685-LA
to join our team. We are offering competitive benefits. Project No.: P 123480.
Issue date: March 23, 2015 Closing date: April 3, 2015
Promgramme Officer Livelihood and Disaster Risk Management (Lao National)
Duty Station: Vientiane Capital The Government of Laos, with support from the World Bank, the Swiss Agency for Development and
Cooperation, AuSAID and JSDF has set up the Poverty Reduction Fund (PRF) to deliver small scale
Main Responsibilities: development project including support to livelihood activities at the Kum ban and Village levels.
Manages all aspects of the Livelihood Programme implementation through periodic work
plans and progress reports (annual, quarterly and monthly), monitoring and evaluation Following on the scaling up of the deepen community driven development in 5 pilot districts to 15 districts
systems, and budget management, ensuring donors rules and Oxfam Belgiums procedures within the cycle 13, the PRF would request to review design and draw pictures related to the Community
Driven Development approach and principles. Therefore, the project is now seeking for a Short term
are respected.
Graphic Designer IEC Materials, in order to respond the purposes and objectives of the project.
Is responsible for the implementation of capacity building strategies of partners. Specifically, the objectives are:
Contributes to the Oxfam Country strategy and programme development in Laos under To develop an attractive, clear illustrations/visualization types, suitable for conveying information
guidance of the Humanitarian Coordinator and the Country Director, in particular w/r to and representing ideas so that the target groups can easily understand and improve their knowledge
Program strategies. based on these communication tools.
Participates in thematic meetings at national or regional level in relation with Disaster Risk Visualize PRF processes, mechanisms, principles, etc. in a way that reinforces the spirit of the
Reduction. PRFs pro-poor and community empowerment approach including mission, vision, and principles.
Takes up responsibility in case of humanitarian response programmes as required by the Prepare the visualization of IEC materials relevant to CDD pictures in the Lao context.
Country Director and the Humanitarian Coordinator Revise/re-draws and finalize all visuals of CDD pictures produced by the Designer after field testing
from PRF Staff.
Required competencies and experience: Required qualifications and experience:
Knowledge of livelihood approaches, issues, challenges. DRR knowledge will be an asset Excellent in knowledge of the relevant design and desktop publishing skills and software such as
Knowledge of methodologies and principles with regard to capacity-building and Page Maker, Photo Shop, Corel Draw, Illustrator, In Design
organisational and institutional development, including participatory approaches. Extensive publications layout and design experience
Knowledge and experience with methodologies and practices on gender approaches and Experiences with projects using participatory approach is an asset
mainstreaming. Knowledge of development issues and understanding of rural social and cultures of Lao PDR is an
Good communication and facilitating skills, demonstrating trust, competence, respect and asset
motivation, especially with government agencies and local authorities. Experience in Graphic design, Illustration and visualization skills
Ability to cooperate in a team and to work under guidance, while showing a high degree Creative and conceptualization skills
of initiative, efficient time management and ability to cope with stressful situations. Ability to grasp ideas quickly, thinks creatively, take initiative and be innovative
Fluent in English
Good insights in financial management requirements
Flexible times and friendship personalities is an asset
University graduate The detailed job descriptions for both positions can be obtained at PRF website: http://www.
prflaos.org or at PRF office.
For a full Job Description and further information, please refer to the website: www.
directoryofngos.org and go to Directory News/Job Openings. All interested applicants should submit (1) a cover letter outlining clearly how the candidate meets the
requirements of the position, (2) a detailed CV with one (3x4) photo and (3) supporting documents
To apply, ensure you read carefully the Full Job Description and submit an application (certificate of the most recent employment, certificates of qualification/graduation, a list of at least three
letter with your motivation and explaining how you are addressing the required criteria and a referees, etc) to the HR Officer, Poverty Reduction Fund, Governments Office, building 501, Sisavathtai
detailed CV with 3 references by 12 April 2015 with the reference LDPO by e-mail to sth@ Village, Chanthabouly District, P.O Box 4625 Vientiane, Tel: 021 261479 - 80, Fax: 021 261481, Email:
oxfamsol.be or by post at: PO Box 4723, Vientiane- LAO PDR piengngeune@prflaos.org and Khemphone@prflaos.org . Please be noted that all submitted documents
will not be returned.
We promote diversity and practice equity.
Female candidates are encouraged to apply. Deadline for applications: April 3, 2015
Only short-listed applicants will be contacted for a personal interview. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for further discussion

VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT
(Announcement No.15/05)

OPEN TO: All Interested Applicants

POSITION: Resident-Hire U.S Citizen Personal Services Contractor(USPSC) Development Assistance Coordinator for Laos,
USAID/RDMA, GS-11
OPENING DATE: March 16, 2015
CLOSING DATE: March 31, 2015, Tuesday, at 4.00 pm Bangkok Time
WORK HOURS: 30-40 hours/week
SALARY: Salary to be paid within this grade will depend on experience, qualifications, and salary history. VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT
NOTE: THE SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE IS REQUIRED TO OBTAIN THE APPROPRIATE VISA AND WORK PERMIT ON HIS/HER OWN.
BACTEC International Limited-Lao are a branch of BACTEC International Limited, a UXO
remediation organization with a head office based in the United Kingdom and with branches and
The U.S. Embassy in Vientiane is seeking an individual for the position of Development Assistance Coordinator for Laosin the USAID/RDMA Section.
operations in several countries.BACTEC International Limited-Lao have operated successfully
BASIC FUNCTION OF POSITION throughout Lao PDR since 2008.
USAID is seeking an officer to serve alongside the USAID/RDMA Representative in Vientiane to coordinate programs that address development challenges
facing Laos. The successful candidate will work under a United States Personal Services Contract (USPSC). The officer will report directly to the USAID/
RDMA Representative in Laos, but will also work closely with the political/economic section of U.S. Embassy Vientiane. Position: Administration and Finance Officer(Full-time)
The incumbent will be expected to acquire a full grasp of USAID programs in Laos, and be able to support the USAID Representative leadership role. Location: Vientiane
Alongside, and during the absence of the Representative, the incumbent will be expected to represent USAID and U.S. policy with partners such as the
World Bank, Asian Development Bank, UN, and other bilateral and multilateral donors. The incumbent will also represent RDMA at government-led
sector working group meetings, and represent USAID within Embassy Vientiane. Applications close: 06 April 2015
The incumbent should possess superior organizational skills and high-quality situational assessment and interpretation skills.
Qualifications and Experience Required
QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED
NOTE: All applicants must address each selection criterion detailed below with specific and comprehensive information supporting each item.
Candidates must holda minimum of 2-3 years of previous experience in business
1. Education (15%): A Bachelors degree in a relevant international development assistance field such as international development, international administration and financial accounting.
public health, development economics, international relations, political science, business administration, law or other closely related field required.
A Masters degree is preferred.
Bachelor Degree of Business Administration, Finance or higher.
2. Experience (40%):At least 5 years of practical professional experience in relevant areas related to international assistance, interagency cooperation Competentlevel of English language skills (Spoken, written and comprehension).
and program planning, analysis or management, as well as the ability to function in complex, frequently changing political and economic conditions
required; previous US Government experience is highly desired. Organized and self-motivated.
3. Ability and Skills (45%):In-depth understanding of international relations and economic and political issues affecting less-developed countries A high attention to detail and good analytical skills.
as well as an ability to utilize this knowledge is required. Knowledge in this area (international relations, economic and political issues) related
specifically to Laos desired. Sound judgment on technical and institutional issues, resulting in the ability to develop recommendations required. Capacity to perform multiple tasks concurrently.
High competency in MS Office products.
High level of energy, sound judgment, and good initiative are required.
Strong communication and negotiation skills are essential, including excellent writing, reporting, drafting, and editing skills as well as well-developed Pleasant and cooperative personality.
presentation and briefing skills required. Driving licence a desirable asset.
Excellent inter-personal and teamwork skills, including an ability to work well with colleagues and counterparts at various levels representing a wide
range of cultural backgrounds required.
Understanding international assistance and donor coordination in general is required with specific knowledge of public health, environment, trade policy
and integration, democracy and governance, vulnerable groups, labor market and competitiveness desired.
Administration Duties:
Knowledge of Lao not required but desirable. Preparation, processing and filing of company administrative reports, returns and other
Language Proficiency:English fluency required. Given the nature of the position, effective written and oral communications are absolutely critical to
perform successfully in this position. The incumbent must be able to communicate effectively and accurately with 1) all categories of Mission employees;
associated documentation.
2) local government officials at the Senior Minister level and lower; 3) numerous international and local organizations, donors and other embassies; 4) Assist with the employment and travel requirements for internationally recruited staff.
various Washington based U.S. Government agencies, and 5) the general public.
Process employee contracts and administer personnel files.
Physical Condition:The incumbent must be in a good physical condition, willing and able to travel within Laos and regionally by car, boat, and plane for Assist the Country Manager with management of field duty rosters.
extended periods of time, as requested or necessary.
Record and prepare the minutes of the monthly OH&S meeting.
HOW TO APPLY Assist with the preparation, processing and monitoring of BACTEC local property leases.
Interested applicants for this position must submit the following for the application to be considered:
1. Fully completed and hand-signed copy of an Optional Application for Federal Employment Form (OF-612)
Forms are available at the following website: http://www.gpo.gov/pdfs/careers/apply/of612.pdf or at Federal offices. Applicants should note that the salary Financial Duties:
history for the purposes of the OF-612 is the base salary paid, excluding benefits and allowances such as housing, travel, educational support, vehicle use, etc.
2. A current resume or curriculum vitae (CV); Regular liaison with the BACTEC accountant in the UK as required.
3. Personal Information: full name, mailing address, email address, day and evening phone numbers, and country of citizenship; Assist with audits and reports.
4. A minimum of three and a maximum of five references, including two references which must be from direct supervisors who can provide information
regarding the applicants knowledge. Prepare, lodge and pay all required Lao Tax reports and returns.
5. Information on current or prior U.S. Government security or employment authorization clearance and current or prior U.S. Government/employment
medical clearances.
Verify, allocate and input details of business transactions to BACTEC accounting software
6. Copies of required work and/or residency permits (if selected). from documents such as sales slips, invoices, receipts, cheque stubs, and computer printouts.
SUBMIT APPLICATION TO
Preparation and submission of invoices to clients.
Regional Office of Procurement All BACTEC-Lao banking requirements.
USAID/RDMA
25th Floor, Athenee Tower,
Assisting in the preparation and distribution of BACTEC staff payrolls in the field.
63 Wireless road, Lumpini, Management of the BACTEC-Lao petty cash sub account.
Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330
(Hardcopy or e-mail attachments are accepted)
Email submissions shall be sent to Ms. Suthicha Chussananalin, Acquisition Specialist, at the email address schussananalin@usaid.gov with a copy to Applications: Applicants should address a covering letter and enclosed CV to the
Mr. Paul Martin, Contracting Officer, at pmartin@usaid.gov. To ensure delivery by the due date it is recommended that applications be sent in as email
attachments. Applications that are received without a signature or incomplete applications will not be considered for the position. Regional Manager, BACTEC International Limited-Lao, Unit 8 Phonsavanh Village,
Only shortlisted candidates will be notified. Sisattanak District, PO Box 6089 Vientiane Capital, Lao PDR.
CLOSING DATE FOR THIS POSITION: March31, 2015, Tuesday, at 4.00 pm Bangkok Time
An Equal Opportunity Employer Tel: 021 264 923 - 24 E-mail: a.mansell@BACTEC.com
24 Monday March 30, 2015
OPPORTUNITY FOR SHORT TERM CONSULTANT
LAO NATIONALITY
Support the Pilot Implementation of New Presumptive Tax Regime
Lao Tax Simplification Project
IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, is the largest global development institution
focused exclusively on the private sector. Working with private enterprises in about
100 countries, we use our capital, expertise, and influence to help eliminate extreme
poverty and boost shared prosperity. In FY14, we provided more than $22 billion
in financing to improve lives in developing countries and tackle the most urgent
challenges of development. For more information, visit www.ifc.org.
The IFC Tax Simplification Project in Lao PDR is delivered in partnership with
Switzerland State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO).
The IFC Tax Simplification project in Lao PDR is working with the Lao Tax
Department of the Ministry of Finance to support the implementation of the new
presumptive tax regime stipulated in the enacted General Tax Law and the revision and
implementation of VAT legislation. Prior to full implementation, the new presumptive
tax regime is being piloted in two districts: Saysetha District, Vientiane Capital and
Luang Prabang District.
IFC seeks to recruit a short term local consultant to provide assistance to the pilot
implementation of the new presumptive tax regime, specifically:
- Working with the two pilot District Tax Offices to i) identify and assess the
difficulties of implementing the new presumptive tax regime and areas for
improvement; and ii) support the collection of taxpayer data and storage in
electronic format;
- Working with the Pilot Committees of Tax Department and Pilot District Tax
Offices to design and deliver a training program for tax officials and taxpayers
on the presumptive tax regime;
- Supporting the Pilot Committee of Tax Department and tax experts to i) develop
an enforcement/audit program for the new regime; ii) finalize the guidelines of
the new presumptive tax regime; iii) monitor and evaluate the pilot program;
and iv) develop an action plan for rolling out the full implementation of the new
presumptive tax regime;
- Working with the WBG tax team to develop a taxpayer survey and research, as
required.
Qualifications
- Well understanding taxation system in Lao PDR;
- A minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in area of regulatory reform, fiscal
policy, tax administration, tax filing or accounting;
- A bachelor or master degree in relevant discipline e.g. public finance, business
management, social science, economics, account, and etc.;
- Background as tax practitioner preferred;
- Excellent communication and presentation in Lao language, English proficiency
is a plus.
Terms and Conditions
The initial appointment will be on a consultancy basis for 100 working days from
6th April2015to 31st December, 2015. IFC offers competitive salary. Interested
candidates may review the complete job description and apply online at https://
wbgeconsult2.worldbank.org/wbgec/index.html and access Business Opportunities,
Selection #1176501. The closing date is March 31, 2015. All applications will be
treated with strict confidentiality. Please note that only short-listed candidates will
be contacted for interview. A full ToR can be obtained by contacting Ms. Khampao
Nanthavong via email knanthavong@ifc.org.
Vientiane Times
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
No 022/2015
Phonesack Group Co.,Ltd is one of the largest wholly owned Lao companies. The Company employs over 50
personnel at its headquarters and over 2000 employees and sub-contractors throughout sites in Lao PDR.
Now is an exciting time to build a career with Phonesack Group Co., Ltd. (PSG). We have a huge range of
projects which require driven and talented people to join our team, to lead and collaborate innovative ideas.
We are currently seeking the following positions:
1. In House Lawyer 1 position in Vientiane (Head Office)
Key Duties:
Supervise and provide recommendation in overall legal matters in organization.
Qualification required:
Lao national only
Bachelors of Law from any accredited law universities with knowledge of Policy management and Business law
applicability; Masters degree is advantageous
Certification as registered legal counsel-license in advantage
A minimum of four years experience in law, including legal analysis, research & writing and knowledge of Business
legal frameworks is a pre requisite for this role
Experience in working for concession project is prefer
Excellent command of written and spoken English and Lao are essential. Fluency in other languages would be
advantageous.
2. Deputy Accounting Manager 1 position in Vientiane (Head Office)
Key Duties:
Assisting an Accounting Manager and Management Coordinator to oversea and manage accounting and finance
teams. Leading the teams and motivating the accounting and finance staff to complete the works as per due date;
the works are including finance, accounts payable, account receivable, inventory, costing, general ledger (including
fixed assets), annual budgeting and statutory reporting for all company's project.
Qualification required:
At least obtaining Bachelors Degree in Accounting or a related field with Certification in CPA or CMA;
Eight (8 ) years of professional accounting experience; OR, Any equivalent combination of experience and/or education
from which comparable knowledge, skills and abilities have been achieved;
Strong knowledge in Lao Accounting
Minimum 5 years of Account/project management experience;
Expert in accounting software utilization; knowledge in ERP is preferable;
Knowledge and skill in managerial practices and principles;
Motivated, goal oriented, persistent and a skilled negotiator;
High level of initiative and work well in a team environment;
Excellent written and oral communication skills;
Handles stressful situations and deadline pressures well;
Plans and carries out responsibilities with minimal direction.
3. Senior Social and Community Development 1 position in Vientiane (Head Office)
Key Duties:
To assist data gathering and also do data analysis on the assets of affected people.
To know and understand compensation policy and strategy for affected people.
Qualification required:
Bachelor Degree or Master in Social studies / Social and Community Development studies.
At least 7 years of experience in social and community development sector, hydropower or mining project.
Must be spoken, written and understood both Lao and English.
Proficient in MS Office Suite, to include Word, Excel, and PowerPoint Programs.
Be able to travel to field survey whenever required and be assigned to the site when project is operated.
Physically fit to work at the site.
Able to communicate with a wide range of people from different ethnic and social culture.
Ability to work and willing to assist disadvantaged groups.
Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
Be able to work and meet tight deadline and also under pressure.
4. HR Manager 1 Position in Lak20 KSO Gold Mine
Key Duties:
Mainly responsible for performing full functions of human resource management: Recruitment, Employee Relations,
HRIS, Compensation & Benefits, Training and Organization Development
Qualification required:
Bachelor's Degree or Masters Degree in Human Resources Management, Political Science or related field
Minimum 5 years of working experience in Human Resources
Strong knowledge of Recruitment, Compensation and Training
Good command of written and spoken English skills
Good communication and motivation skills
Proactive, positive attitude with good leadership skills
Self-motivated with achievement-oriented
Computer literate especially in MS Office
5. Senior IT officer 1 Position in Lak20 ,KSO Gold Mine
Key Duties:
Mainly focus on IT network operation
Qualification required:
Bachelor Degree in computer science or information technology
3 years experience in support for Microsoft Windows Desktop and Server environment
Strong interpersonal and communication skills
Able to work under pressure
Proficient in speaking, writing and understanding English
Able to work on site, willing to work long hour and be on call.
6. Senior Chemist 2 position at Saravan & Sekong (Xekong Power-Plant Limited)
Key Duties:
Control All analysis activity, check and preparing lab report
Qualification required:
Bachelor Degree in Chemistry, Biology or related science.
3 years of working experience as Chemist in the laboratory.
Mining industry background is advantage.
Excellent communication skill and attention to detail.
Experience leading others in a team environment.
Proficient in MS Office Suite to include Word, Excel.
Excellent spoken and written in Lao and English.
7. Junior Chemist 2 position at Saravan & Sekong (Xekong Power-Plant Limited)
Key Duties:
Analysis limestone samples operate X-Ray machine and other instrument
Qualification required:
Bachelor Degree in Chemistry, Biology or related science.
More than 1 years of working experience in the laboratory
Excellent communication skill and attention to detail
Hands on attitude and self-motivated person
Proficient in MS Office Suite to include Word, Excel
Excellent spoken and written in Lao and English
8. Chemist Assistant 16 position at Saravan & Sekong (Xekong Power-Plant Limited)
Key Duties:
Analysis coal samples (Proximate, CV, TS, RD)
Qualification required:
Bachelor Degree in Chemistry, Biology or related science.
internship experience in the laboratory
Excellent communication skill and attention to detail
Hands on attitude and self-motivated person
Proficient in MS Office Suite to include Word, Excel
Excellent spoken and written in Lao and English
9. Surveyors 1 position at Saravan & Sekong (Xekong Power-Plant Limited)
Key Duties:
Surveyors may work in related fields such as photogrammetric, geographic information systems (GIS)
Qualification required:
Higher Diploma in Surveying or a closely related field.
At least 1 years experience in surveying in Mining Operations.
Proficient in MS Office Suite to include Word, Excel, AutoCad, Map Info.
Ability to use survey equipment including total station, GPS etc..
Ability to communicate in Lao and English both speaking and writing
Willingness to work on site
We offer the successful candidate an excellent salary and benefits package, Including PSG self insurance ,National Social
Security Fund Office, Field Allowance, Mobile Phone Policies, etc
We invite qualified candidate to submit your resume stating your present and expected salary and ref directly to the Human
Resources Department at: Phonesack Group, Ltd. Unit 15, Sithong Road, Pakthang Village, Sikhottabong District, P.O.
Box 1808, Vientiane Lao PDR. Fax: (856-21) 550498 Tel: 021 550497 or E-mail to: careers@phonesackgroup.com.
Closing date 26 April 2015
Vientiane Times Monday March 30, 2015 25
26 Monday March 30, 2015
Implemented by:
JOB VACANCY
Land Registration Expert (Lao National)
The Land Management and Decentral Planning Program (LMDP) is a project of the German Development
Cooperation implemented through GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft fr Internationale Zusammenarbeit). The project
comprises two main areas of activity: 1) securing land rights through systematic land registration and titling;
and 2) decentral development planning and poverty-focused investment management. Through a multi-level
approach, activities are supported at central, provincial and district levels in four provinces, includingSayaboury,
LuangNamtha, Houaphan and Khammuane.
For the Land Registration component of the project, GIZ is seeking a qualified Lao national expert in the field of
land registration / land management in each province.
Starting Date: As soon as possible
Duration of Assignment: 1 year with possible extension
Work Location: Sayaboury, LuangNamtha, HouaphanorKhammuane
Main tasks and responsibilities:
Advise the partner agencies (mainly provincial and district offices of Natural Resources and Environment)
in cadastral survey, land adjudication and registration (including technical and administrative tasks).
Conduct quality control and monitoring of the registration processes (GPS parcel surveying, adjudication
and digital data management).
Support the development and improvement of workflows and quality assessments for land registration in
cooperation with the line agencies and other GIZ project advisors.
Train and coach partner staff in the use of surveying equipment, GIS software and related programs used
for registration and cadastral mapping.
Support streamlining of processes at district and provincial level with national directives.
Closely coordinate and cooperate with relevant partner departments and divisions and related projects
Prepare reports and contribute to other tasks as assigned by the GIZ supervisor
Experience and Qualifications:
University/Masters degree in the area related to the function
At least 3 years professional experience in a comparable position, preferably with an educational background
in the field of land management, surveying or related.
proficient computer skills (MS Office, data management), knowledge of GIS and use of GPS devices
good working knowledge of ITC technologies (related software, phone, fax, email, the internet)
strong managerial and organisational competence
willingness to work in rural areas and under demanding conditions, including frequent travels to the field
ability and willingness to work in a team of national / international experts
personal flexibility and high motivation
very good command of the English language
very good communication skills
GIZ is an equal opportunity employer. Women and persons with disabilities are especially encouraged
to apply.
Interested candidates are asked to send/submit their application with a comprehensive CV including at least
3 reliable references and cover letter explaining their motivation as well as how their experience meets the
requirements latest by 16:00 Hr on 03rd of April 2015 to the HR Division of GIZ Office Vientiane, P.O. Box 9233,
Vientiane Capital, or e-mail to job-gizlaos@giz.de
All applications will be treated confidentially and only short-listed candidates will be notified.
Vientiane Times
JOB VACANCY
Head of Field Operations for CliPAD Houaphan
(Climate Protection through Avoided Deforestation)
Short background: The Climate Protection through Avoided Deforestation (CliPAD) Technical
Cooperation Module (TC) is a Lao-German Bilateral Project and is working together with theMinistry
for Natural Resources and Environment/Department of Forest Resource Management and the Ministry
of Agriculture and Forestry/Department of Forestryas well as with relatedauthorities in the Province of
Houaphan to develop REDD+ demonstration activities. The Head of Field Operation is responsible for the
coordination and implementation of REDD+ activities in the CliPAD target areas in Houaphan respectively
inthe two pilot districts Sam Neua and Houameuang. Furthermore, she/he provides technical advice on
village forest management in the pilot districts.
Starting Date: As soon as possible
Duration of Assignment: 30.September 2016 (with the possibility of annual extension until 2018)
Work Location: Sam Neua/Houaphan Province
Main tasks and responsibilities:
She/he shall
serve as a liaison officer and CliPAD TC focal point for the provincial and district governments to ensure
a close cooperation and the implementation of CliPAD field activities including financial management,
support REDD+ related planning processes under involvement of concerned government authorities
and local communities and develop in cooperation with partners concepts for REDD+ demonstration
activities such as village forestry management,
assist in identifying relevant and innovative capacity building measures for provincial and district
levels,
work closely with governmental and non-governmental organizations in training measures for village
forest management as well as REDD+ and coordinate/supervise the support of these processes,
conduct, prepare and organize relevant workshops, seminars, etc. for the implementation of CliPAD
activities on provincial and district levels,
ensure the monitoring and evaluation of all relevant activities and outputs widely independent,
undertake visits to the selected districts to ensure CliPAD partner activities are proceeding as planned,
do verbal and written translations from Lao into English and vice versa, whenever needed.
Experience and Qualifications:
She/he must/should have
a Degree in Forestry (B.Sc. or M.Sc.) and a Degree or Diploma in English,
minimum of 5 years working experience in the forestry sector,
good working knowledge of ITC technologies, computer applications (e.g. MS Office) and GIS/GPS,
working experiences on provincial and district levels,
good understanding of REDD+ and village forest management,
field work experience,
ability to work independently and to live and work in harsh and difficult conditions during field-work
assignments,
language proficiency in English and Lao,
strong communicative skills, in particular with regards to working with government officials.
GIZ is an equal opportunity employer. Women and persons with disabilities are especially
encouraged to apply.
Interested candidates are asked to submit an application CV and cover letter explaining how your
experience meets the requirements. The application deadline is on 31.03.2015 before 16:00 hr.
Applications should be sent to the HR Unit of GIZ Office Vientiane, P.O. Box 9233, Vientiane Capital,
or by e-mail to job-gizlaos@giz.de
All applications will be treated confidentially and only short-listed candidates will be notified.
Vientiane Times

Classified Monday March 30, 2015 27

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28 Classified Monday March 30, 2015 Vientiane Times

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Vientiane Times Monday March 30, 2015 29
Opinion
Streetwise

Whats your opinion of temple festivals?

Its good that we regularly hold traditional festivals in our temples because its a beautiful
aspect of our culture but sometimes those taking part dont act respectfully and forget the proper
procedures. Vientiane Times asked people for their thoughts and experiences of these festivities.
Patithin Phetmeuangphuan for people to get together left lying around for a long Khong Boun and a lot of
and share a special event. time and the monks have people cooking for guests.
Mr Boy Souvannala, a And since most people are to clean it up. I think the There were lots of people at
teacher from Borikhamxay Buddhists, it makes sense responsibility for this should the temple but it was quiet
province: Well, I suppose to hold these festivals at be passed on to the stallholder and there was no sign of any
some of the most common temples. But there are some and they should clean up alcohol. I asked my friends
festivals are Boun Phavat, activities that we should before they leave. about concerts and fairs and
drop, especially concerts, they said these never take
because everyone drinks Mr Lat Seang-Aloun, a place at temples because
a lot of alcohol and this businessman in Vientiane: its not allowed. Events like
does not reflect the values I often see people holding these are held somewhere
of Buddhism. Also, some concerts at temples in else because they want the
young men and women wear Vientiane and I thought temples to be kept quiet.
improper clothing, which is that what goes on there is They also dont want the
not something that should be quite normal. But I found temple grounds to have heaps
encouraged. So, yes, I think out it wasnt when I visited of litter everywhere.
its good to hold festivals at some friends in Khammuan They allow some people to
temples, but we should not
sell things in the temple province, because they set up stalls, but they have to We should encourage people
allow certain activities to take
grounds but never clean up dont hold concerts or clean up at the end of the day. to pick up the litter after a
place. afterwards. Its the same with fairs at temples. While I I think this is a good way of festival and ensure festivals
the makeshift games that was there I just saw some going about things and we are in keeping with Buddhist
Ms Nalitar Chanpheang, a people set up. These activities traditional activities like should emulate their example. principles.
student at the Institute of leave a lot of mess in their
Boun Pha Thai Khao and Economics and Finance: wake and I dont really Ms Sisaat, a company employee in
Boun Bang Fai. Some of I dont like many of the know whos responsible for Xaythany district, Vientiane: Holding
these are held at temples festivals in my village cleaning up all the litter. traditional festivals is part of Lao
because its a good place because so many stallholders Sometimes the rubbish is Buddhist culture and they inevitably
involve a lot of stalls selling things, and
a concert. My village often holds a Boun
Vientiane Times Subscription 2015 Phavat or Boun Bang Fai. I dont like to
go to the concerts at night because people
always end up fighting and getting drunk.
1. DOMESTIC SUBSCRIPTION (6 issues/week) and online fee And they always play very loud music
78 issues (3 months) 305,000k +100,000k 405,000k which I dont like, as I really dont think
Regular price 156 issues (6 months) 609,000k +100,000k 709,000k thats appropriate in temple grounds.
312 issues (1 year) 1,217,000k +100,000k 1,317,000k Sometimes the concerts go on for two
nights and last almost until the morning. I
Home Delivery (City Centre) 78 issues (3 months) 390,000k +100,000k 490,000k
Area: Thadeua Rd. Dongdok, think they should stop soon after midnight
156 issues (6 months) 780,000k +100,000k 880,000k
Ban Tanmixay and Sikhay because people want to get some sleep.
villages. 312 issues (1 year) 1,560,000k +100,000k 1,660,000k Concerts really arent the right kind of
2. DOMESTIC SUBSCRIPTION FOR PROVINCES (6 issues/week), inclusive of postage cost activity for a temple because of all the
drinking and dancing. Temples should
156 issues (6 months) 1,451,000k
Deliver to Provinces be reserved for peace and praying, so
312 issues (1 year) 2,902,000k festivals should not be rowdy events.
Deliver to Provinces 156 issues (6 months) 1,451,000k +100,000k 1,551,000k
+ online fee 312 issues (1 year) 2,902,000k +100,000k 3,002,000k

3. OVERSEAS SUBSCRIPTION (6 issues/week) and online fee Total + Online fee

156 issues (6 months) 3,328,000k +100,000k 3,428,000k

Thailand, Vietnam,
Cambodia 312 issues (1 year) 7,488,000k +100,000k 7,588,000k

Asia, Australia & New 156 issues (6 months) 4,368,000k

On the occasion of the 60th

+100,000k 4,468,000k
Zealand
312 issues (1 year) 8,736,000k +100,000k 8,836,000k

Anniversary
156 issues (6 months) 4,992,000k +100,000k 5,092,000k
Europe (Including Russia)
312 issues (1 year) 9,984,000k +100,000k 10,084,000k

of the Founding of the Lao Peoples

156 issues (6 months) 6,240,000k +100,000k 6,340,000k
America and Canada
312 issues (1 year) 12,480,000k +100,000k 12,580,000k

4. ONLINE SUBSCRIPTION FEE

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30 Special Report Monday March 30, 2015 Vientiane Times

Speech by Comrade Choummaly Sayasone, Party Secretary General and President

of the Lao PDR delivered at the Grand Meeting to mark the 60th Anniversary of the
Founding of the Lao Peoples Revolutionary Party
(At the National Convention Centre, Vientiane, March 21, 2015)

From last issue
Continue expanding
economic sectors in which our
country has potential, such as
agriculture and forestry, the
processing industry (especially
the processing of agriculture and
forestry products), the electricity
sector (especially hydropower),
transnational tourism and
services connectivity to boost
the building of the agriculture
and forestry economic structure
associated with creating more
industry and services in various
regions across the country,
narrowing the development gap
and prosperity disparity between
urban and rural areas and among
regions so that all regions are
strongly developed.
We should all acknowledge
that the development destination
aims to improve the livelihoods
of multiethnic people and bring
prosperity. Therefore, along with
developing mega projects and
large-scale businesses as capital
for the countrys development,
comprehensive action must
be put in place to promote the
business operations of the people,
beginning with family-run
businesses (small-scale family
businesses, expanded family
businesses), and all economic
sectors into utilising local
potential to boost and expand
production in accordance with
commercial production projects
and food security projects.
In the coming years, we
must view poverty alleviation
in association with strengthening
political ideology at the grassroots
level and comprehensive rural
development in accordance with
the four development-based
contents and four development-
based targets as our overall
focal duty, which all the central
and local sectors must properly
supervise, allocate capital, and
assign technical officials for the
serious implementation of these
activities.
Local and grassroots level
authorities must continue to
explore and define the untapped
potential of agricultural
cultivation, animal husbandry
and local services that best match
the real circumstances. After
this, commercial production
projects must be drawn up
based on local potential and the
traditions of the local people
associated with economic
integration between the various
Create conditions for Lao compatriots
living in other countries to return to their
homeland and participate in the nations
development.
localities. Responsibilities
must be assigned to those in
charge to realise the projects,
for which financial, technical
and marketing support must
be assured. A tax and customs
incentive policy must be
worked out for remote areas,
while focal zones for poverty
alleviation need to be allocated
in parallel with formulating
development projects with clear
implementation measures, while
sources of financing and budgets
must be identified and allocated
appropriately.
Meanwhile, adhering to the
Partys practice to harmonise
economic development with
social and cultural development
and bring about both material
and spiritual wellbeing, greater
attention and importance must
be given to the development
of social and cultural fields
in the coming years. In this
regard, education development
or human resource development
must be a central duty with a
focus on accelerating progress
towards achieving the goal of
ensuring that the Lao people are
comprehensively developed in
terms of ideology, revolutionary
morale, knowledge, expertise,
and good health.
In order to achieve these
goals, we must continue to
reform the national education
system by paying greater
importance to upgrading the
quality of education in parallel
with expanding education
opportunities, especially
for ethnic groups, girls, and
underprivileged people. It must
be assured that three educational
characteristics are carried out
in harmonisation, namely:
nationalism characteristic,
scientific-modern characteristic,
and populism characteristic. We
must ensure that Lao people are
knowledgeable and conditions
are created for their further
learning to strengthen their
creative ability so they become
good citizens with a strong
sense of patriotism, solidarity,
generosity and enthusiasm to
preserve the nations sound
traditions and culture along with
ethnic groups, as well as being
hospitable to our international
friends.
Education development
in the coming years remains
focused on training people
in various fields with greater
quality and quantity, in order to
fulfill the demand for personnel
by Party and State organisations
as well as the whole of society.
Therefore, our Party continues
to implement its policy of
promoting all economic sectors
and people of all social strata to
participate in the expansion of
education, especially vocational
education at all levels in various
subjects in line with the demand
for labour, national economic
structure and international
integration.
Simultaneously, education
expansion must be promoted
firmly with a focus on people
in rural areas in order to
alleviate poverty by attaching
great importance to eradicating
illiteracy alongside teaching
basic knowhow on commercial
crop cultivation and animal
husbandry, and other knowledge
concerning daily activities and
livelihoods. Continue to pay
attention to addressing all issues
to ensure that development
progresses, while social order
and stability are maintained.
Such harmonisation is regarded
as an important basic element for
the construction of our nation and
new regime. Development and
security are basic and important
duties. Without security and
stability, no work can be carried
out and the achievements we
gained will be lost. Therefore,
the Three Builds Devolution
Initiative of the Politburo must be
regarded as the guiding direction
for development. We must all
acknowledge that development
means bringing liveliness to
society, bolstering national
growth, and representing the
factors that guarantee the
security and stability of the
nation.
We should acknowledge
the reality that the new
process of change has brought
forces and liveliness to drive
the nations development.
However, it simultaneously
has introduced new disputes
which requires us to urgently
address. This is the nature
of a growing society and we
must learn and adapt ourselves
accordingly by accepting the
reality and working out basic
materials and mechanisms to
properly mitigate and address
the disputes in a timely fashion.
Therefore, we must intensify the
efficiency of the management of
state and society in line with the
direction of Party leadership,
the rule of law, and peoples
participation, to maintain social
security and solidarity with firm
and continuous development.
The development of our
nation in the current era is
associated with international
integration. Therefore, we
must continue to adhere to
our consistent foreign affairs
policy of peace, independence,
friendship and cooperation,
opening up to external relations
with foreign countries and
regions in multidirectional,
multilateral, multilevel and
multi forms, based on national
interests. Continue to improve
and enhance friendly relations,
solidarity, and comprehensive
cooperation with friendly
strategic countries, while
strengthening relations and
cooperation with neighbouring
countries. Be active in
participating in Asean activities
and frameworks based on
common interest and mutual
assistance in accordance with
the core principles as indicated
in the Asean Charter. Continue
to maintain relations with
developed and developing
countries, the Non-Aligned
Movement, Group of 77,
Francophonie countries,
landlocked developing
countries, and other international
organisations. Increase public
diplomacy work, create
conditions for Lao compatriots
living in other countries to return
to their homeland and participate
in the nations development.
Support nations fighting for
peace, oppose the threats of
war, the arms race and terrorism
towards the formation of global
political and economic rule
through democracy and justice.
To be continued

The World Bank

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Vientiane Times
Remote area harbours Laos cleanest village
Patithin Phetmeuangphuan
I
ts quite difficult to find a
clean area in some parts
of poor countries because
it seems theres always
a problem with garbage.
Laos, for example, is strewn
with various kinds of rubbish
wherever you look.
Cleanliness depends on the
actions of the people who live
nearby. One would think that
nobody wants to live in a place
thats dirty or has litter lying
around, but apparently in many
parts of Laos this is acceptable.
Last week, however, I
made a refreshing visit to a
remote village in Ngoi district,
Luang Prabang province, in the
company of other Lao media
personnel and World Vision
staff.
Upon our arrival in the
village of Huayhang, I was
immediately heartened to see
that it was very clean. I had
not seen such a clean village
anywhere else in Laos.
Walking around, I couldnt
see a scrap of litter on the
ground or in peoples yards -
just some home-made bamboo
containers that had been placed
outside the houses to collect
any rubbish.
I also really liked the design
of the houses. They were small
but attractive and were built in
typical Lao style.
Life is fairly comfortable
for the villagers as they have
small gardens behind their
houses and on the riverbank.
They can also find vegetables
Turkey investing in coal despite cheaper
Sean Buchanan
G E N E VA ( I P S ) - - I n
response to rising demand
for electricity, pressure
to keep prices affordable
and a need to maintain
e n e r g y s e c u r i t y, t h e
Turkish government plans
to increase electricity
generation from coal.
According to a report
on Subsidies to Coal and
Renewable Energy in Turkey
released on Mar. 24,
Turkey already spent
more than US$730 million
in subsidies to the coal
industry in 2013. This figure,
says the report, does not
even count subsidies under
the Turkish governments
New Investment Incentive
Scheme, which provides
tax breaks and low-cost loans
to coal projects, so the true
This house is a fine example of the dwellings in Huayhang village.
and wildlife in the forests as an
additional source of food.
Huayhang village was poor
but it was evident that the
residents were concerned with
cleanliness as there are very
few other villages as clean as
this one.
The village chief, Mr
Somphone Sayakone, said
cleaning was very important
for the people who lived in
the area.
Weve been taking part
in a project run by World
Vision to encourage people to
respect a clean environment
and to keep their homes and
renewable energy
figure is likely to be even higher.
The report, by the
International Institute for
Sustainable Development
(IISD), says that the Turkish
government is planning to triple
generation from coal by 2030
despite the fact that renewable
energy is already cheaper than
coal when external costs, such
as health and environmental
damage caused by burning
coal, are taken into account.
According to the report,
the country has developed
a strategy focusing on
developing domestic coal
resources, such that growth in
coal-fired power generation is
expected to be highest of all
Organisation for Economic
Cooperation and Development
(OECD) countries.
Nevertheless, this strategy
also acknowledges the
importance of environmental
neighbourhood clean. We
passed on the responsibility for
this to the women because we
think they are better at this kind
of work, Mr Somphone said.
Every house here has its
own rubbish container and the
family cleans around the house
as often as they can.
Its very important to teach
children the importance of a
clean environment, and school
is the best place to instill the
right attitude. The village
school holds cleaning activities
a few times a week when the
children clean up the school
grounds and sometimes walk
protection and emissions
reduction, and foresees a
much larger role for renewable
energy in the energy future.
The report comes at a
Electricity from wind power is half the
cost of electricity from coal,
and solar power is also marginally
cheaper than coal.
time when public and private
institutions are under mounting
pressure to stop investing in
coal mining companies.
Subsidies for coal lock
in coal power for another
generation when renewable
sources of energy are less
costly for society in economic,
around the village collecting
litter.
Huayhang village takes
cleanliness seriously and has
made regulations that forbid
the disposal of rubbish in
public areas. If someone breaks
the rules they can be fined
100,000 or 200,000 kip
The village was formed in
1996 and at that time was home
to 46 families. Now it has 76
families of 364 people. Most
of the residents are Hmong and
Khmu and are all farmers.
The village is far from
any urban centre and has no
road access. We had to make
social and environmental
terms, said Sevil Acar,
Assistant Professor at Istanbul
Kemerburgaz University and
one of the reports authors.
The report says that when
the costs of coal are compared
with the costs of wind and solar
energy, taking into account
environmental and health costs,
electricity from wind power is
half the cost of electricity from
coal, and solar power is also
marginally cheaper than coal.
Monday March 30, 2015
Development
These signs indicate the progress made by Huayhang village on
the road to development.
our way there by boat a
trip of about 45 minutes.
There are no fixed times for
boat departures; passengers
simply make their way to the
boat dock in the town of Ngoi
and ask for someone to take
them to the village. The trip
costs 30,000 per person.
Mr Somphone said the
villagers are keen to keep
their community clean
because they want to repay
the kindness shown to them
by World Vision, whose staff
have often come to help with
various problems.
Not everyone was sure
This study provides
further evidence to support
the case for eliminating fossil-
fuel subsidies once and for all,
said Peter Wooders, director
of IISDs Energy Programme.
As a G20 country that has
already committed to phasing
out inefficient fossil-fuel
subsidies, this is a call to action
for Turkey.
According to the report, just
over half of Turkeys subsidies
are used to provide coal to
31
how they could achieve
World Visions goals, he said,
but they were happy to follow
through with what they had
been taught in pursuit of
the overall objective of
having a good education and
good health, and a source of
income.
Huayhang village is small
but it has garnered several
awards from the government.
It has been named Ban 3 Saath
for its cleanliness efforts,
while another sign proclaims
t h e Wo m e n s U n i o n 3
aspects to be considered as
good village.
low-income households
and while these serve the
important goal of improving
energy access, they come at
a high health cost and are
no replacement for social
security programmes.
The report recommends
a gradual phase-out of
these subsidies in favour
of more efficient measures
to support access to
energy and support social
welfare.
Meanwhile, notes the
report, coal also remains
a significant employer
in many areas, and any
moves away from coal
use would need detailed
planning to ensure that
affected communities can
benefit from compensation
measures and additional
job creation from new
technologies.
32 Lifestyle Monday March 30, 2015
From branding guru to traditional arts patron
Lee Sun-young
REPUBLIC OF KOREA (The
Korea Herald) -- At the hill of
Mount Namsan, where a sprawling
metropolis of 10.5 million starts to
give way to a forest of leafy trees, a
small museum opened in December.
Nestled inside are wooden
chests, tables, jewelry boxes and
other intricate craftworks lacquered
and decorated with exquisite
mother-of-pearl inlays. Everything
inside is the private collection of
Sohn Hye-won.
I never thought that I would
really do this -- open a museum,
said Sohn, 60, in an interview at the
Korea Mother-Of-Pearl Art Museum.
Maybe I am just crazy.
To open the museum in this
hillside building, she relocated
Crosspoint, a top-notch brand design
and naming company and her main
source of income, to another building
just 20 meters down the hill.
On weekdays, I am mostly at my
office, sometimes working 15 hours
a day. Then on weekends, I tend to
this museum and artisans of najeon
chilgi (the Korean traditional craft of
lacquerware inlaid with mother-of-
pearl) Sohn said.
At Crosspoint, she is the epitome
of success.
Fiercely independent, confident
and determined to continue her
winning streak, she leads a team of
the industrys top-notch designers
and branding experts in the money-
spinning market world.
Many of her creations are
household names now, such as
Chinese sports star gets model makeover
Sun Yuanqing
CHINA (China Daily) -- Lin Dan is best
known as the invincible Super Dan on
the badminton court, but he is also pretty
fierce in a designer suit.
Last week in Shanghai, the two-time
Olympic badminton gold medal winner
published an album of photos of himself
in collaboration with Italian design duo
Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana.
A-listers, supermodels including
Naomi Campell, Du Juan and Carina
Lau, socialites and top clients, came to
celebrate the new book at an extravagant
banquet in the Shanghai Exhibition
Centre. DJs and dancers flown in from
the UK kept the party going late into
the night.
Styled by Gabbana and photographed
by Dolce, the book depicts Lin as a new
icon of masculinity. He poses in a variety
of settings from a tailors studio to a posh
restaurant to a magnificent mansion.
The book, as well as T-shirts with
Lins image, are now available in all
Dolce & Gabbana stores in China.
Dolce and Gabbana have dressed
famous athletes from soccer club AC
Milan to the Italian National Football
Team. The Italian designers met Lin
at a party in Beijing four years ago. A
longtime fan of the brand, Lin soon
bonded with the designers and became
a frequent guest at their shows.
The commanding and charismatic
personality of Lin Dan has intrigued us
since the first time we met. His aesthetic
sensibility, his taste for beauty, his
elegance and innate affinity for fashion
impressed us immediately, Dolce and
Sohn Hye-won, director of the Korea Mother-Of-Pearl Art Museum and CEO of
brand designing and naming firm Crosspoint, smiles at one of her museums
exhibition rooms at the foot of Mount Namsan, Seoul.
Dimchae kimchi refrigerators,
Tr o m m w a s h i n g m a c h i n e s ,
Xcanvas TV sets, Hillstate idle and watch them give up on their
apartments and Chum Churum soju.
The hefty bonuses and fat
paychecks from these creations go
into her crazy other profession. In
the world of najeon chilgi, money
seems to flow in only one direction
-- out of her pocket.
Artisans who she thinks so highly
of lack the basic means to continue
their trade because there is no market
Gabbana write in the preface of the
book.
Lin was named brand ambassador
in 2013. The fashion-conscious athlete
came up with the idea of making a photo
book and the designers were delighted
to collaborate with him on the project.
Number one, he is Chinese. And
this is the first time for us to collaborate
with a Chinese sportsman. Number two,
he has very good style and nice looks.
Its not easy to find a sporty and popular
champion with style. Its like David
Beckham in Europe, says Gabbana.
The pictures were taken over the
course of two years in different locations
and with different collections.
The looks are a mix of classic Dolce
& Gabbana, which the designers chose
for Lin, and the more fashionable pieces,
which Lin chose for himself.
He is a new face of the new Chinese
generation, Dolce says. It could be
surprising for the Chinese audience to
see an athlete styled like a movie actor
and icon.
Best known for its sensual
Mediterranean style, the brand will be
able to attract more young consumers
through the collaboration with Lin,
experts say.
Lin Dan is the right fit for Dolce
& Gabbana, says Melody Kong, a
business analyst from China Market
Research Group in Shanghai.
He has a model-like body, he
is charming, good-looking, healthy,
powerful, hardworking and successful.
Currently the brand image that Dolce &
Gabbana has in China is luxury, sexy,
feminine and extravagant. Lin Dan
for their works.
But she said she cant just sit
she said, pointing at her overcoat
time-honored trade, so she plays every
role that she can -- patron, collector,
exhibition curator, publisher, publicist
and marketer.
Im in two completely different
worlds. The gap is so wide that
sometimes I find myself wondering
what on earth am I doing here?
Hearing her speak, one has to
wonder what it is about mother-of-
could bring a more up-to-date image and
help the brand better target successful,
affluent young professionals, Kong
says.
The house has previously used
actresses Monica Bellucci and Scarlett
Johansson to represent the brand in
public. It has also dressed several
female Chinese stars including Fan
Bingbing and Bai Baihe. But it is yet
to have a female Chinese ambassador.
The designers believe everything
has to come from genuine, personal
connections.
Everything starts with a
relationship. I cant program something
from a picture. For example, we found
Lin Dan and he came to see the show.
Day by day, it has grown. Its like
you meet somebody and you become
friends. We dont want to choose from
a catalog, says Gabbana.
Just months ago, the designers made
a special capsule collection for the
Chinese New Year, which highlights the
signature Chinese red.
Do you know why Im so envious
of the Chinese? Everything looks good
on them. Im not always like this,
Gabbana says, laughing. We love the
contrast between the Sicilian style and
the Asian people.
The first customer of Dolce and
Gabbana is the Chinese, not just the
Chinese from China, but the Chinese
from the world. For us, the Chinese
culture is exotic, unusual and elegant at
the same time, he adds.
Chinese clients now frequent Alta
Moda, the haute couture line of the
brand that began in 2012. The shows
pearl art that she admires so much.
Love?
No. Its not love, Sohn quickly
answered.
Whats driving her is, ironically,
the same part of her that brought her
success in the field of brand name
development, she said.
As a naming expert, I am trained
to see the core value of objects. I am
also trained to sense what the mass
desires, she said. All of my senses
tell me that najeon chilgi will take off
globally.
The artistry and sophistication
of mother-of-pearl art in Korea is
unrivalled in the world, she continued.
The craft of pasting the inner lining
of the abalone onto woodenware
using lacquer originated in China, but
it flourished here during the Goryeo
Dynasty (918-1392).
The traditional craft, however, has
lost ground and is now at the brink of
dying out as Koreans have quickly
developed a taste for Western designs.
Sohn also felt the same until just eight
years ago.
I am trained in modern designs
and I have loved foreign brands.
The past me wouldnt even think
of wearing hanbok like this one,
to commit herself to the overseas
inspired by the traditional Korean
costume.
Sohns first encounter with
the traditional art of najeon chilgi
dates back to 2006 in the southern
port city of Tongyeong where she
was developing a logo for the city
government.
She met Song Bang-ung, a master
artisan based in the city, and ended up
(From left) Domenico Dolce, Lin Dan and Stefano Gabbana in Shanghai on March
19 at Lins book signing.
have been held in exotic venues such
as Capri, Venice and Sicily. Only top
clients and a handful of selected media
are invited. The number of Chinese
clients has grown to around five, all of
whom the designers have come to know
personally.
We become friends. Its like a
Dolce & Gabbana family, Gabbana
says. During the party in Shanghai, these
VIP clients naturally become the focus
of attention with their gorgeous dresses
the designers have personally tailored
for them.
Dolce and Gabbana have been
working together for more than 30 years.
Regardless of the ups and downs in their
personal relationship, their collaboration
has never stopped taking the fashion
world by storm. The latest example
Vientiane Times
buying several of his works. Since
then, she has collected over 300
najeon chilgi items, pouring nearly
5 billion won (US$5.4 million) into
the art.
In najeon chilgi, I saw what can
be the representative art of Korea.
But, obviously, no one other than
me must have seen it, because it was
dying, she said.
In 2012, she set up Highhand,
which sells high-quality but
reasonably priced najeon chilgi items
with modern designs. It was a move
intended at cultivating the market, but
also to preserve the craft for future
generations.
In 2013-2014, as an artistic
director she organised Constancy and
Change in Korean Traditional Craft
during an international furniture fair
in Milan, Italy.
The two overseas exhibitions were
a spectacular success, Sohn said, and
convinced her that she was right about
najeon chilgi.
The British Museum and the
Victoria and Albert Museum in
London bought some of the works
that I selected and curated. That really
meant a lot for me, she said.
Going forward, Sohn wants
promotion of najeon chilgi, starting
right here at her hillside museum.
Currently, it is holding an
exhibition of 33 najeon chilgi artists
from the 19th century up until now.
It is going to be shown at four
countries this year, she said.
I believe in this (najeon chilgi)
and I am happy to be doing this. I
am doing the right thing then, right?
is the 2016 winter collection inspired
by the love for mamma, featuring
pregnant models and small children in
the brands dazzling dresses.
Asked about the secret of working
together so well for so long, the two
burst into laughter.
Its like the Chinese saying of the
yin and yang. The opposites attract. If
you have the white, you need the black.
If you eat rice all the time, you dont
know the spaghetti, Dolce says.
Gabbana says, jokingly, that one
would have to consult a mystic to learn
how the two have worked together for
so long.
We love each other. We are like two
brothers, modern brothers. I believe in
him and he believes in me. I love him
and he loves me. Its a sense of family.
Vientiane Times
Voicing diversity
through books
REPUBLIC OF KOREA (The Korea
Herald) -- Growth is conspicuously
absent in Koreas book industry, as
evidenced by the number of bookstores
closing down in Seoul.
Yet, a new type of publishing is
on the rise, attracting readers, writers
and sellers with rarely-written about
topics, creative new designs and a
niche approach.
Independent publishing, which
covers both self-publishing and small,
independent press, is a rare bright
spot in the countrys moribund book
industry, said Kim Kwang-chul,
the owner of Propaganda Press, an
independent publisher, who recently
curated a special exhibition on
independent publishing at the National
Library of Korea.
A look at the overall book industry
data illustrates this.
The number of registered publishers
has grown to 42,000 from 16,000 in
Monday March 30, 2015 33
Arts & Leisure
books, stationery, and photographs not
easily found in big bookstore chains.
I learnt about this place from
my professor, said Shin Jin-ah, a
24-year-old design student copiously
navigating through books at the shop.
(I am surprised that) there are so many
creative people making their own
unique books. I definitely want to come
back for inspiration and enjoyment.
The humble-sized bookstore is
filled with visitors, usually in their
20s and 30s. Most of them learn about
the place through SNS and the official
website, which launched a year before
the store opened, Iro, the shops owner
explained.
When I first started, more people
bought the books through our website.
But now, the percentage has drastically
shifted toward offline sales, he said.
He believes independent publishing
brings something distinctive to the Lao women in leadership roles film posters.
industry.

Short films highlight womens

2000, while the bookstores suffered a
sharp decline in 1994, there were
5,683 bookshops in the country, but
only 1,625 remain.
The rise of independent publishing
I dont really see independent
publishing as an alternative or a real
threat to the industry, he said.
In the large pie of publishing, there
are tiny crumbles and thats where

is beneficial for the whole industry,
injecting a breath of fresh air into
the sector long dominated by mega
publishing houses, said Seomun
Hyung-chul, an official at the Ministry
of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
It is a sign of cultural diversity
and peoples increasing interest in
producing their own creative works,
he said.
The National Library exhibit,
which runs until the end of March,
is a timely event that sheds light on
key characteristics of independent
publishing, bringing together over
600 titles.
The subjects covered are
seemingly limitless, ranging from
design and photography to travel,
although publishers tend to be artists
or designers, it shows.
A fashion magazine with only
plus-sized models 66100, an A to Z
on zombies Zombie Dictionary, and
an essay How to Sharpen Pencils are
some of the titles that saw the light of
day thanks to independent publishers.
It is neither market-oriented
nor reader-oriented, said Kim, the
curator. The books are published for
the sake of the publishers as a means
of expressing their own visions and
goals, he added.
Specializing in such unique,
independent publishing comes in, he
went on. There are consumers who
desire something peculiar, unique or
different.
Catering to the minority is their
strength, and weakness, Iro said.
Its not a high-return business,
nor does it entail high risk. So if you
are satisfied with that nature, its an
interesting industry to be in.
For Helen Ku, who owns The Book
Society, another bookstore specializing
in independent publications and small
press, the business is not just about
selling books.
Her bookshop, tucked away on
a side alley of Tongui-dong, gives
such a workroom ambience that it has
become a hideout for writers, artists
and designers who often stop by and
hang out for a while.
Ku wanted it to be like that ever
since she opened it in 2010.
A small but talkative store
that is what we aim to be, said Ku,
who runs the store with her husband.
A bookstore is where people can
meet up, so using that characteristic
and developing on that, we thought
we can create a place where people
can exchange diverse ideas and
knowledge.
In alignment with the vision, she
holds exhibitions, book launching
leadership roles
Dr Bounchom Vongphet speaks at the
press conference.
Sonesavanh Souliyaphack
A series of 12 short films about
Lao Women in Leadership Roles
was launched last Friday at the
Ministry of Information, Culture and
Tourisms Cinema Department in
Kaoyot village, Vientiane.
The objective of the films is to
give students over the age of 14 an
understanding of the importance,
motivation and creation of social
and gender equity as a positive
change.
The 12-film series features the
same actress but in different roles,
such as teacher, head of a village,
a businesswoman involved with
silk and handicrafts, working in
healthcare, clearing unexploded
bombs, plus working in agriculture
and other fields. All have the
common theme that a woman can
be successful, a leader in their area
and an outstanding role model for
others in society.
This film series was created
as a cooperative project between
the Cinema Department, Ministry
of Education and Sports, Oxfam,
DokLao Discovery of Lao Knowledge
Centre, Participatory Development
Training Centre (PADETC), the
Swiss Agency for Development and
Cooperation (SDC) in Laos, and the
Vientianale film festival.
A press conference to launch
the short film series was opened
by Director General of the Cinema
Department, Dr Bounchom Vongphet,
and Deputy Director of PADETC,
Mr Kolaka Buandaoheuang and
a representative from Oxfam, Mr
Inpane Bolihane.
In the past, women cared for their
families and now they also have key
roles in society. Women have played a
big part in developing the country and
now they are in important positions
of government, said Dr Bounchom.
The films will be screened at
42 schools nationally this year with
12 secondary schools in Vientiane
viewing them from March 30 to April
24. After being shown in the capital,
the film series will be screened in
seven provinces.

In the mood for love

independently-published collections
is Your Mind, a bookshop in the back
alley of Hongdae, Seoul.
Opened in 2009, as the first
independent bookstore in the
neighborhood, Your Mind is a haven
for those treasure-hunting for design
magazines, artsy collectibles, indie
Indie books are displayed on the shelf of Gagarin bookstore in Jongno, central Seoul.
events, discussion sessions, movie
nights and other cultural events at her
store throughout the year.
On the Table is one such event
at The Book Society. Every month,
different artists showcase their works
on the wooden table in the corner of
the bookstore.
THAILAND (The Nation) -- Going
to a Jason Mraz concert is a little like
attending a motivational talk. And
indeed there was much posititivity in the
air at Impact Arena last Saturday where
Mraz and the all-girl rock outfit Raining
Jane staged their acoustic show. When
the singer was not strumming his guitar
and singing, he was busy preaching
about his brand of fedora hat-flavoured
happiness and organic farming.
Granted, Mraz mostly sang sunny,
upbeat songs. His opening number,
Love Someone, the lead single from
his Yes! album, put the audience in
the right mood for what was to come.
Mraz shared the stage with Raining
Jane, his collaborators on the Yes!
album and the girls very much owned
the show thanks to an impressively
wide musical repertoire. Between
the four of them, the ladies play the
piano, guitar, cello, drums, keyboard,
ukulele and sitar and were happy to
show off their talents on Saturday
night.
The Los Angeles-based group is a
Mraz long-time collaborator, having co-
written his 2008 hit A Beautiful Mess.
Mrazs motivational speaker mode
was fully switched on during the third
song Dynamo of Volition. Calling on
the audience to join him in a little dance,
he asked them to give him a high ten
just like holding two pizzas.
His adoring fans gladly obliged, and
Mraz rewarded them with more positive
quips. Mraz also offered concert-goers
a piece of advice - on the days that you
wake up on the wrong side of the bed,
go back to sleep again. Mraz said he
wrote the song Hello, You Beautiful
Thing on such a day and went back to
sleep after that.
The audience went wild when he
sang Lucky, the famous duet that has
been added to many wedding playlists
since its release. Raining Jane filled in
the female vocals for Colbie Caillat this
time and their rich harmony a capella-
style gave it a refreshing quality. Mraz
underlined his camaraderie with the
girls, calling them the Girls to Man
group and goofing around on stage
striking funny poses.
Not to be outshone by his very able
collaborators, Mrazs onstage antics
showcased his dexterity with the guitar.
He played the guitar backwards while
holding it over his head and put his piano
skills on full display during the song Mr
Curiosity.
The audience also discovered his
operatic talent during that song, though
he joked it had taken a long time to learn
to lip synch the part.
Among the songs Mraz performed
on Saturday night was a personal
favourite, The Remedy, a number
less known by the younger audience
but an earlier work with a much more
distinctive style than his current singles.
Equally enjoyable and touching was the
soulful Frank D Fixer off his Love is
a Four Letter Word album, which pays
tribute to his grandfather, the handyman
of the family who emigrated from
Austria to the United States.
34 Monday March 30, 2015
Party anniversary
tennis tournament
The National Tennis Association in cooperation with Born To B
Company is holding the 2015 Born To B Tennis Tournament,
to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Lao Peoples
Revolutionary Party and develop Lao tennis players.
The registration fee is 100,000kip for junior players and
150,000 for adults. The tournament is open to all and anyone
interested can get an application form at the Chao Anouvong
Tennis Club near the Chao Anouvong Stadium.
When: March 22 to April 12. Junior events run from 9am to
noon and 2-5pm. The adult competition starts at 5pm.
Where: Chao Anouvong tennis courts.
Contract: Email: laotennis@yahoo.com
AFC U-23
Football Matches
Laos will host the AFC U-23 Football Championship
Qualifier matches, Group J.
When: Laos v Mongolia on March 29, at 7pm
Laos v China on March 31, at 7pm
Where: Km 16 National Stadium and broadcasts on TV Lao
Entrance: 10,000 kip and 20,000 kip
New Zealand Scholarships
New Zealand has opened the opportunity for students who
would like to study in the country.
Where: 2015 applications are now available from Vientiane
College.
When: Closing date March 31, 5pm
For more information contact: www.aid.govt.nz/schols or
www.vientianecollege .com or email nzas@
vientianecollege.com
Painting Exhibition
The Exhibition Room at the National Institute of Fine Arts
carries a permanent display of captivating paintings by Lao
artists.
Where: Khounboulom Road in Chanthabouly district,
Vientiane
When: Every Monday-Friday from 8am-4pm; Weekends from
9am-4pm
Vientiane Times
Whats On
State bookshop Free vaccinations
The National
Expanded
Programme
of
Immunisation
will provide
free
vaccinations
against
Japanese
encephalitis
for children aged 1 to 15 in the central and southern provinces
from April 20 to 30.
Children in Xaysomboun, Borikhamxay, Vientiane, Khammuan,
Savannakhet, Champassak, Xekong, Attapeu and Saravan
Many kinds of books are available at the State
provinces and those in the capital can all receive the vaccine
at provincial and district hospitals and dispensaries.
Publishing and Book Distribution House. Books
including politics, literature for kids and adults,
story books, social and science books, notebooks,
textbooks, dictionaries, newspapers and Lao and
foreign magazines.
Lao Peoples Army Museum
The shop also distributes handmade products and Local residents and tourists are invited to visit the Lao
office supplies.
Peoples Army Museum to learn about past battles, the
Where: Setthathirath Road in Xiengyeun village,
brave acts of Lao soldiers, national defence and the
Chanthabouly district in Vientiane.
Open: Monday to Saturday from 8am to 4pm development of the army.
Contact: 021 255 071; 212 472-5 or fax: 021 212 472 The museum displays weapons used during war time
and information about the birthplace of the Lao Peoples
Army and its history, as well as detailed accounts of
battles against foreign invaders. Visitors will learn about
the victories of the Lao military and people at each stage
of the revolution, and can view pictures of the enemies
who destroyed parts of the country and oppressed ethnic
groups.
The museum also details the growth and expansion of the
army after the liberation of the country in 1975.
When: Open daily from 8.30am-11.30am and 1.30pm-
4pm.
Where: Kaysone Phomvihane Road near That Luang
esplanade in Nongsangthor village, Xaysettha district,
Vientiane.
For more information contact: 021 900 662
Pon Bee Sim
Merit makers can
attend a ceremony to
celebrate and seal the
Bee Sim in a new hall
at a Vientiane temple.
Where:
Appeal for Donations Panakhounkhien
Temple in Phonkhor
A donation centre is being set up to help children in rural village, Xaythany
areas. Donations of educational materials, sports equipment, district
clothing, snacks and cash are needed. It is hoped to provide When: April 1-11
basic English books for students.
The provisions will be distributed to schools in Xiengxeu,
Nameuang, Phouxay, Viengxay, Fongxang and school
groups in Viengxay district, Huaphan province. Indonesian Scholarship
When: Donations will be accepted from today and will be
handed over to schools from April 11-15.
The Government of the Republic of Indonesia offering
Where: Lao Giver Centre in Dondaeng village, close to the Developing Countries Partnership (Master Program)
Dondaeng bridge in Chanthabouly district, Vientiane. Scholarship 2015. All applicants must submit the
requirements document to the Indonesian Embassy and
complete the online application process through the
The Vientiane Times welcomes website www.knb.dikti.go.id.
notices from members of the public for Where: The Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in
announcement on this page. Any events Vientiane
or functions open to the general public When: Closing date 28 April 2015
are suitable for publishing. For more information contact the Embassy of the
Contact: chanfeature@hotmail.com Republic of Indonesia in Vientiane: 021 413900, 020
76755866, www.knb.dikti.go.id
Vientiane Times
Italys Luca Antonelli (centre) takes a shot at goal as Bulgarias goalkeeper Nikolay Mihaylov (right)
tries to stop him, during a Euro 2016, Group H, qualifying match at the Vassil Levski stadium in Sofia,
Bulgaria on Saturday.
Italy held 2-2 in Bulgaria; Croatia
tops Group H by 2 points
A late equalizer from striker
Eder on debut rescued a 2-2
draw for Italy at Bulgaria
in European Championship
qualifying, although the
Azzurri dropped two points
behind Croatia in Group H on
Saturday.
Italy took the lead with an
own goal from Yordan Minev,
but Bulgaria struck back with
scores by Ivelin Popov and
Ilian Micanski in the opening
17 minutes.
In the 84th, Brazilian-
born Eder controlled well just
beyond the area, spun around
his marker, and curled a shot
into the far corner.
It was a perfect response
to controversy over foreign-
born players this week, with
Inter Milan manager Roberto
Mancini saying The Italian
national team should be
Italian.
I respect everyones
opinion but I think all this
controversy is useless, said
Eder, who has nine goals for
Azerbaijan insists European Games
safe despite violence
MOSCOW (AP) -- Azerbaijan
insists its hosting of the
European Games in June will
be safe despite clashes over the
separatist Nagorno-Karabakh
region last week which left at
least three dead.
Azerbaijan and neighbouring
Armenia, which backs the
separatists, have remained
technically at war since a conflict
over Nagorno-Karabakh in the
late 1980s and early 1990s.
Azerbaijan foreign ministry
spokesman Hikmet Hajiyev
told The Associated Press in
e-mailed comments that the
games would not be affected by
the fighting, pointing out that
the region affected is more than
400 kilometers from the venues
and that fighting is confined to
the separatist region.
He added that safety and a
peaceful environment for both
the athletes competing in the
Games and for the spectators in
attendance will be provided.
The defence ministry of the
separatist Nagorno-Karabakh
Sampdoria this season. I just
hope I can secure some more
playing time with this shirt.
Earlier in Zagreb, Croatia
convincingly beat Norway
5-1 with goals from Marcelo
Brozovic, Ivan Perisic, Ivica
Olic, Gordon Schildenfeld and
Danijel Pranjiic.
Norways Alexander Tettey
cut Croatias lead to 3-1 in the
81st and Tarik Elyounoussi
failed to convert a penalty for
Norway in the 69th.
Croatia played the last 20
minutes without red-carded
Vedran Corluka.
Also, Azerbaijan beat
visiting Malta 2-0 with early
and late goals from Cavid
Huseynov and substitute
Dmitri Nazarov.
Croatia tops the group with
13 points. Italy has 11, Norway
nine, Bulgaria five, Azerbaijan
three and Malta one.
The top two finishers from
each of the nine groups qualify
automatically. The best third-
place team also qualifies, and
region said three of its soldiers
were killed and another four
were wounded last week
while repelling an Azerbaijani
incursion.
It said an unspecified
number of Azerbaijani
invaders were killed during
the clash, which lasted about
t w o h o u r s . A z e r b a i j a n s
Defence Ministry, in turn,
blamed the Armenian side
for the clash and claimed
that 20 Armenian soldiers
were killed or wounded. The
conflicting claims couldnt be
independently verified.
Azerbaijans Nagorno-
Karabakh region and some
adjacent territory have been
under the control of Armenian
soldiers and local ethnic
Armenian forces since a 1994
cease-fire that ended a six-year
war.
Earlier this month, the
Armenian Olympic Committee
said it would participate in the
European Games, with head
Gagik Tsarukyan saying the
--Photo AP
eight more teams can qualify
through a playoff.
Besides the argument over
foreign-born players, Italys
buildup to the match also
involved a controversy over
an injury to key midfielder
Claudio Marchisio.
After Marchisio was
injured in training on Friday,
Italys medical staff announced
he tore the anterior cruciate
ligament in his right knee,
an injury that would have
ruled him out for six-to-eight
months.
But Marchisio was then
tested by Juventus medical
staff, which determined there
was no tear.
After being peppered with
questions about Marchisio,
Italy coach Antonio Conte
walked out of a pre-match TV
interview.
Italy was also without
goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon,
who sat out with a fever, and
injured playmaker Andrea
Pirlo.
decision to compete was based
on sporting reasons alone.
He added it is important to
keep sport independent from
politics.
Hajiyev declined to detail
specific security measures
which will be used to protect
the capital Baku during the
June 12-28 games.
In accordance with the
international procedures and
standards designed for such
large-scale sport events all
necessary safety, security and
civil emergency measures
are being undertaken by
the relevant authorities of
Azerbaijan, he said.
Protests during the games
will not be allowed unless they
take place within a specified
venue with the permission of
the authorities, he added.
Hajiyev said that it is a
well known principle that
ones freedom should not come
at the expense of others and
mutual respect shall always be
prevailed.
Monday March 30, 2015 Sports 35
Serena Williams easily wins
opening match at Miami Open
KEY BISCAYNE, Fla. (AP)
-- Serena Williams punctuated
points Saturday with theatrics
worthy of a Grand Slam final.
There were squeals, knee kicks,
pirouettes and fist pumps,
sometimes all at once.
In other words, Williams
appeared to be 100 percent.
Showing no lingering
effects from a recent knee
injury, the seven-time Key
Biscayne champion won her
opening match at the Miami
Open on Saturday, beating
Monica Niculescu 6-3, 6-1.
The match was the first for
Williams since she withdrew
before the semifinals at Indian
Wells last week, citing a right
knee problem. She played
without a wrap on her knee and
said its feeling much better.
It was a little sore in
practice, but it was OK today,
she said.
Four-time champion Novak
Djokovic wobbled badly
midway through his opening
match but regrouped to beat Serena Williams, of the United States, returns the ball to Monica
Martin Klizan 6-0, 5-7, 6-1. Niculescu, of Romania, during their match at the Miami Open tennis
Williams match was more tournament in Key Biscayne, Fla., on Saturday. --Photo AP
straightforward but not without
tension. Although she also beat and she won nine of the final 10 games later.
Niculescu two weeks ago, she games. Shell face 15-year-old I felt under pressure the
struggled at the start with the American CiCi Bellis in the last couple of games of the
Romanians unorthodox game, third round Sunday. second set. I got a little bit
which includes a squash-style Serenas sister Venus also tight, Djokovic said. But in
slice forehand that creates lots advanced, beating Samantha the third I managed to bounce
of spin. When flummoxed, Stosur 6-4, 7-6 (3). The older back.
Williams didnt try to hide her Williams opponent in the Djokovic had 19 break-
emotions. fourth round will be No. 4 point chances and converted
Im clearly frustrated, Caroline Wozniacki, who only seven, but still improved
she told the crowd afterward. rallied to beat Kaia Kanepi to 20-2 this year.
I just try not to explode, 4-6, 6-1, 6-3. No. 11-seeded Jo-Wilfried
which is hard because Im Djokovic, seeded No. 1, Tsonga made a successful 2015
really passionate. was on the verge of an easy debut by beating American Tim
The top-seeded Williams victory when he served at 5-3 Smyczek 6-4, 3-6, 6-3. Tsonga
began to dominate when she in the second set. But he was sat out the start of this year with
started moving toward the net, broken and lost serve again two a right arm injury.
Kevin Sutherland takes Champions Tour lead
SAUCIER, Miss. (AP) -- Kevin different mentality, Sutherland still living off a hangover from
Sutherland birdied three of the said. When I shot the 59, the day before.
final six holes Saturday for a it almost felt like I had won Lehman climbed the
5-under 67 and the second- something already. There were leaderboard with a bogey-free
round lead in the Champions all the congratulations, and 66, highlighted by a 50-foot
Tours Mississippi Gulf Resort the million texts and all that birdie putt on the par-3 eighth
Classic.
Those birdies pushed him
stuff and everybody wanted to
talk about it, which is totally
hole.
You just have to get it over
to the top and he protected the
lead with key par saves from
understandable. It was hard to
come out the next day and be
the ridge and then its all about
gravity, Lehman said. Its a
bunkers on the last two holes, focused. matter of getting up to the right
including one from a buried As much as I wanted to on the high side in the right
lie and awkward stance on the be, I wasnt as focused as I spot where it can just trundle
par-3 17th. needed to be. I dont think that on down the hill. It looked
I didnt have a stance and will be a problem tomorrow. perfect from the beginning.
the balls plugged, Sutherland Whether I play well or not is It was one of those long putts
said. If someone would have a different subject, but I know that at worst case is going to be
given me a 4, I would have Ill be ready to play. At Dick really close. Within 5 or 6 feet,
taken it. I thought if I could Sporting Goods (Open), I was I thought it was in.
just pop it out I might could
run it up to the hole. I was just
hoping to get a putt at it and I
did and I was fortunate enough
to make it. Just ended up in a
bad spot but was able to make
the best of it.
Sutherland, the one-time
PGA Tour winner who shot
the first 59 in Champions Tour
history last year in Endicott,
New York, chipped in for birdie
from behind the 12th green and
birdied Nos. 15 and 16.
He had a two-stroke lead
over 2011 MGRC champ Tom
Lehman, but he doesnt have
the hangover from a record
round like he did the last time
he took a lead into the final Kevin Sutherland hits to the fourth green during the second round
round. of the Champions Tours Mississippi Gulf Resort Classic golf
This is very different, a tournament in Saucier, Miss., on Saturday. --Photo AP
36
Monday March 30, 2015
Sports
Orlando City SCs Pedro Ribeiro (left) reacts as he is tripped by Montreal Impacts Nigel Reo-Coker
during the first half of an MLS soccer game on Saturday.
DC United scores in stoppage
time, edges Galaxy 1-0
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Chris
Pontius scored in stoppage
time, lifting D.C. United to
a 1-0 victory over the L.A.
Galaxy, while Brazilian duo
Kaka and Pedro Ribeiro
scored for Orlando City in
its comeback 2-2 draw with
Montreal in week four of
Major League Soccer on
Saturday.
Nick DeLeon cleverly
found space on the right
wing, before sending in a
cross that found Pontius at the
far side of the 6-yard box, who
steeped low to head it past an
outstretched Brian Rowe in
the third extra minute for D.C.
United.
A scoreless first half in
Washington was not without
chances. Not quite eight
minutes in, the Galaxys Mika
Vayrynen curled a free just
kick inches wide. Then just
before half, United keeper Bill
Hamid made a diving save on
Alan Gordons header.
L.A.s Leonardo was close
to breaking the deadlock in the
53rd minute but missed just
wide of the far post.
The Galaxy was awarded a
free kick at the top of the box at
the 80 minute mark, but Hamid
easily saved Jose Villarreals
low shot.
Brazilian star Kaka and
countryman Pedro Ribeiro
scored goals to help expansion-
team Orlando City rally for a
2-2 draw with the Montreal
Impact.
Ignacio Piatti and Jack
McInerney helped Montreal
to a two-goal lead, but Kaka
and Ribeiro struck back in the
first half for Orlando.
Piatti opened the scoring
on a penalty kick the 14th
minute after a handball, and
McInerney made it 2-0 in the
27th.
Kaka fed Ribeiro for a goal
from close range in the 29th
minute, then Ribeiro returned
the favor by sliding a pass
to Kaka for a shot that Eric
Kronberg only got a piece of as
it sailed into the top left corner
in the 30th.
Vientiane Times
Brook stops Dan after 4 rounds to
keep IBF welterweight belt
SHEFFIELD, England I am filling arenas, Brook Dan threw a wild right and
(AP) -- Kell Brook won told the crowd. I cant put in Brook caught him unbalanced
his first defence of the IBF words how much it means to with a left hook. Dan did a
w el t erw ei ght bel t w hen me to come back and defend roll on the canvas, and had
mandatory and outclassed my world title. to be directed to his corner,
challenger Jo Jo Dan retired Dan, a Romanian based in where his trainers told referee
after their fourth round and Canada, might need stitches, Earl Brown to end the fight.
four knockdowns on Saturday. too, after he was put down Dans record dropped to 34-3
Br o o k , w h o w o n t h e twice in the second round and (18 KO).
belt from Shawn Porter in twice more in the fourth. He showed heart, Brook
August, remained unbeaten The first time in the second said. I hit him with some
after his 23rd knockout win round, a right uppercut put good, clean shots, and he kept
in 34 fights. Dan on one knee, then a right getting back up. I knocked the
Only six months ago, the cross from Brook earned Dan cobwebs off.
British boxer was attacked on a second standing eight count. Brook said he has a ringside
holiday in Tenerife, stabbed in Dan endured the third round, ticket to watch the megafight
the thigh with a machete by an but Brook found his range between fellow welterweights
assailant yet to be caught. He again in the fourth. Floyd Mayweather and Manny
needed 60 stitches. A right-left combo with an Pacquiao in May in Las Vegas,
I never thought Id walk uppercut caused Dan to lose and hopes to eventually fight
again, let alone box, and here his legs, then right on the bell, the winner.
--Photo AP
Kell Brook (left)
throws Jo Jo Dan
a left uppercut
during the IBF
World Welterweight
Championship bout
at the Motorpoint
Ike Opara scored early and Arena in Sheffield,
Sporting Kansas City held England on
firm, beating New York City Saturday.
FC 1-0 in blustery conditions, --Photo AP
handing City its first loss in its
initial season.
Sporting Kansas City
broke through 12 minutes in
when Opara powered home a
leaping header from the centre
of the box just inside the near
post off a long throw in by
Matt Besler.
Jimmy Medranda nearly
made it 2-0 in the 43rd minute,
but his left-footed attempt just
missed high.
Mike Grellas long-range
strike in the 67th minute gave
the New York Red Bulls a
2-1 victory over 10-man
Columbus Crew.
Bradley Wright-Phillips
s e t u p G r e l l a s g o a l b y
blocking the ball into an
open space just outside the
18-yard box. It was Grellas
first touch after entering the
game as a substitute and the
1,000th MLS goal for the
Red Bulls.
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