Laos Project & Construction

[AsianDragons]

Laos Project & Construction

[AsianDragons]

Luang Prabang set to cross the river

Luang Prabang provincial authorities plan to expand the town across the Mekong River to Chomphet district, where a train station will be built to link with Vientiane and the Laos-China border.

Newly-elected Secretary of Luang Prabang province's Party Committee, Dr Khampheng Xaysompheng, unveiled the plan yesterday, saying expansion of the town is part of developments envisaged for the province during his five years of office.

As the top provincial Party leader, Dr Khampheng along with other leaders believes building a bridge across the Mekong will facilitate economic growth and the passage of vehicles and people as part of the town's expansion.

“Three companies have submitted proposals for building a bridge - a Chinese company, Korean company and a China-Canada-Thailand joint venture. We are in the process of considering their proposals,” he said.

A new international airport is also under construction in Luang Prabang, set for completion in 2013. Dr Khampheng said this project is one of the most important aspects in attracting tourists to the World Heritage town.

Chomphet district could be an important hotspot for development once a railway is in place because local people can use it for personal travel or to transport goods for sale in larger markets.

Dr Khampheng said it was important to train people to work on the various development projects and create better understanding about the development strategy.

“We will reform the governance structure by promoting younger people to important positions to facilitate development,” he said.

“In the next two years, several three and four star hotels will be built in response to the rising number of tourists.”

Dr Khampheng said the province would preserve the traditional culture of local people for tourism purposes and ensure development did not affect local lifestyles.

He said agricultural production in Luang Prabang was quite active but there were insufficient factories to process these crops.

“Processing plants are important for our province. I believe we will see more new products made here during my term of office,” he said.

Dr Khampheng said he will ensure economic growth of 9 percent per year over the five-year period, with annual per capita income of between US$1,400 and US$1,500. Currently, per capita income stands at US$821.

He said the province will continue to create favourable conditions for businesspeople to invest in tourism facilities such as restaurants, hotels and resorts.

The number of foreign visitors to Luang Prabang reached about 245,000 people in 2009, a more than 5 percent increase from the previous year.

http://www.vientianetimes.org.la/Fre...%20Prabang.htm
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[AsianDragons]

Developers set sights abroad


HCM CITY — Property developers are eyeing investment abroad, including in the US.

The Thu Duc Housing Development Joint Stock Co has picked up a 50 per cent stake for US$6 million in a joint venture with two local companies, California Newland Ventures LLC and Nature Coast Horries of Central Florida LLC, that will build houses in California, Mississippi, and other states over the next 20 years.

Much money has also been flowing into the Laos property market. Long Thanh Ltd Co has invested $1 billion, the largest amount by a foreign investor in that country.

It will build a golf course, a five-star hotel, villas, a shopping mall, a hospital, and a school in a 557ha area in the capital, Vientiane.

Sai Gon Investment Corporation began construction of the Lao Hung hotel in Sam Nua District, Hua Phan Province, in July. It is the province's first international standard hotel.

Last month Ha Do Corporation signed a contract with the Vientiane People's Committee for building the Noong Tha new residential area in Chanthabuly District at a cost of $250 million.

Work will begin in November.

Simultaneously, demand for foreign houses has been rising in Viet Nam, mostly among businesspeople with interests abroad, families who have children studying abroad, and even investors looking for new assets.

Lien Minh Nguyen Joint Stock Co, which is marketing the Sai Gon Village housing project in California for the developer, the US-based Bridgecreek Group announced the sale of 150 apartments that were completed in the second quarter.

John Nhat Nguyen, the company's executive director, said it will offer advice to families and companies hoping to buy property in the US. — VNS

http://vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn/E...ts-abroad.html

[AsianDragons]

Savan City is a Chinese investment SEZ in Savannakhet Province Laos. It is of the the largest projects going on in Laos today. It is made use of the east-west transportation corrridor. For more information visit

http://www.savancity.org/

[hakz2007]

Laos's first jet ski ground opened

The Ek-Meonamjet Sport Club has been introduced to the general public as the first Jet Ski ground in Laos. The venue will be used for hosting local and regional competition.

The opening ceremony of Ek-Meonamjet Sport Club, located at Nakhae village, Saythany district, Vientiane Capital, was held on Saturday as part of the preparations for the 450th anniversary of Vientiane as national capital of Laos and the 35th anniversary of the National Day, December 2.

The move would contribute to the development of the Lao jet ski riders competence and enable them to compete at international events, according to President of the National Boat Racing Federation, Mr. Phaivanh Khaykhamphithoune, who is also president of the Ek-Meonamjet Sport Club.

The construction of the Ek-Meonamjet Sport Club costs around 15 billion kip. It began in June 2007 and was completed in August this year, said Mr. Phaivanh.

On Sunday, said Phaivanh, we hosted a jet ski competition which saw the participation of local riders and competitors from jet ski federations in Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia.

Lao riders won the first prizes of four out of six categories. These included 1500 cc, 750 cc, and senior and amateur categories. The rest prizes were won by Thai riders.

An awarding ceremony was held on Sunday when Standing Deputy Prime Minister Somsavat Lengsavad presented the top prizes to the winners.

In 2008, Laos represented by the Ek-Meonam Team won the second prize at a regional jet ski competition in Thailand and won friendship prizes for the third year running.

http://www.laopdr.gov.la/ePortal/new...etail_FromHome

[hakz2007]

Laos, China to cooperate in railway construction

A top Chinese railway official arrived in Vientiane yesterday for talks with Lao officials on the construction of a railway from the Chinese border to Vientiane.

The railway development project is part of the Kunming-Singapore rail link, which aims to boost trade relations between Asean countries and China after the two parties implemented the Asean-China Free Trade Agreement earlier this year.

Minister for Railways of the People’s Republic of China, Mr Liu Zhijun, paid a courtesy visit to President Choummaly Sayasone and Standing Deputy Prime Minister Somsavat Lengsavad upon his arrival in Laos.

He also held talks and signed a memorandum of understanding with his Lao counterpart, Minister of Public Works and Transport Sommath Pholsena, on cooperation in the construction of the railway from the Lao-Chinese border in Luang Namtha province to Vientiane.

Mr Zhijun and his delegation also visited the Training Centre of the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, Thanalaeng train station, Vientiane-Nong Khai Friendship Bridge and the That Luang stupa.
Lao officials involved in the project told Vientiane Times that Laos and China would establish a joint venture to build the railway.

The Lao government plans to provide land as its share in the venture while the Chinese partner will provide funding for construction of the railway.

The Chinese government has promised to provide financial support for the joint venture to build the 400km railway.
The officials also said Laos and China are now carrying out a survey for the proposed railway, which they hope to complete
before the end of this year.

“The survey will give us information about the cost of construction and where the track is to be laid,” a senior official from the Lao Ministry of Public Works and Transport told Vientiane Times.

Lao Railway Authority Deputy Director General, Mr Sompong Pholsena, told Vientiane Times earlier the railway would be able to accommodate medium speed electric trains, which can run at about 200km per hour. The highest speed trains can run at 350km per hour, he said.

According to officials from the Lao Ministry of Planning and Investment, the government has included the railway as one of the large-scale investment projects in its 2011-2015 socio-economic development plan.

The officials said construction would begin within the next five years. However, they were unable to confirm whether the project would be finished within this period of time, saying the decisive factor was funding and cooperation from other Asean countries.

The Chinese government has a clear policy to invest in the construction of an Asean-China railway as a means to boost trade between the two sides. China has said it will cooperate with the Thai government to build the railway.

The Thai government has agreed to cooperate with China to build the railway from the Lao-Thai border in Nong Khai province to Bangkok. However, the Thai government will not be able implement the project until it gets approval from Parliament.

At present Laos’ only railway is a 3.5km track running from the Vientiane-Nong Khai Friendship Bridge to Thanalaeng station on the outskirts of Vientiane.

http://www.laopdr.gov.la/ePortal/new...etail_FromHome

[hakz2007]

NGOs call on Laos to scrap Mekong dam project

A coalition of NGOs and local groups has called for the cancellation of a planned hydropower dam plan on the lower Mekong River.

In a letter dated October 13 to the Mekong River Commission (MRC), a river basin management organization directed by the governments of Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam, Save the Mekong called on the region’s governments to cancel the Xayaboury Dam project in Laos.

The coalition also urged for a halt to the project’s Procedures for Notification, Prior Consultation and Agreement (PNPCA) process, a requirement under the 1995 Mekong Agreement for countries to jointly review any dam proposed for the Mekong mainstream that is coordinated through the MRC.

“We write to convey our complete disagreement with the initiation of the PNPCA process for the Xayaboury dam on the Mekong River’s mainstream,” Save the

Mekong wrote in the letter co-signed by 24 civil society and people’s networks and NGOs from the Mekong region and internationally.

In response to Thanh Nien Weekly’s request for comments, MRC spokesman Khy Lim only said: “We are preparing a response to Save the Mekong. And we will get back to you as soon as we have it.”

“Abundant evidence produced by the MRC itself has already demonstrated the Xayaboury dam to be exceptionally destructive, and a project that should not go ahead,” the letter said.

The Xayaboury dam would have been the first dam to be built on the lower Mekong Mainstream. It would submerge the homes of 2,130 people from 10 villages in Laos and a further 200,000 people located near the dam in Laos and Thailand would suffer impacts to their livelihoods, income and food security.

The dam would also harm the river’s ecosystem, blocking fish migration along the river’s upper reaches with consequences that would be felt throughout the Mekong River basin. Up to 41 fish species would be at risk of extinction, including the critically endangered and iconic Mekong Giant Catfish, the coalition said.

The coalition criticized the MRC for “a complete failure of transparency” because the intergovernmental body has not made the dam’s project documents available to the general public. It further accused the MRC’s PNPCA process of being ambiguous and having no commitment to consult with the public.

http://www.thanhniennews.com/2010/Pa...015173528.aspx

[hakz2007]

Vietnam Military Bank to open branch in Laos

Vietnam Military Bank (MB) was licensed on October 14 to open a branch in Laos with an initial capital of US$12 billion.

Speaking on this occasion, the Lao Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Thongmy Phomvisay pledged to create the best possible conditions for the MB to operate.

MB’s President Le Van Be thanked the Laotian State and Government for their help and promised to serve customers as soon as possible for the benefit of economic development in Laos.

MB has a charter capital of around US$272 million and property worth US$5 billion.

http://english.vovnews.vn/Home/Vietn...010/120494.vov

[going-higher]

I don't know where else to post it

[AsianDragons]

Mega investment projects unveiled

The government has unveiled the first of 21 groups of large-scale investment projects, which it plans to implement over the next five years.

According to the draft of the 7th National Socio-Economic Development Plan, which was distributed at the High Level Roundtable Meeting in Vientiane last week, the government plans to implement 21 groups of large-scale investment projects from 2011 to 2015. Each of the projects comes with a price tag of more than 400 billion kip (US$50 million).

The planned groups comprise railway and road development, projects related to public security and national defence, expressway development, airport development, Mekong bridge construction, inland waterways and riverbank erosion protection.

Other projects are in the areas of urban development, building construction, electricity distribution and generation, mining, irrigation construction and rehabilitation, comprehensive irrigated agricultural development, industrial plants and manufacturing, and tourist site development.

Other groups include intercommunication technology, expansion of education infrastructure, infrastructure development, provision of information and data and disaster management for environmental protection, and human resources and skills development.

Ministry of Planning and Investment officials said the government plans to finance the projects through the national budget as well as encourage local and foreign businesses to invest in the schemes. The government will fund those projects that relate to security.

Officials said the proposed projects offer many excellent investment opportunities and will deliver good profits.

One of the mega investment proje cts in which the private sector can participate is the development of power plants, airports, railways, and human resources, with investors assured of making a profit, they said. The government will join forces with China to set up the Lao-China Railway Company, which will be responsible for building and operating a railway link between the two countries. The company will reap the financial rewards of providing rail travel to the public and companies that transport goods by rail.

A foreign company is already conducting a feasibility study on the construction and operation of a new airport in Vientiane, in response to the growing number of passengers and cargo entering and exiting Laos.

According to a report from the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the government needs US$15 billion to implement its five year socio-economic development plan and ensure economic growth of 8 percent.

The government will provide 10 percent of the capital needed for the plan and expects to obtain funding from private sources for about 50 percent of budget needs. An additional 25 percent is expected to come from Official Development Assistance.

The remaining amount will be sourced from credit provided by domestic commercial banks.



By Ekaphone Phouthonesy
(Latest Update October 25, 2010)

http://www.vientianetimes.org.la/Fre.../Free_Mega.htm

[AsianDragons]

Nongtha swamp to become new city

(KPL) The 115 ha of Nongtha wetland area is being developed to be new city of recreation park, hotel, housing estate, business suites, school and trade centre will be built.



The groundbreaking ceremony for the development project costing USD 250 million was held on Monday with the presence of Standing Deputy Prime Minister Somsavat Lengsavad, Vientiane’s Mayor Sombath Yialiheu, Vietnamese Ambassador to Laos Ta Minh Chau and relevant officials of both countries.

The Nongtha new city project is invested by the government. It has been designed by the Surbana Singapore and it will be developed by Vietnamese company Hado Group.

Source: KPL Lao News Agency
November 17, 2010

http://laovoices.com/2010/11/17/nong...come-new-city/

[AsianDragons]

Sealed road to bring prosperity to Phongsaly

The Lao government and World Bank will spend more than 90 billion kip (US$11 million) to asphalt Road 1B from the Pak Nam Noy fork in Khua district to Namyor village in Bounneua district, Phongsaly province.

An agreement to asphalt the road was signed in Vientiane on Wednesday between project head Mr Latsamy Aliyavongsing and Director of the Yunnan Sunny Road and Bridge Company Mr Xun Jiazheng.

The signing was witnessed by Minister of Public Works and Transport Mr Sommath Pholsena. The World Bank has granted assistance of more than 70 billion kip (US$8 million) to the project and the Lao government is contributing more than 20 billion kip (US$2 million).

Work on the project will start shortly and is scheduled for completion in 2013.

The road will be almost 6.5 metres wide and consist of two lanes, said Mr Latsamy, adding that construction will be divided into two phases.

The first phase will run from the Pak Nam Noy fork to Bountai district over a distance of 54 km and the second phase will see the section between Bountai district and Namyor village in Bounneua district sealed with asphalt.

Mr Latsamy said Road 1B was originally built in 1993-1996 and was 3.5 metres wide, but the existing gravel road is difficult to travel on during the rainy season and is often affected by landslides.

The project aims to improve links between Phongsaly and other provinces to help boost socio-economic development, and encourage trade and investment along the road.

The World Bank recently funded improvements to Road No. 19 in Phongsaly province and Road 2E from the Oudomxay border to Khua district, Phongsaly province.

http://www.vientianetimes.org.la/Fre...ree_Sealed.htm

[AsianDragons]

New plan outlines long term vision for Vientiane

Vientiane could be one of the region's most livable towns in the future, if a new draft urban development master plan is put into practice.
The plan provides a vision for development until 2030, city planning experts announced yesterday.
The draft is expected to be finalised next month before being submitted to the government for consideration and approval.

Officials from the relevant sectors met in Vientiane yesterday to give their comments and opinions on the draft plan, which is supported by the government of Japan through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
Under the new master plan, Vientiane will be developed into several sub-centres to expand the town and reduce traffic congestion in the city centre.

Currently, Vientiane is facing severe traffic congestion due to the growing number of vehicles in the city centre, especially in the mornings, in areas where the most important government and private sector offices are located.
The new sub-centres will include KM 21, Thanalaeng, Dongdok, Naxaithong and Railway town, which will hold a station rail yard and operational facilities related to the Laos-China rail link, due for completion in 2015.

The new urban development policy involves improvements to the road network, public transport, conservation of historic and heritage buildings, restriction and refinement of building control regulations and the relocation of public facilities towards the suburbs.
Vice President of the Council of Science and Technology, under the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, Dr Somphone Dethoudom, said he greatly appreciated progress on the new plan.

“The plan sets the guidelines for the development of Vientiane until 2030 with the aim of creating a livable city that includes more public parks, drainage systems and roads,” he said.
Referring to parks, he noted that Vientiane currently has only 0.6sqm of public park per person, but according to international standards there should be 2.6sqm per person.
Vientiane has high economic and demographic growth potential and it is likely that urban areas will rapidly expand towards the suburbs along arterial roads without sufficient infrastructure.
This would create an urban sprawl with poor living conditions and inappropriate social services, and the pastoral charms of the city could be lost.
To counter this problem, appropriate measures must be taken promptly based on a comprehensive urban development plan.

The total area of Vientiane is 3,920 sq km, and its population was 795,000 people in 2009. The study predicts the capital's population will double by 2030.
The master plan stipulates the maximum height of new buildings in the historical town conservation zone to be 12m, and only 7m in the ancient site conservation zone, both found in the downtown area.
But in the new central zone and administration and trade central zone, beyond the present downtown, buildings can be as high as 26m.
Businesses can construct 50m buildings in the suburbs, but must meet special conditions relating to open space, green spaces, indoor facilities for public benefit and fire-proofing.

By Somsack Pongkhao
(Latest Update Febuary 10, 2011)

Source: http://www.vientianetimes.org.la/Fre...t/Free_New.htm

[AsianDragons]

CHIANG RAI, 5 JANUARY, 2011: The construction of the new Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge over the bordering Mekong River is scheduled for its completion on Dec 10, 2012, reports Thai news agency on Wednesday.

Somchai Hatayatanti, Governor of Thailand's northern Chiang Rai Province, said that once inaugurated, the new Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge under the North-South Economic Corridor (NSEC) International Bridge Project, linking Lao PDR’s Houayxay of Bokaeo Province with Ban Don Chai of Chiang Rai's Chiang Khong District will further boost investment, tourism and public transport between the two sisters' countries.

Somchai reported that the construction of the 480-metre-long, 14.7 meter-wide concrete bridge started in June 2010 under a Thai-Lao agreement to facilitate cross-border travel, trade and exchange of logistics among countries in the Greater Mekong Sub-region or GMS, particularly land-locked Lao PDR, at a cost of 1.5 billion baht (US$406 million) mutually funded by Thailand and China; while Laos is providing basic facility support.

The Chiang Rai governor said he had also sought cooperation from his Lao counterpart in Bokaeo Province, Thao Kamman Sunwilert, for joint action against cross-border drug trafficking as increased

It is reported that opium plantations have been spotted along the common border.

http://www.malaysiandigest.com/world...o-in-2012.html

[AsianDragons]

Ho Chi Minh gives 3.2 bln kip for bridge construction in Houaphanh
(KPL) Ho Chi Minh City , Vietnam , has provided grant assistance of 3.2 billion kip to co-finance the construction of four bridges in Viengsay, Samtay and Samneua districts in Houaphanh province.

Houaphanh Provincial Public Works and Transport Service signed an agreement with contractors that will carry out the basic infrastructure development projects at a ceremony held in the province on February 18.

The event was witnessed by Director of the Houaphanh Provincial Public Works and Transport Service Linthong Douangchansouk, chiefs of Samneua, Viengsay and Samtay districts, and relevant authorities.

The bridges are to be built on the Nam Soi river 1 and 2 in Viengsay district, the Nam Sam river at Tao village, Samtay district, and Nam Sam at Naphai village, Samneua district.

The construction of the four bridges is estimated at 5.16 billion kip of which over three billion kip is financial grant from Ho Chi Minh City and 2 billion kip is financial contribution by local authorities and people in the districts.

The construction is expected to commence in March and will take nine months to complete.

http://www.kplnet.net/english/news/edn5.htm

[AsianDragons]

Oudomsay to start Mekong bridge construction soon
(KPL) Oudomsay will soon start building a bridge across the Mekong River between Parkbeng district of Oudomsay and Ngeun district of Sayaboury province, disclosed Deputy Head of the Public Works and Transport Service of Oudomsay.

Mr. Kayakeo Keovongsalasinh said last Friday that at the moment the relevant authorities had achieved some groundwork of the project.

After we are done with the groundwork we would proceed on with the signing of a construction agreement with the Public Works and Transport Ministry.

Designed to be 560 m in length and 13 m in width, the bridge will be built with reinforced concrete at an estimate cost of US$50 million.

The China Export and Import Bank has committed to provide loans for the development project.

The construction will take three years to complete.

Once the bridge is completed it will improve the transportation on Road No 11 to the municipality of Oudomsay province and facilitate the communication between Sayaboury province in northwestern Laos and Nan province in northern Thailand.

http://www.kplnet.net/english/news/edn6.htm

[AsianDragons]

[bakpao]

Hi Asiandragons, you're Cambodian right? It's very kind of you in opening this thread as I'm sure many of us, including me, also want to know more about Laos and its development! Thanks dude!