Govt tackles eight pressing issues to spur development

The government has agreed to take steps to address eight pressing issues in a bid to move forward with its plans to expedite national development.
The move was agreed upon at a 3-day meeting of cabinet members, the Vientiane Mayor and provincial governors, which wrapped up in the capital on Friday.

At the meeting chaired by Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith, participants discussed policies and measures to tackle eight issues of concern.
These include improvement of the business climate, revision of electricity prices, management of banana farms, regulation of product prices, tourism promotion and management, resolution of land disputes, African swine fever, and human resource development.
Shortly after the meeting ended, the government’s spokesman Professor Dr Chaleun Yiapaoher held a news conference to inform the media of the outcome of the meeting. Concerning improvement of the business climate, Prof. Dr Chaleun said the government called on all sectors to remove red tape and barriers that hinder the growth of investment.
The relevant sectors were urged to work on various indicators to improve Laos’ global ranking in the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business Index.
Regarding electricity rates, the government agreed to lower the cost of electricity as an incentive to boost investment and productivity. This would also ease conditions for low-income earners.
The Ministry of Energy and Mines was asked to look at ways to lower the cost of construction of hydropower projects and transmission lines and the price of other aspects of the industry.
Concerning banana farms, local authorities were asked to inspect and manage banana farms while banning the use of harmful chemicals on banana plantations. The government is keen to encourage the cultivation of bananas using organic methods. 
With regard to the price of goods on sale in markets, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce was assigned to study the root causes of high prices and to help producers to lower production costs.

Meanwhile, the relevant sectors were asked to do more to promote tourism and improve services within the industry so as to attract more tourists.
Concerning African swine fever, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry was instructed to work more closely with Saravan provincial authorities to prevent the spread of the disease to other areas.
The government also told the Ministry of Education and Sports to draw up a clear plan for human resource development in response to the country’s changing development needs.
During the meeting, the government and provincial governors also discussed measures needed to meet the socio-economic development and state budget targets for the rest of this year. In addition, the government discussed preparations and responses to deal with possible natural disasters, notably flooding, which could occur in the near future.
On the sidelines of this meeting, another gathering was arranged to push for more national patriotic and development activities, and was attended by more than 300 people including business operators.
The government held the meeting to encourage businesses to play a greater role in rural development and poverty reduction by investing in rural areas. This would boost local development and generate job opportunities for local people. 

By Somsack Pongkhao
(Latest Update July 1, 2019)