Phu Bia Mining hosts biannual Lao government ad-hoc meeting

The first of two Lao government ad-hoc meetings scheduled for 2023 was held with Phu Bia Mining (PBM) on May 25 at the Landmark Mekong Riverside Hotel in Vientiane.
The meetings’ aims are to continue the successful two-way dialogue between PBM and the Lao government on matters of common interest.
Thirty government officials from the Prime Minister’s Office, the Ministries of Planning and Investment, Energy and Mines, Finance, Natural Resources and Environment, Public Works and Transport, and National Defence, and the Xaysomboun and Xieng Khuang provincial governments were in attendance.

PanAust, Phu Bia Mining and government representatives during an ad-hoc meeting held at the Landmark Mekong Riverside Hotel in Vientiane.

The meeting began with a welcome from Deputy Minister of Energy and Mines Mr Thongphat Inthavong, PanAust Managing Director and Chief Executive Office, Daling Zheng, and Phu Bia Mining Chairman, Mr Chanpheng Bounnaphol.
Also present were Xaysomboun provincial Vice Governor, Mr Souksavath Vongphoumlek and Xieng Khuang provincial Vice Governor, Mr Sivilay Sengchalern.
Representatives from PanAust and Phu Bia Mining Senior Management included Phu Bia Mining Managing Director, Steve Gimpel; PanAust General Counsel, Dominic Townsend; General Manager Commercial, Murray Phipps; Frieda River Company Limited Managing Director, Phillip McCormack; and Acting Alternate General Manager, Trevor McIlwaine.
Participants were informed of PBM’s financial and economic contributions to Xaysomboun province and central levels of government, which contributed to the Company’s recent Best Taxpaying Company in Laos Award for 2023.
Presenters spoke about PBM’s successful community development projects and socio-economic contributions to local communities, and shared information about the Company’s continued strong operational, environmental and safety performance. 
Support and assistance were requested of the government to help address several issues needing to be resolved to help PBM achieve growth and development targets to enable continued benefits to Laos from the Company.   
PanAust Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mr Daling Zheng, welcomed the Lao government’s senior officials and addressed PanAust’s longstanding presence in Laos.
Mr Zheng said “PanAust is pleased to welcome the Deputy Minister, the Vice provincial Governors and government officials to the meeting.”
“The meeting enables PanAust, Phu Bia Mining and the Government of Laos to continue two-way dialogue and achieve good outcomes that stand to benefit the people of Laos now and into the future.”
Phu Bia Mining Chairman, Mr Chanpheng Bounnaphol, added “The meeting also opens an opportunity for Phu Bia Mining to discuss the sustainability of our future investment and long-term socio-economic contributions in Laos.”

By Advertorial Desk
 (Latest Update May 31, 2023)