LDCs represent the poorest and weakest segment of the international community, according to the United Nations, and include more than 880 million people (about 12 percent of the world population), but with less than 2 percent of global GDP and about 1 percent of the trade.

Philippe Hein, a member of the UN Committee for Development Policy (CDP), who reviews the LDC group, says this is unprecedented. “Our experience is that all of those countries so far who have been identified as potential candidates for LDC graduation have resisted this,” he told IRIN.

The main concerns for countries exiting LDC status are a potential reduction in overseas development assistance (ODA) and preferential trade treatment, Hein said. In 2010 Laos received US$413.79 million in ODA, the Organization for Economic Development and Co-operation and Development (OECD) reported.

One-quarter of the $15 billion budget for the government’s 2011-2015 development plan is to be funded by donors and development partners.

Adjustment process

To help countries adjust, the UN General Assembly introduced a three-year transition period in 2004.

Minh Pham, UN Resident Coordinator and Resident Representative of the UN Development Programme (UNDP) in Laos, said the fact that the country has both volunteered itself for graduation and set a fixed date highlights its ambitions to become a middle-income country.

But doing so will prove a challenge, say experts. The World Bank notes that 27.6 percent of the country’s 6.5 million inhabitants live below the poverty line.

UN criteria for moving beyond LDC status include a per capita income threshold; a human assets index measured by health and education indicators; and a strong economy that can withstand shocks, such as natural disasters. A country must meet two of the three criteria to be eligible for graduation.

Only three countries – Botswana, Cape Verde and Maldives – have achieved this since the list was established in 1971.

Learning from their experiences could prove vital. At a UN meeting to discuss the transition process in New York on 26 March 2012, the Maldives expressed their concerns that they had failed to maintain levels of developmental assistance and access to concessionary finance.

A statement by Jeffrey Salim Waheed, Maldives First Secretary to the UN, said this had “led to massive shortfalls and the formation of risky economic policies, some of which have proven to be harmful to the nation’s economic stability.”

However, Pham believes Laos could avoid such a situation. “We are confident that, given the build up of foreign direct investment in the country over the years, particularly in hydropower energy, the revenues generated in this investment will more than make up for any phasing out of development assistance.”

Hein said the implications of graduation must be looked at on an individual country basis. “Cape Verde is an interesting case – some donors left but ODA has now increased.”

Net ODA disbursements for Cape Verde went up from $195.6 million in 2009 to $336.76 million in 2010, according to OECD , which Hein attributes partly to the country’s reputation for aid effectiveness and good governance.

The UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) estimates that at its current rate of progress, Laos could potentially meet all three criteria by 2015. It would then need to repeat this at the next review, three years later, to be eligible for graduation.

The Fourth UN Conference on the Least Developed Countries in Istanbul, in May 2011, adopted a programme of action that aims to graduate half of the 48 LDCs by 2020. At prevailing levels of development this will be a distinct challenge.

“Nobody wants to stay an LDC, but when the time comes to graduate they say, ‘We are going to lose something.’ They are worried. The attitude here in Laos is quite different – the way it’s going, the others have to learn from Laos,” said Hein.

Laos is planning the first steps in developing a strategy for LDC graduation at a two-day conference with over 150 participants, government officials, and experts in Vientiane, the capital, on 16 and 17 May.

Source: IRIN

Forget eating the worm after downing your tequila – with these bottles of unusual wine produced in Laos, a tasty tipple comes with a far more potent bite. This potion, known as lao bong ya, is believed to ward off evil spirits and cure the sick.

To prepare this incredible beverage a venomous snake or some scorpions are put into a bottle fulfilled with transparent rice wine liquor and some herbs are added before the drink is left to ferment for months.

Because snake venoms are protein-based, they are inactivated by the denaturing effects of ethanol, and thus are no more dangerous, meaning you’ll avoid a pounding hangover.

Instead, the liquor is considered healthy and seemingly has many health benefits used to treat different health problems such as back pain, rheumatism, lumbago and other health conditions. It’s also widely thought to increase male virility.

Fact is that this is a sad fate for noble creatures, many of which are endangered species.

Source: various

Sanum Investments Limited, through counsel Daniel C. Stafford, is suing Silver Heritage Ltd. and 20 unnamed co-defendants in Superior Court for intentional interference with contractual and economic relationships. Sanum is demanding $15 million in actual damages, plus other damages, court costs, and attorney’s fees.

Sanum Investments is a limited liability company organized under the laws of Macau Special Administrative Region. Silver Heritage is a corporation organized under the laws of Hong Kong and conducts business in the CNMI.

According to the complaint, Sanum has a master agreement with ST Group Co., Ltd., outlining the general business relationship between the two parties in Laos. One of these business activities is the operation of an existing slot machine club called Slot Club, owned by ST Group in Thanaleng, Vientiane province, Laos.

Stafford said that under the master agreement, the parties would share revenue but Sanum would eventually control and a 60-percent revenue share as of Oct. 11, 2011.

Stafford said that, on Oct. 4, 2008, Sanum and ST Group entered into another agreement where Sanum will provide slot machines to ST Group for use at the Slot Club. In exchange, ST was required to exclusively use Sanum’s slot machines at the Slot Club.

On April 11, 2012, Stafford said that ST unilaterally shutdown the Slot Club and barred and prohibited Sanum from entering the club. That same date, ST Group indicated that it would remove Sanum’s slot machines and replace them with slot machines provided by another supplier.

Sanum believes that Silver Heritage conspired with and entered into agreements with ST Group to bring its own slot machines into the Slot Club to replace the machines owned by Sanum, Stafford said.

“As a result of Silver Heritage’s improper and intentional misconduct, Sanum has suffered significant monetary damages in an amount exceeding $15 million,” the lawyer said.

Source: Saipan Tribune

“It’s an investment of over 10 billion kip by our company,” the Black Canyon Coffee Lao Director Ms Manivone Sitthixay said at the opening ceremony.

Ms Manivone said Black Canyon Coffee Lao is the first restaurant that has acquired the right from the Black Canyon (Thailand) Company; and the Khouanchay Trading Import Export Company is the monopoly operator in Laos.

The restaurant offers coffee, drinks and food that will appeal to both locals and foreigners. It also offers a meeting place for businesspeople.

Mr Saithong said the launch of Black Canyon in Vientiane comes at a good time, as many visitors are expected in Laos this year for Visit Laos Year 2012, various international meetings, and the Asean University Games.

“We will open outlets in all parts of Vientiane in the near future, and in the provinces,” Ms Manivone said. “The operations aim to be in a place or area that will promote tourism in Laos.”

Laos is one of eight countries in which Black Canyon operates, along with Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Myanmar, Dubai and Cambodia “And we will also have services in the Philippines within the next three months,” Mr Pravit said.

“In Laos, Black Canyon uses both Lao and Thai coffee because we plan to market Black Canyon as an Asean coffee in the future,” he added. “We also serve Luang Prabang fried rice at the Black Canyon in Laos. Soon we will add this fried rice to the menu at each country’s franchise.”

For the location click here

Source: Vientiane Times

A peak load of 216.7MW was recorded on March 19 when the maximum temperature that day was 34.2C.

“The reason for the high load was the greater use of electrical equipment, especially fans and air conditioners,” said Deputy Director General of Electricite du Laos for the Vientiane Region, Mr Soukhonh Chanthone.

Temperatures rose to 35.8C on March 23, and then to 38.2C on April 25.

One major retailer of air conditioners said workers were installing about four 4,800 BTU air conditioners every day. Last year, some 20 large retailers and other small businesses installed an estimated 45,000 air conditioners in Vientiane.

The heat has also resulted in a higher demand for ice. Some ice makers have installed more refrigeration units and are running them for longer to keep pace with demand. Many factories and offices have also installed water coolers for their staff which has also added to the load.

The peak load this year was up 6.28 percent on the same month in 2011 when it peaked at 203.9MW on March 21.

Mr Soukhonh said that at times of peak consumption, power generation was sometimes unable to meet demand. This resulted in insufficient or low voltage, or even an overload and a temporary power outage.

The electricity authorities have assigned extra maintenance teams to stand by to quickly respond in these situations. These measures were implemented early last month and are expected to continue until the end of next month when cooler weather is expected to arrive.

As high temperatures drive up electricity usage, Mr Soukhonh called on members of the public to be on the alert for danger. Consumers should regularly check their electrical equipment and make sure it is in safe working order.

He also advised minimising the use of electricity as much as possible to save energy and avoid hazardous consequences.

Source: Vientiane Times