It was a great honour to host our 2023 Burns Supper at Crowne Plaza Vientiane to celebrate the life and works of Scotland’s famous bard. More than 120 BBGL members, friends and guests came together for an incredible evening of poetry, song, dance, sumptuous food … and plenty of whisky. Thanks to our generous event sponsors ANZ Bank Laos, Jaguar Land Rover Laos, Isuzu Lao Services and Whessoe Lao and all who participated for making the night such a success.
SI-UK provides free independent advice and support to Laos students applying to study in the UK.
Our international education consultants are UK university graduates who are fully experienced and trained by trusted university partners and the British Council. We are here to help guide you through each step of the application process to any UK university, language school or college.
We believe international students should have access to trusted, expert advice about UK universities and courses. To be supported by professional and experienced advisers throughout their whole journey: from the first tentative enquiries, through the application process, and right up to their arrival in the UK and throughout their life at university.
Since 2006, SI-UK has helped thousands of students join UK universities, secure scholarships and meet entry requirements. Learn more by visiting SI-UK in Vientiane for a free consultation to discuss your future.
Visit our website for more info: https://www.studyin-uk.com/laos/
School website: https://www.pislao.com
School Admin number: +856 21 412 825
General email address: admin@pislao.com
The Ministry of Industry and Commerce, LNCCI and sponsors from the World Bank, Australia Aid, US Aid and Irish Aid initiated the Lao Government’s ‘Inventory of Business Licenses’ at an event held at the Lao Plaza Hotel at 2:00 pm on 25 January 2023. Chairman John Cockcroft and Executive Secretary, Seng Xayphrakassa attended the event on behalf of the BBGL membership.
The attendees were informed of an online, one-stop-shop facility whereby new companies could find out about and register their businesses and existing companies could renew their licenses by using www.bned.moic.gov.la. There was no additional cost for using the facility.
The audience were informed that most businesses in Lao are SMEs. With ambitions to improve the ease of doing business the Lao Government had followed ASEAN and WTO guidelines to make improvements, remove obstacles, improve competitiveness and help foreign investors. The full presentation on the platform, including user guides, can be downloaded here.
The National Enterprise Database had involved 17 Lao ministries, and numerous Vientiane and provincial business associations. In setting up the system, objectives were to lower the risk in high risk sectors, improve transparency and trust, widely publicise the facility, streamline and facilitate the registration process and provide on-line business services.
BBGL recommends its members visit the website to investigate the information and facilities provided.
BBGL Chairman, John Cockcroft, represented the British Business Group in Laos at the Lao Business Leader Awards, held at the National Convention Centre in Vientiane during the afternoon of Monday, 23 January 2023.
For the first time, all Lao Chambers of Commerce and Industry were presented with Certificates of Appreciation in recognition of their contribution to fostering business between Lao PDR and other countries.
As usual, awards were presented to the most successful businesses in Lao PDR during 2022. The event was hosted by the Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LNCCI) at the National Convention Centre to present awards to the country’s most successful businesses. The President of the Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr. Oudet Souvannavong, presided over the Award presentation while the recently appointed Prime Minister of Laos, Dr. Sonexay Siphandone, addressed the audience and spoke encouragingly to business executives when addressing the Lao Business Leader Awards for Year 2022.
The meeting was attended by representatives of Chambers, ministers, deputy ministers and business representatives from Vientiane and the provinces.
Dr Sonexay said the government was attempting to solve the many problems affecting the economy and was doing everything possible to promote business growth, trade and investment.
Plans were in place to attract more domestic and foreign investment, with the Laos-China Railway, the expressway, and investment in natural resources and other key sectors, being prime examples of the progress made in the country’s development, he added. Over the past two to three years, many businesses and other entities had experienced difficult problems relating to the Covid-19 pandemic, trade, inflation, rising oil prices, and floods, the prime minister observed.
This year the PM stated that his government will set high targets for national social and economic development, including political work, strengthening of protection and security, and supporting economic growth in all areas.
The government will also raise standards of education and equip people with better life and work skills, especially in remote areas, and strive to alleviate poverty through the Three Builds directive.
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Dr Sonexay said more will be done to ensure the sustainable use of natural resources and rehabilitate areas affected by natural disasters. His full speech can be downloaded here.
The management of government programmes will be enhanced so that goals are achieved in ways that are efficient and effective.
Businesses will be encouraged to cooperate with those in neighbouring countries and form development partnerships.
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The government’s overall priority is to rebuild the economy step by step, and support growth, the prime minister said.
In 2023 the government is targeting GDP growth of 4.5 percent, per capita income of US$1,625, and per capita GNI of US$1,534.
Other targets are the agriculture production of 7.47 million tonnes for commercial purposes, electricity generation of 51,134 million kWh worth 41,321 billion kip, and the value of mined products to reach 19.795 billion kip.
A target of 12,754 tonnes of goods transported by land, river, air and rail has also been set, while tourism authorities hope to attract 1,400,000 visitors to Laos, generating revenue of US$340 million.
Total revenue is targeted at 38,448 billion kip and budget expenditure is set at 43,498 billion kip.
The government will also try to rein in inflation to a rate that is below 9 percent by the end of the year.