India funds four development projects in Laos

Indian and Lao representatives at the signing of the MoU in Vientiane. - VT

VIENTIANE (Vientiane Times/Asia News Network): The Government of India is providing US$184,677 to finance four projects relating to the improvement of facilities in the health, trade and education sectors in Laos.

The funding has been made available under the Quick Impact Projects of the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation Framework.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the projects was signed last week, attended by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ting Souksan and the Ambassador of India to Laos, Dinkar Asthana.

Under the agreement a healthcare centre will be built in Viengxay Village, Phouvong district, Attapeu province, and new classrooms will be built at Kalangphou Primary School in Nong district, Savannakhet province.

Another project will improve organic coffee production and diversification of the rural economy and capacity building of locals in Namvang village, Viengphouka district, Luang Namtha province, while the fourth project will see the construction of new classrooms at Kaleum Secondary School in Xekong province.

Speaking at the MoU signing ceremony, Ting said the Indian government placed great importance on cooperation with Laos within the framework of bilateral and multilateral cooperation, in particular by contributing to Laos’ socio-economic development and improving the quality of life of local people.

The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs promised that Laos would continue to work closely with India as the co-chair of the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation Framework Summit in 2022.

India, as a partner in the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation Framework, announced the launch of the Quick Impact Project in 2012, by allocating US$1 million a year to member states to implement small-scale projects at a cost not exceeding US$50,000 per project.

Since the establishment of the Quick Impact Projects in 2012, Laos has approved 11 projects, valued at US$532,677 in total.

The projects help deliver tangible results that improve people’s living standards across the sub-region, in Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam.