VIENTIANE: The Prime Minister visited Khammuan province on Monday (July 20), where he held talks with officials in Xaybuathong and Mahaxay districts and met local residents, discussing ways to alleviate poverty.
Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone and his delegation focused on Panam subdistrict in Mahaxay district, where he was welcomed by the Secretary of the Mahaxay District Party Committee, Inthavong Phommachack.
Panam subdistrict comprises 25 villages, which are home to 13,181 people in 2,776 families and form an important link between Xaybuathong, Bualapha and Xebangfay districts.
Inthavong said officials are working to prevent crime and drug trafficking and boost socio-economic development since Panam was recently formed as a subdistrict.
Rice is grown on 576.6 hectares of land with yields averaging 3,816 tonnes, while officials are helping people to grow other crops on a commercial basis so they can earn more money and produce more food for local consumption.
There are also 1,800 schoolchildren in Panam subdistrict, Inthavong said.
Mahaxay district officials requested the government to provide more funds to help improve living standards in seven villages that are officially classified as poor.
In Xaybuathong district, the Secretary of the District Party Committee, Sinnasone Sengchanthavong, informed the Prime Minister that Xaybuathong comprises four subdistricts, namely Sivilay, Naxaikham, Naphao and Namkhapor.
Sinnasone requested the government to reassign land use and provide funds for the development of infrastructure.
Prime Minister Sonexay handed over cash to support poverty reduction efforts in the two districts, as well as contributing 300 million kip to the provincial Disaster Control Fund to help mitigate the effects of extreme weather. He also provided some consumer goods.
He advised officials in Xaybuathong and Mahaxay districts to seeks ways to resolve chronic problems, encourage villagers to make a greater contribution to socio-economic development, build a strong grassroots foundation to achieve poverty reduction targets, and improve living standards.
The Prime Minister also advised authorities to consider the requests submitted by officials from the two districts. - Vientiane Times/ANN
