VIENTIANE: The government is stepping up efforts to tackle crime, boost revenue collection, improve roads and strengthen agricultural production in November, while pushing ahead with plans for digital transformation, environmental protection and cleaner transport.
These priorities were spelled out at the government’s monthly meeting for October, held on October 22-23 at the Prime Minister’s Office and chaired by Prime Minister Saleumxay Kommasith.
Following the conclusion of the monthly meeting on Friday, Deputy Minister and Deputy Head of the Office of Prime Minister’s Office, Dr Khampha Phimmasone, told the media that ministries and local authorities had been instructed to turn the agreed priorities into concrete work plans, with clearly defined responsibilities and deadlines.
Public security remains a key concern, with authorities directed to step up action against online scams, drug-related offences, robbery, and illegal alluvial gold mining.
Government agencies must also improve coordination and speed up the implementation of decisions, including the resolutions adopted at the 2nd ordinary session of the 10th National Assembly.
On the economic front, the government called for stronger revenue collection, tighter expenditure management and urgent recovery of outstanding arrears.
Provinces at risk of missing their revenue targets will receive particular attention.
Road upgrades and repairs will be accelerated, while farmers will be encouraged to plant more dry-season crops to offset losses caused by extreme weather.
Improving irrigation and ensuring adequate supplies of seeds are also among the measures planned, while health authorities will continue to monitor and prevent seasonal disease outbreaks.
Preparations are also under way for senior leaders to attend the 49th Asean Summit and related meetings in the Philippines in mid-November, followed by the CLMV and ACMECS summits in Vietnam later in the month.
The meeting agreed in principle to a draft resolution on accelerating the development of science, technology, innovation and digital transformation.
The meeting underlined the need to clarify priorities and investment targets, while addressing infrastructure, system maintenance and workforce development.
Three other agenda items involved a draft decree on import privileges for members of the Lao representative offices abroad, a draft decree on the Environmental and Forest Protection Fund, and use of the Road Fund in 2026 and plans for 2027.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs was instructed to ensure that import exemptions comply with existing laws and are not exploited for personal gain.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment was asked to clarify the environmental fund’s objectives and strengthen its management.
In terms of road development, the government called for more expenditure on strategic routes, cross-border links, tourism destinations and production areas.
It also stressed construction quality, reasonable costs, stricter vehicle-load controls and the need to acquire funding from multiple sources.
The meeting also reviewed two additional draft instruments. One seeks to clarify the division of responsibilities between central and local authorities in areas including finance, investment and land management.
The Ministry of Finance was asked to streamline the proposal and align it with existing laws before further discussion with the Theory Council of the Party Central Committee.
The other is a master plan to promote the use of electric vehicles and alternative sources of energy.
The Ministry of Industry and Commerce was instructed to strengthen measures covering charging infrastructure, public awareness, after-sales services, vehicle imports and the handling of end-of-life vehicles and equipment.
The revised plan will be submitted to the government’s November meeting for consideration.
In reviewing October’s performance, the meeting reported that authorities had dealt with 322 drug-related cases, dismantled 11 scam gangs and collected 136 firearms.
Operations against illegal mining in Vientiane and Xiengkhouang provinces led to the seizure of 50 excavators and related equipment.
The government collected 87 per cent of its 2026 revenue target and disbursed 67 per cent of planned expenditure. Inflation averaged 7.8 per cent, while funding mobilised from domestic and foreign sources to balance the budget reached 66 per cent of the 2026 target figure.
More than 18,000 people received training in national labour skills standards, and over 17,000 secured employments either in Laos or other countries through legal channels.
Work also continued in road repairs, goods production, public health, education and tourism.
Despite this progress, the meeting acknowledged continuing problems with drug trafficking, theft, traffic congestion, waste management, informal trading, the quality of education, mining, infrastructure restoration and misleading information circulating on social media.
Concluding the monthly meeting, Prime Minister Saleumxay Kommasith urged government members and local leaders to incorporate the agreed priorities into their respective work plans, assign responsibilities clearly, and set firm deadlines to ensure that decisions delivered practical results. - Vientiane Times/ANN
