ZCZC
BCN-22
GERMANY-PROVIDE-GRANT-LAO
Germany to provide 51.7 mln euros for Lao development
VIENTIANE, Sept. 7 (Xinhua) — The German government has agreed to provide
a grant of 51.7 million euros to support development projects in Laos during
the 2018-2019 fiscal year.
The support includes 10 million euros for help with the flood relief and
recovery effort in Sanamxay district, Attapeu province in southern Laos,
while 20 million euros will go to technical cooperation and 31.7 million
euros will be used for financial cooperation, local daily Vientiane Times
reported Friday.
The grant focuses on two sectors — sustainable economic development
cooperation and rural development — as well as natural resources management.
According to Laos’ Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the grant assistance was
agreed to when a Lao government delegation attended Lao-German
intergovernmental negotiations from Monday to Wednesday in Berlin.
The Lao delegates at the meeting came from the ministries of Foreign
Affairs, Finance, Home Affairs, Natural Resources and Environment, and Public
Works and Transport, as well as from the central bank and the National
Assembly. The group was led by Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment,
Kikeo Chanthaboury. The German delegation was led by Director General of the
German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ),
Claudia Warning.
The two delegations also discussed achievements, challenges and the way
forward in bilateral development cooperation. The meeting takes place every
two years and is hosted in turn by Laos and Germany to review the progress of
cooperation and ways to promote bilateral ties in various sectors.
This year’s meeting was another important contribution to the advancement
of cooperation and marked the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations and
55th anniversary of Laos-Germany cooperation, said the report.
In the years 2016-2017, Germany supported development in Laos with 45.8
million euros following an agreement made during Lao-German intergovernmental
negotiations held in Vientiane in November 2016. The German government has a
longstanding commitment to support Laos in its effort to graduate from Least
Developed Country status by 2020.
The Lao government highly values and appreciates the support and
assistance from the government of Germany in various areas of development and
especially in improving the living standards of Lao people across the
country, said the Lao daily.
BSS/XINHUA/HR/1220