Laos to spend nearly 59 million USD for repairing infrastructure
The Lao Government has approved a special budget package worth 500 billion LAK (58.7 million USD) to repair infrastructure facilities that were damaged by floods last year.
The scene after the collapse of a hydroelectric dam in Laos in 2018 (Source: VNA)
Vientiane (VNA) – The Lao Government has approved a special budget packageworth 500 billion LAK (58.7 million USD) to repair infrastructure facilitiesthat were damaged by floods last year.
The Ministry of Planning and Investment of Laos announced the budget package atan annual meeting held recently in Vientiane.
An official who joined the drafting of the country’s socio-economic developmentplan for 2019 stressed that the amount has been prepared and that this repair workis expected to be deployed soon.
Many road and bridge routes, irrigation systems, and other public works in thecountry were severely damaged due to heavy floods last year, so the Lao Ministryof Public Works and Transport alongside the Ministry of Agriculture andForestry will be the key units to implement the work.
Laosreported an economic loss of approximately 147 million USD after floods sweptacross the country last year.
The delayed repair of infrastructure damages has had extended negative impactson production activities in the country over time, and the total loss is likelyto increase to 500 million USD. –VNA
Laos authorities have been making every effort to search for missing people after the collapse of the Xepian-Xe Nam Noy hydropower dam in Attapeu province’s Sanamxay district of Laos on July 23.
The rescue forces in Laos had found the bodies of 31 victims in the collapse of the Sepien-Senamnoi hydropower dam as of August 6, Lao Foreign Minister Saleumxay Kommasith revealed at an international press conference held in Vientiane on August 7.
The Lao Government decided to suspend the consideration of new hydropower projects to review the country’s hydropower development strategy after the breach of a dam last month left at least 34 dead and 100 still missing.
Laos might not realise its goal of receiving 5 million tourists this year, said Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism Bosengkham Vongdala said at a recent parliament’s session as quoted by the major Lao newspaper Pathet Lao.
Total trade between Indonesia and New Zealand in the first half of 2025 reached 963.23 million USD, an increase of 21.56% compared to 792.39 million USD in the same period last year. Of this amount, Indonesia's exports to New Zealand totaled 374.89 million USD, while imports 588.35 million USD
Malaysia, as ASEAN 2025 Chair, marked the bloc’s 58th founding anniversary on August 8 with a vibrant celebration in Cyberjaya, blending an official ceremony with a colorful cultural festival.
Vietnam plays an important role in Southeast Asia’s economic growth and is a key partner of her country in realising the shared vision of a peaceful, stable, and prosperous region, said Robyn Mudie, First Assistant Secretary of Office of Southeast Asia (OSA) – Southeast Asia Regional and Mainland Division at Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).
The 2025 ASEAN Business Community Development (ABCD) Forum, themed “Empowering ASEAN's Next Leap: Digital, Sustainable & Entrepreneurial Transformation” brought together ministers, CEOs, and top industry experts to discuss key regional economic priorities.
The DES Ministry will seek cooperation from social media platforms to prevent the spread of fake news and monitor accounts related to such activities, he told reporters after chairing a meeting of the newly established Anti-Fake News Centre (AFNC).
The Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking identified the US tariff reduction as a significant driver behind the improved economic outlook for Thailand.
Financial institutions and financial technology (fintech) players are intensifying their focus on expanding across the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), adopting tailored strategies to strengthen their presence in the region’s digital financial services landscape.
Featuring a permanent exhibition area, the ASEAN Hall will function both as a cultural showcase and as a dynamic venue for ASEAN-related events and programmes. Its inauguration on ASEAN Day added symbolic weight, marking a fresh milestone in ASEAN–RoK relations.
Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce and rice exporters are devising strategic plans to boost rice exports amid global market fluctuations, focusing on key markets and adjusting output.
The focus of the upcoming ASEAN Summit in October will be on strengthening economic relations through intra-regional trade and investment, as well as regional initiatives on energy networks and connectivity.
Indonesian Ambassador Rina P. Soemarno, who currently serves as Chair of the ASEAN Committee in Prague, emphasised the spirit of regional solidarity and cooperation, and the importance of enhancing ASEAN–Czech Republic relations.
The Indonesian Government is determined to seize opportunities to enhance the competitiveness of national agricultural products, an official has said, adding that it always strives to promote exports at the highest possible level, based on a mutually beneficial foundation.
Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira has outlined a six-point strategy to promote innovation, support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and push for Thailand's removal from the US Trade Representative (USTR)’s special 301 Watch List regarding intellectual property rights protection among trading partners.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Israel Ly Duc Trung emphasised ASEAN’s central role in regional mechanisms such as the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and the East Asia Summit (EAS), highlighting its significant contribution to promoting peace, stability, and prosperity in Southeast Asia.
The consumer index of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC), fell to 51.7 in July from 52.7 in the previous month. The sluggish economy and the trade war, as well as high living costs, continue to undermine confidence, the university said.
Deputy Speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly Istvan Jakab expressed his hope for further deepening Hungary’s ties with ASEAN countries and called for their support for Hungary’s accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia.
The 30-storey tower crumbled seconds after a 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit neighbouring Myanmar on March 28. The partially built high-rise, meant to house the State Audit Office (SAO), was the only building in Thailand to collapse, killing 89 people on the site, mostly construction workers.
Indonesia’s waste generation is projected to exceed 50 million tonnes in 2025. Of the total, more than 20 million tonnes could potentially enter the ocean through rivers, coastal areas, small islands, ports, and marine activities, and thereby, pose a risk to coastal ecosystems and marine biota.
Indonesia is accelerating plans to increase lithium imports, particularly from Australia, in a bid to fill gaps in the electric vehicle (EV) battery supply chain and realise its ambition of becoming a global EV manufacturing hub.