Service liberalization in Lao PDR

Service liberalization is emerging as a high-priority issue in various parts of the world for mega free trade agreements as well as national policy. Lao PDR is no exception. To examine the level of service liberalization in Lao PDR, we first compare the Hoekman Indices of Lao PDR, Cambodia, and Vietnam on the ASEAN Framework Agreement on Services (AFAS 8). Lao PDR has lower commitment in many subsectors. In particular, we list the sectors in which Lao PDR made a lower commitment than Cambodia and Vietnam in Mode 3 (supply of services through commercial establishments abroad). Second, a simulation analysis using the Geographical Simulation Model (IDE-GSM) from the Institute of Developing Economies at the Japan External Trade Organization (IDE-JETRO) reveals how service liberalization benefits the economic development of Lao PDR. The two analyses clearly reveal that it is essential for Lao PDR to promote further service liberalization since such liberalization will contribute to the country\u27s development

Preliminary genetic evidence of two different populations of Opisthorchis viverrini in Lao PDR

Opisthorchis viverrini is a major public health concern in Southeast Asia. Various reports have suggested that this parasite may represent a species complex, with genetic structure in the region perhaps being dictated by geographical factors and different species of intermediate hosts. We used four microsatellite loci to analyze O. viverrini adult worms originating from six species of cyprinid fish in Thailand and Lao PDR. Two distinct O. viverrini populations were observed. In Ban Phai, Thailand, only one subgroup occurred, hosted by two different fish species. Both subgroups occurred in fish from That Luang, Lao PDR, but were represented to very different degrees among the fish hosts there. Our data suggest that, although geographical separation is more important than fish host specificity in influencing genetic structure, it is possible that two species of Opisthorchis, with little interbreeding, are present near Vientiane in Lao PDR

Male sexual health: Kathoeys in the Lao PDR, South East Asia - exploring a gender minority

"This paper explores transgender (TG) males, who are a sexual minority in the Lao PDR. In both the Lao PDR and Thailand transgender males are commonly known as Kathoeys or Ladyboys, and although research has been done on Kathoeys in Thailand (Totman, 2003), none has so far been conducted in the Lao PDR. Social sciences research in the Lao PDR is still developing, and so far the focus has been on ‘normal’ male and female studies and therefore this paper intends to begin to fill the gap in the literature."AsiaPacifiQueer Network, Australian National Universit

Children, childhood and migration

children; childhood; labour migration; Lao PDR; Thailand;

New ways of looking into health and hygiene promotional activities in Lao PDR

Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) is one of the poorest countries in South-East Asia and is trying to move from a land-locked country to a land-linked country. Rural water supply, sanitation, health and hygiene promotion are principal focus areas for Lao PDR for her National Growth and Poverty Eradication Strategy. The National Centre for Environmental Health and Water Supply (commonly known as Nam Saat) is responsible for the rural water supply and sanitation (RWSS) sector in Lao PDR, which includes facilitating for planning and implementation of the RWSS programme. Many major steps have been taken to put forward the agenda. However, many more steps need to be taken. This paper briefly highlights the background of health and hygiene promotional activities in Lao PDR, including lessons learned on new ways of looking into health and hygiene promotional activities that have been undertaken in Lao PDR

How International Trade and Government Integrity Affect the Structural Transformation of Lao PDR and Cambodia

This paper explores the how international trade and government integrity affect the structural transformation of Lao PDR and Cambodia. This empirical study is conducted by using the methodology based on Chenery-Syrquin model with several control groups that have impacted on structural transformation in Lao PDR and Cambodia. Moreover, the obtained data is from 1993 to 2021 to find out how these two countries transform from being agriculture dominant economy to being more industry-and services-oriented economy. This study has confirmed non-linear effects of both income and population on the sectoral shares and found that trade has facilitated structural transformation in Lao PDR but that didn’t happen in Cambodia. The political corruption index affected the sectional sectors in different ways in Lao PDR and Cambodia, but the results are not statistically significant

First records of the genus Elatosara Malzacher, 2020 (Ephemeroptera, Caenidae) from the Lao People's Democratic Republic

The genus Elatosara was described by Malzacher, 2020 from the Mekong River in Thailand, with E. phanomensis Malzacher, 2020 as its type species. Here, we report E. phanomensis for the first time from central and southern Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR). A few morphological variations were observed in the Lao PDR population as compared to the paratypes of E. phanomensis. The discovery of E. phanomensis extends the distribution of the genus to the Lao PDR

A summary outline of institutionalist legislative theory

This is a summary outline of institutionalist legislative theory that aims at helping third world countries such as Lao PDR to restructure its existing institutions

An Investigation and Evaluation of Cross- Border Truck Transportation Between Nongkhai, Thailand – Thanaleng to Vientiane, Lao PDR

Lao PDR has been a large constraint in the international mark accessibility for its economic development for a long time. Moreover, Lao PDR depends on its neighbors as its key transit countries by using their sea ports, thus cross-border truck transportation development becomes an essential for substantial economic development for Lao PDR. Therefore, the government of Lao PDR has its policy to transform its landlocked country to be as a land linked country by focusing on improving and developing the infrastructure to connect and integrate to sub-regional and regional. The purpose of this research is to identify and investigate the barriers and the impediments to seamless cross-border truck transportation between Thailand and Lao PDR and to use cross-border truck transportation from Nongkhai-Thanaleng to Vientiane, Lao PDR as an illustrative case study. The Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) to figure out the cost, time, and reliability as the key factors. From the outcome, it found that the cost of transportation service provider was the most important factor, which effected to cross-border tuck transportation was the highest weight 0.5889. Nevertheless, the experts from both government and business sectors who had many working experiences on Nongkhai to Thanaleng route are considering about improving the transportation service to supply the higher demand in current situation. This study could be beneficial guideline for strategy development and forming competitive advantages of cross-border truck transportation

Wildlife Trade and Human Health in Lao PDR: An Assessment of the Zoonotic Disease Risk in Markets.

Although the majority of emerging infectious diseases can be linked to wildlife sources, most pathogen spillover events to people could likely be avoided if transmission was better understood and practices adjusted to mitigate risk. Wildlife trade can facilitate zoonotic disease transmission and represents a threat to human health and economies in Asia, highlighted by the 2003 SARS coronavirus outbreak, where a Chinese wildlife market facilitated pathogen transmission. Additionally, wildlife trade poses a serious threat to biodiversity. Therefore, the combined impacts of Asian wildlife trade, sometimes termed bush meat trade, on public health and biodiversity need assessing. From 2010 to 2013, observational data were collected in Lao PDR from markets selling wildlife, including information on volume, form, species and price of wildlife; market biosafety and visitor origin. The potential for traded wildlife to host zoonotic diseases that pose a serious threat to human health was then evaluated at seven markets identified as having high volumes of trade. At the seven markets, during 21 observational surveys, 1,937 alive or fresh dead mammals (approximately 1,009 kg) were observed for sale, including mammals from 12 taxonomic families previously documented to be capable of hosting 36 zoonotic pathogens. In these seven markets, the combination of high wildlife volumes, high risk taxa for zoonoses and poor biosafety increases the potential for pathogen presence and transmission. To examine the potential conservation impact of trade in markets, we assessed the status of 33,752 animals observed during 375 visits to 93 markets, under the Lao PDR Wildlife and Aquatic Law. We observed 6,452 animals listed by Lao PDR as near extinct or threatened with extinction. The combined risks of wildlife trade in Lao PDR to human health and biodiversity highlight the need for a multi-sector approach to effectively protect public health, economic interests and biodiversity