| Dear members and colleagues,
Firstly, happy New Year from the board of AustCham Lao.
As AustCham’s new president I would like to wish you and yours a peaceful, healthy and Covid-free 2022; although with Omnicron it may look a little unlikely at present. Last year was certainly very challenging for everyone, including the Lao business community and our valued members. AustCham is certainly looking forward to a new year, one of growth and opportunity, and perhaps a return to a more normal way of life and of business.
We are excited to greet the year ahead as a chamber, with the potential at some point for a return to in-person events looking more likely, and our ever-popular Sundowner business connection events. It also looks like an exciting year for the Lao business community with steps already taken towards a return of international travelers and the implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership.
You can be assured that AustCham will continue to advocate for our members throughout the year. Our new Executive Director David Ormsby is keen to hear from you, so please reach out to him and tell us how we can support you during this coming year. You can contact him by email executivedirector@austchamlao.org or by phone on (+856) 020 5592 4012.
From our report on 2021 you would have seen that a great deal of work was carried out last year, particularly through the successful Financial Services Working Party dialogue . To make our lobbying as powerful and effective as possible, we would like to coordinate with both our members and the Australian embassy team to ensure we represent the interests of the Australian business community in the most constructive and meaningful way possible.
So here’s to a much brighter and more successful year ahead for us all. Best wishes, and thanks again for your continued support for the chamber.
Alistair Brown, President of AustCham Lao and Chair, Civitas Consulting Co. Ltd. |
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| AustCham Lao, Canadian Embassy in Laos, ECCIL, BBGL, Civitas and the Lao CSR Award Organising Committee is pleased to announce the shortlisted candidates for the inaugural Lao CSR Award.
We received a large number of excellent applications for this award and it has been extremely difficult for our judging panel to narrow these applications down to a short list. The number and quality of the applications speaks to the overall commitment to CSR within the Lao business community.
The shortlisted candidates in the SME category are:
Discover Laos Today The Green SERCASIA/Green Vientiane
The shortlisted candidates in the Larger Business Category are:
Angsana Maison Souvannaphoum Burapha Agro Foresty Co., LTD. Pullman Luang Prabang Love Life Co., LTD
The winners of the Lao CSR Award will be announced during the Responsible Business Conduct Forum, to be held on the 17th of February. |
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| Save the date: Responsible Business Conduct Forum |
| AustCham, Embassy of Canada, EuroCham, British Business Group and the European Union are pleased to announce the third Responsible Business Conduct Forum, to be held on the 17th of February. The event will be live-streamed via Facebook, YouTube and LinkedIn.
The second RBC Forum, held on March 18th, 2021, was hugely successful in enhancing awareness and knowledge of CSR principles and practices. Building on this success, the third Responsible Business Conduct Forum is scheduled to be held on the 17th of February 2022, and will feature a series of interactive panel discussions involving business leaders and CSR experts over a full-day on Feb 17, 2022.
The RBC Forum will culminate in Lao PDR’s first-ever CSR Awards on the same day to recognise companies upholding the highest standards of RBC in their corporate strategies and daily work, and whose CSR activities can serve as models for the wider Lao business community. |
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| PAST MATE TO MATE INTERVIEWS |
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Watch last month's episodes of MATE to MATE, AustCham's topical interview series on our members' Covid-19 emergency response. |
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Mate to Mate 'A Diverse Workplace' with Rachel Dechaineux, from the Silver Naga Hotel, Rachel talked about the return of international tourists, Green Travel Zones, and the Lao Safe program. Click on "read more" to play the interview! |
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| BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT & INFO |
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The last month has seen some changes in the business environment in Laos. The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) came into effect on January 1st, and with it a decrease in VAT tariffs and excise tax for imports. However some members have reported that this has yet to be filtered through down to the Lao National Single Window, creating difficulty in some imports clearing customs. It is hoped that this matter will be resolved soon, with the Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry reportedly working on the issue. A more detailed breakdown of the tax changes is available from AustCham member VDB Loi here: http://www.vdb-loi.com/laos_publication/2021-amendment-of-the-tax-laws-key-changes-and-impacts/
Inflation remains a concern for businesses and individuals. In the most recent survey from the World Bank, inflation was the ranked as the issue of most concern across all sectors of Lao society. Continued downward pressure on the Lao Kip is exacerbating the issue for both businesses and employees as the cost of imported goods continues to rise. This sentiment was echoed in the first Foreign Investment Survey, where respondents ranked LAK to foreign currency exchange rate volatility as the highest risk to businesses in the next twelve months. Despite this volatility the World Bank has taken a cautiously optimistic view of the Lao economy, predicting it to grow by 4.5% over 2022. This is despite trade deficits of over US$1.1 billion being recorded for the month of December.
The analysis and report on the first Foreign Investment Survey will soon be available from the AustCham Lao website. This marks the first time that the foreign business community has been surveyed in this way and has been a great collaborative effort by multiple foreign chambers of commerce. This report offers a detailed analysis of the business environment and we encourage anyone who is interested to read the report, when it becomes available. |
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Congratulations to our gold sponsor, ANZ, who was awarded a Top LNCCI Business Leader for Year 2021 COVID Response Honour at the National Convention Center on December 29th, 2021.
This prestigious award was presented to ANZ Laos in recognition of ANZ’s outstanding business performance in the banking sector and contributions to the national economy during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021. Receiving the award was Souphachanh Khansyla, Chief Operating Officer and Deputy Branch Manager of ANZ in Laos.
ANZ is the only AA- rated bank in Laos and was the first international bank to enter the Lao market, in 2007. With a mission to be the best bank for sustainable institutional companies who move goods and capital in the region, ANZ’s network of 33 markets connects Laos to the global market. With a strong focus on sustainability, ANZ’s high quality institutional customers contribute significant foreign investment into the Lao economy, supporting employment, international best practice and ongoing revenue for the Government of Lao PDR.
ANZ has a strong focus on purpose, with an aspiration to ‘shape a world where people and communities thrive’. In Laos, ANZ operates a number of CSR campaigns and activities related to diversity and inclusion, environmental sustainability, capacity-building, volunteering, and financial literacy, including their flagship “MoneyMinded” program. |
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On December 10th, 2021. Our Silver Sponsor Toyota Laos opened its first Antenna Shop, “TOYOTA SQUARE” at the 1st floor of Parkson Mall.
Last year Toyota Laos adopted "Quality for life" as its brand slogan, and has been engaged in environmental conservation, safety initiatives, and CSR activities through ‘Dream Car Art Contest’ with children.
As a new initiative, Toyota Laos established an Antenna Shop, and through more direct conversations with the people of Laos, Toyota Laos will be able to contribute to more active corporate activities and to raise the "Quality for life" of Laos together with everyone.
Antenna Shop “TOYOTA SQUARE” is not a car showroom. TOYOTA SQUARE is a space that will not only communicate Toyota’s basic values, but also to let people experience and sense new Toyota's young, cool, and advanced technology to attract trend-conscious younger generations in Laos.
This space will be a place which establishes strong emotional bonding between the Toyota brand and Lao consumers by combing lifestyle and culture exchange. |
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| Designed to meet your needs!
Our Silver Sponsor BFL is pleased to announce the launch of their new packages, aimed to fit your banking needs the best, with affordable and simple pricing, with no hidden costs.
Besides all the benefits that come with these packages, clients can take full advantage of the guidance and advice that your dedicated Relationship Manager and our Customer Support team can provide.
Contact them now for more information about our new packages
By phone at 021 285 444 |
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| INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF LAOS SELECTED AS THE PILOT SCHOOL TO REOPEN FOR ON-SITE LEARNING |
| After several inspections, Our Bronze Sponsor International School of Laos was selected as the pilot school in Vientiane to reopen for on-site learning, on Monday, January 4th, as approved by the Ministry of Education.
The School will implement two approaches at the same time (hybrid system): (1) on-site and (2) online instructions via M Teams. This is to divide students into two groups (at the request of parents): online learning group and on-site study group.
Grades 5, 9, and 12 will be the first group welcomed back to start studying in classrooms.
International School of Laos would like to assure all parents that the health and safety of the students and staff will remain their main focus in these extraordinary times. They are working closely with MOE on the reopening guidelines and will provide parents with timely updates. |
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| SPECIAL OFFER HAPPY HEALTH INSURANCE |
| Happy Health Insurance 🔰
Giving you worry-free peace of mind when you face health problems
Get a free daily allowance during hospitalization of up to LAK 350,000 / day.
✅ Cover from day 1
✅ Cashless treatment
✅ Can get treatment in any clinics or hospital (whether in a government or private)
✅ Covers treatment for Covid-19.
✅ and other benefits
✅ Available for individual, family and group of employees.
For more information, please contact us via 1677
Email: info@apa.com.la
Facebook page: Phongsavanh Insurance
Website: www.apa.com.la |
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On December 15, 2021 at Vientiane Rescue Center our Bronze Sponsor Phongsavanh Insurance (APA) Co., Ltd (“Phongsavanh Insurance”) handed over to Vientiane Rescue (1623) with motor insurance with coverage over LAK 100,000,000 for 11 ambulance vehicles and Personal Accident Insurance for over 300 volunteers with a maximum coverage of LAK 12,000,000 per person for a one year period which the maximum coverage in total for both ambulance vehicles and volunteers of more than LAK 4,900,000,0000.
Phongsavanh Insurance (APA) values the importance of what Vientiane Rescue is doing for society and would like to play some part on this by supporting Vientiane Rescue and all their volunteers by providing free insurance coverage on ambulance vehicles and Personal Accident Insurance to volunteers. This support was presented by Suthee Vitthayagovit, Chief of Operations and Finance, along with the management team of Phongsavanh Insurance (APA) Co., Ltd and Mrs Sisaliao Thammatheva, President of the Foundation for Assisting the Poor in Lao PDR, and its Administrative Board members to the volunteers of Vientiane Rescue. |
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