AustCham Monthly Newsletter

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NEWSLETTER
Dear Subscriber,

AustCham Lao is glad to announce that July begins our new financial year, which ends June ‘22, and we have great news to share!
 
We are excited to introduce you to our new technology partner, GLUE UP, a software platform designed especially for Chambers of Commerce to support their members and improve the way we conduct many of our activities.

From now on it will be possible to sign up online for all our events. You will also be able to stay in touch with the AustCham network at all times, thanks to the My Community feature, a digital space designed for community engagement. If you haven't yet done so, please download the GLUEUP APP and create your profile to enjoy the new, improved AustCham experience. 
If you need assistance or you would like to have more info on the App please get in touch at austcham@austchamlao.org.
 
We are looking forward to seeing you again soon at our events! As our motto states: we connect for GROWTH!
 
Best wishes and take care,

AustCham Lao Team
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UPCOMING EVENTS
Trends & Opportunities in Laos: New Horizons for the Healthcare System
Trends & Opportunities in Laos: New Horizons for the Healthcare System
Panel Discussion

date

Jul 16, 2021
(8:30 AM - 10:30 AM)
(GMT+7)

location

Crowne Plaza
Vientiane, Vientiane Pr...

The current situation with locked borders, domestic healthcare demand increasing, Laos-based patients and doctors alike are adapting quickly to virtual health channels, and other digital innovations for specialist care.

In this unique event, we explore Lao new horizons for healthcare, amid the covid -19 vaccine roll out and unprecedented levels of public-private collaboration.


*event in English language

**Covid 19 preventive measures will be taken - limited seats available!

      Learn more      
      Register      
 
Training in Presentation Skills
Training in Presentation Skills

date

Jul 30, 2021
(9 AM - 12:30 PM)
(GMT+7)

location

Crowne Plaza Vienti...
Vientiane, Vientiane Pr...

It's back - and if you missed out last time because it was fully booked, you now have another chance to attend our special presentation skills workshop so you can PRESENT WITH CONFIDENCE (EVEN WHEN YOU DON’T FEEL IT!). But be quick - there are only limited seats available.


No matter whether you’re presenting to your boss, in a team meeting, or to a large group, presenting with confidence is essential to getting your message across and advancing your career. Whether you present in English or in Lao, this introductory workshop will provide you with some simple, easy-to-use tools and techniques to help you get your message across memorably – and to look more confident even if you really don’t feel it.

      Learn more      
      Register      
 
Google Ads for Business: Why and How to Use it!
Google Ads for Business: Why and How to Use it!
Workshop

date

Aug 13, 2021
(8:30 AM - 11 AM)
(GMT+7)

location

Crowne Plaza Vienti...
Vientiane, Vientiane Pr...

While Google Ads can be effective, is it really important for your business? What factors make google ads important for a business? How can these factors be leveraged in a market like Laos? And most importantly, what benefits will my business have? If you would like to know the answers to these questions and learn how to use Google Ads effectively for your business, don't miss out on this workshop!


*Please note limited space available

**Covid-19 safety measures will be taken

      Learn more      
      Register      
 
PAST MATE TO MATE INTERVIEWS
Watch last month's episodes of MATE to MATE, AustCham interview series on member's Covid-19 emergency response.
Mate to Mate with Arnaud Caulier, CEO BFL Bank and former ECCIL President.
Hear from Arnaud how BFL Bank is responding to the Covid-19 emergency and his view on attracting foreign investment in Laos. Click on read more to play the interview!
Read More
Mate to Mate with Michael Simcock, General Manager Whessoe Lao Sole.
Hear from Michael how Whessoe responded to the second Covid-19 emergency in Laos. Click on read more to play the interview!
Read More
Mate to Mate with Nalongded (Bob) Luanglath, Managing Director Muanson.
Learn how Bob managed his company’s Covid-19 emergency response. Click on read more to play the interview!
Read More
Mate to Mate with Viboon Sithimolada, Managing Director SS International & member of LNCCI Covid19 committee.
Hear from Viboon how SS International responded to the renovated Covid-19 emergency in Laos and which are the recommendation of LNCCI’s Covid-19 Committee on business’ reopening and recovery plan. Click on read more to play the interview!
Read More
Mate to Mate with with Jettana Viengsaly, Co-founder and CEO Bizgital & Souliyo Vongdala, CTO Bizgital and CEO Loca.
Hear how Jettana and Souliyo managed Bizgital and Loca's Covid-19 emergency response. Click on read more to play the interview!
Read More
Mate to Mate with Chris Barth, CEO Chris Barth Expat & Legal Services.
Hear from Chris how his business responded to the Covid-19 emergency and also what regulations are in place at the moment for people travelling in and outside the country. Click on read more to play the interview!
Read More
Mate to Mate with Duncan Morris, Finance manager Prudential Life Assurance. Hear from Duncan what challenges and opportunities Covid-19 created for the insurance industry and Prudential. Click on read more to play the interview!
Read More
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AUSTCHAM PAST EVENTS
AUSTRALIAN RESIDENCY TAX CHANGES AND TAX IMPLICATIONS FOR EXPATS
AUSTRALIAN RESIDENCY TAX CHANGES AND TAX IMPLICATIONS FOR EXPATS
On 29th June 2021, in collaboration with Australian Chambers in Japan, Taiwan, Cambodia, Thailand, Korea, and Mongolia we hosted an exclusive webinar on Australian Residency Tax Changes and Tax Implications for Australian Expats.

Hidden away in the back of the Australian Budget and unmentioned in the Treasurer's speech, was a simple statement confirming that:

"The Government will replace the individual tax residency rules with a new framework that is easy to understand, provides certainty and reduces compliance costs for globally mobile individuals and their employers."

The Budget has flagged that these changes will likely come into effect from the 1st July 2022.

A new damning “Bright Line” test is proposed that would deem someone a Resident for Australian Tax Purposes if they are in Australia for more than 183 days in a year. This has very serious and unfair consequences for many ex-pats during this pandemic.

Review this exclusive webinar as we clarify:
  • Proposed changes to the Australian Residency Rules
  • Negative impacts of the "Bright Line Rule & Factor Test"
  • What the new Superannuation changes will mean for ex-pats
  • Lobbying against unreasonable Residency Rule changes

Please click on Read more to watch the replay!

Read More
 
MEMBERS UPDATE
 
A WORLD OF NETWORKS: SAFETY, RELIABILITY AND CONVENIENCE IN LAOS
A WORLD OF NETWORKS: SAFETY, RELIABILITY AND CONVENIENCE IN LAOS
Our Gold sponsor, ANZ, has launched its new ‘world of networks’ series this month with Carli Renzi, Country Head ANZ Laos, the first leader to be interviewed across ANZ’s network of 33 markets. A wholly-owned branch of ANZ Banking Group, the Laos business is purely focused on Institutional customers - supporting the movement of their goods and capital in and out of Laos and within the region.
According to Carli, the Laos business mainly looks after industries such as resources, food, beverages & agribusiness, auto & logistics, and financial institutions.

“Largely [these customers] are from Europe, China, Japan, Korea, and Thailand,” she explains. “However, what's interesting is that 70 percent of the customers that book here in Laos also have a banking relationship with ANZ in our home markets of Australia and New Zealand.”

Carli says ANZ has a strong reputation as a safe, reliable, and convenient bank to deal with in Laos. “We're the only AA-rated bank,” she explains. It comes as ANZ last month launched its mid-year ASEAN economic review in Laos, with Khoon Goh sharing the positive views on Laos’ export pricing future while cautioning on currency and inflation.
Read More
 
CROWNE PLAZA VIENTIANE LAUNCHED JOURNEY TO TOMORROW
CROWNE PLAZA VIENTIANE LAUNCHED JOURNEY TO TOMORROW
Crowne Plaza Vientiane, one of IHG® Hotels & Resorts, launched Journey to Tomorrow, a series of ambitious new commitments to make a positive difference for our people, communities and planet over the next decade.
One of the ambitions is to pioneer the transformation to a minimal waste hospitality industry, this includes:

• Eliminate single-use items, or move to reusable or recyclable alternatives across the guest stay
• Minimise food going to waste through a “prevent, donate, divert” plan
• Collaborate to achieve circular solutions for major hotel commodity items

This year, our team is excited to launch one of the many series of in our green ambitions. We have launched the replacement of plastic water bottles with reusable glass bottles in our meetings spaces. Did you know that in a single calendar year, a hotel on a similar scale to Crowne Plaza Vientiane uses 250,000 water bottles per year?

From now forward, as a meeting participant at Crowne Plaza Vientiane, you are taking part in reducing waste and its impact on the environment together with us. As our CEO said on the launch of this initiative: "Doing what’s right, not just what’s needed."
 
LINFOX-BURAPHA SUSTAINABLE PLANTATIONS BEGINS OPERATIONS
LINFOX-BURAPHA SUSTAINABLE PLANTATIONS BEGINS OPERATIONS
The Linfox-Burapha Agro-Forestry sustainable plantation in Laos is now fully operational.
As part of Linfox Asia’s strategy to expand operations in the Mekong Delta region, Linfox partnered with Burapha Agro-Forestry to provide logistics expertise for their harvesting and haulage operations.
The Lao-Swedish company’s sustainable plantation and wood products manufacturing facility is fully operational, with 4,900 cubic metres of logs harvested in April 2021 ahead of a forecast production increase to 9,000 cubic metres by June.


Safety and training lead the way
“As the harvesting operation requires specialised, high-tech, automated fleet and equipment, Linfox staff completed an intensive six-month training program in automated harvesting and forwarding,” explained Linfox Laos Country Manager, Scott Morgan.
All log truck drivers must complete specific vehicle training, including loading and unloading techniques using a log crane and grapple. In addition, vehicle control training is conducted for challenging terrain and conditions utilising Central Tyre Inflation Systems (CTIS).
“As log loading and haulage carries higher risk, the training ensures the work is conducted with the utmost safety and compliance,” said Scott.
Read More
 
BFL FINANCES LHSE USD10 MILLION FOR STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT OF LAO PDR
BFL FINANCES LHSE USD10 MILLION FOR STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT OF LAO PDR
On June 24th, 2021, Banque Franco Lao Ltd (BFL) signed a new contract with Lao Holding State Enterprise (LHSE) to provide an additional USD10 million to finance strategic developments of the Lao PDR.

LHSE is a business entity of the Government of Lao PDR (GOL) for investment in the electric power sector. LHSE holds GOL shares in IPP project companies such as Nam Theun 2 Power Company Limited, the single largest project ever developed in the Lao PDR, and administers GOL interests under project Shareholder Agreements, etc.
Operating in Lao PDR for 10 years, BFL is a full commercial bank providing companies with a complete range of financing and transactional solutions. BFL already participated in major projects financing in the Lao PDR in different sectors such as energy, industry, real estate and hospitality.

This project financing is subsequent to the first agreement between BFL bank and LHSE, which has seen the bank disburse an initial $10,000,000 in September 2020 to finance strategic developments in the Energy sector of the Lao PDR. This additional financing agreement is particularly significant for both entities as it further strengthen the development of The Lao PDR through sustainable, long term financial solutions.

In the picture above (24th of June 2021), Mr Arnaud Caulier, CEO of BFL, and Mr Manasinh Vongsay, General Manager of LHSE, introduced the companies’ joint agreement to the national press and key stakeholders of the project.
 
PRUDENTIAL OFFERS FINANCIAL SUPPORT THROUGH ITS COVID-19 CARE FUND
PRUDENTIAL OFFERS FINANCIAL SUPPORT THROUGH ITS COVID-19 CARE FUND
Free COVID-19 Care Fund For Lao Residents to Battle The COVID-19 Pandemic Together
Prudential Laos offers financial support and peace of mind via its COVID-19 Care Fund to all Lao residents and especially to frontline workers who are fighting the COVID-19 tirelessly.
To access the Prudential COVID-19 Care Fund, eligible individuals must register via Prudential’s dedicated website link. Further information can be found through Prudential’s corporate website and Facebook page.

For more information:https://uqr.to/te50
How to apply:https://uqr.to/tdtp
Read More
 
MATES RATES
It's Souphattra restaurant opening day!

To celebrate this special day, we are offering a 10% discount to you, our beloved guests!

Take your friends, family, and loved ones to spend your quality time together dine in at our restaurant, our Souphattra team is thrilled to be at your service.

We are looking forward to welcoming you!
Open daily; 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Asian Food | Western Food | Drinks | Deserts

For more information please contact:
T | 021 318 111

Thaphalanxay, Sisattanak district, Vientiane
 
APA, First Insurer in Laos!

'Critical Illness Insurance' from Phongsavanh Insurance (APA)

Lump-sum cash benefit up to 1,000,000,000 kip upon diagnosis of critical illness

  • No medical check-up required
  • Premiums start from only 90,000 kip/year
  • Maximum coverage up to 1,000,000,000 kip
  • Entry age is 0-60 years old and renewable up to 65 years old

Phongsavanh Insurance (APA) – the first insurer in Lao that covers you against these major health problems - so that you can focus on recovering while we take care of the finances!

For more information, please call us on 1677 or visit ourwww.apa.com.la
Read More
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