Laos, Switzerland deepen partnership on dam safety

VIENTIANE: The governments of Laos and Switzerland have reaffirmed their commitment to enhancing dam safety in Laos through the Dam Safety Technical and Institutional Assistance project, when a steering committee endorsed the 2025 work plan.
This commitment was underlined at the project's second steering committee meeting, which took place in Vientiane on Thursday (May 8).
The department's Director General, Bouathep Malaykham, delivered his remarks at the meeting.
The meeting was co-chaired by the Director General of the Department of Energy Industry Safety Management (DESM) under the Ministry of Energy and Mines (MEM), Bouathep Malaykham, and Head of the Climate Change & Natural Resource Management Programme at the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) in the Mekong region, Bjorn Schranz.
Implemented by Helvetas with support from the Swiss Government and in close partnership with DESM/MEM, the National University of Laos, the Lao Association on Dams, and EDL-Gen, the Dam Safety Technical and Institutional Assistance project aims to strengthen institutional and technical capacities for dam safety across Laos.
Swiss experts contribute through technical assistance, knowledge exchange, and support for regulatory development.
The steering committee reviewed the key achievements of 2024 and officially endorsed the Dam Safety Technical and Institutional Assistance 2025 work plan.
This marks a continued commitment to bolstering dam safety standards, institutional effectiveness, and technical resilience in line with national and international best practices.
Bouathep acknowledged the crucial role that dam safety technical and institutional assistance plays in building both technical and institutional capabilities within the Ministry of Energy and Mines and partner institutions.
He expressed sincere appreciation for Switzerland's ongoing support and acknowledged the tangible progress achieved through this strategic cooperation.
Schranz reaffirmed Switzerland's long-standing partnership with Laos, saying that the Dam Safety Technical and Institutional Assistance project reflects a shared dedication to sustainable infrastructure, improved risk governance, and community safety.
He praised the value of Swiss expertise while emphasising the importance of Lao ownership to ensure long-term sustainability.
A key highlight of the meeting was the recognition of the launch of Laos' first dam engineering course on Feb 13 this year.
Developed in partnership with the National University of Laos and Switzerland's École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), this milestone reflects the growing local capacity and shared investment in home-grown knowledge and resilience.
The steering committee adopted several recommendations to enhance project implementation, including strengthening cross-sectoral coordination, expanding capacity-building efforts to provincial and sectoral agencies, and promoting data transparency and information-sharing mechanisms.
The meeting also noted the upcoming Mid-Term Review by an independent third party, which will provide valuable insights to refine the project's strategic direction and ensure alignment with Laos' development priorities.
At the close of the meeting, Bouathep underscored the importance of continued collaboration, legislative reform, and institutional strengthening to safeguard the communities and ecosystems that depend on hydropower.
At the same time, Schranz reiterated Switzerland's commitment to joint action, stressing that shared responsibility and co-creation are essential to maximising the project's impact.
The meeting concluded with a strong sense of shared purpose and dedication to building a safer, more resilient dam safety framework in Laos, anchored in mutual respect, technical excellence, and a long-term development vision.
The Dam Safety Technical and Institutional Assistance project aims to improve dam safety across public institutions and academic sectors in Laos.
Financed by the SDC and implemented by Helvetas, the project contributes to the safety and well-being of approximately 1.5 million people by mitigating risks linked to dam failure or poor operational management. - Vientiane Times/ANN

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

The Star

19 hours ago

• The Star

Laos, China forge partnership to facilitate cross-border transport, trade

Viengkhone Sitthixay explains about the Thanaleng Dry Port and Vientiane Logistics Park to Prof. Dr Kikeo Khaykhamphithoune (left) duing his visit to the exhibited booth. KUNMING, (China): Laos's Thanaleng Dry Port (TDP) has established partnerships with key Chinese firms to advance cross-border cargo transport and regional trade connectivity. At the recent 9th China-South Asia Exposition held in Kunming, southwestern China's Yunnan province, the Thanaleng Dry Port Sole Co., Ltd. signed the Strategic Cross-Border Partnership with Anning Dry Port International Holding Co., Ltd. The partnership aims to enhance logistics efficiency between Laos and China by streamlining customs processes, sharing warehouse resources, and standardising documentation. The deal will leverage TDP's role as a key logistics hub linking China with Southeast Asia, while also tapping into the strategic convergence of major regional railways at Anning Dry Port — including links to Vietnam and Myanmar. 'The unique characteristics of the harbor position it as a key hub for China's national transport network, enabling the Thanaleng Dry Port to diversify and enhance its service,' TDP said in a statement. Thanaleng Dry Port – the single-window customs clearance point for freight transport on the Laos-China railway - also signed an additional cooperation deal with Lao Financial Holding Sole., Ltd., China Intelligent Electric Vehicles Co., Ltd., and Yunnan Maimiao Automobile Service Co., Ltd. The Cross-Border Automotive Industry and Financial Services Full-chain Platform and Bonded Warehouse Cooperation agreement aims to support and promote win-win cooperation by utilising the bonded warehouses of the Thanaleng Dry Port as a primary service to jointly establish a platform for cross-border trade and integrated investment services. These include the pre-tax import of goods + bonded warehouse services + pre-tax payment sales + sales with installment payment options + after-sales services in order to help elevate the Lao automotive industry and develop cross-border trade in the region. The partnerships are part of the Lao dry port's broader strategy to engage with regional and global players to advance cross-border transport and position itself as a key logistics connector linking Southeast Asia to China and even extending to Europe. During the 9th China-South Asia Exposition, the Thanaleng Dry Port - the converging point between the Laos-China and Laos-Thailand railways - set up a booth at the six-day event to showcase its logistics service products that have been introduced since it began operation in December 2021. Vice President of Thanaleng Dry Port Sole Co., Ltd., Viengkhone Sitthixay, and his team welcomed Lao Deputy Prime Minister Prof. Dr Kikeo Khaykhamphithoune and foreign guests to the company's booth where the DPM was briefed about the Lao landmark project. The dry port's Managing Director, Sakhone Philangam, told the guests that the dry port and its associated Vientiane Logistics Park are priority projects of the Lao government and form an integral part of the broader strategy to transform landlocked Laos into a land-link country. The progress made in this direction was showcased at the Kunming expo, where businesses set up more than 2,000 booths in total. The event provides an excellent opportunity for Lao businesses to explore avenues and establish trade partnerships with international companies, particularly those in China and Southeast Asia. - Vientiane Times/ANN

The Star

2 days ago

• The Star

Switzerland lifts economic sanctions on Syria

FILE PHOTO: A Swiss flag hangs at the Swiss Parliament building (Bundeshaus) in Bern, Switzerland, March 12, 2025. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse/File photo ZURICH (Reuters) -Switzerland said on Friday it will lift a raft of economic sanctions imposed on Syria, including the Middle Eastern country's central bank. After the toppling of former Syrian president Bashar al-Assad in December 2024, targeted sanctions against individuals and entities linked to the former government will still remain in place, Switzerland's governing Federal Council said. "The aim of this decision is to promote the country's economic recovery and an inclusive and peaceful political transition," the council said in a statement. After an initial easing of sanctions in March, Switzerland is now lifting restrictions on the provision of certain financial services, trade in precious metals and the export of luxury goods, the government said. Some 24 entities including the central bank of Syria have also been removed from the sanctions list, it added. The announcement follows the EU's decision to lift its economic sanctions on Syria at the end of May after a similar move by the U.S. Treasury Department in the same month. (Reporting by Marleen KaesebierEditing by Dave Graham)

Malay Mail

2 days ago

• Malay Mail

Xi to Luxon: No China-New Zealand conflict, even as Cook Islands pivot raises eyebrows

BEIJING, June 20 — Chinese President Xi Jinping said today that Beijing had 'no fundamental conflicts of interest' with New Zealand, as he welcomed Prime Minister Christopher Luxon on an official visit. Luxon's trip comes at a time of tension with New Zealand's close partner the Cook Islands over its ties with Beijing. The self-governing Pacific island nation has a 'free association' agreement with its former colonial ruler, which provides budgetary assistance and support on foreign affairs and defence. But the Cook Islands upset Wellington in February when it signed a string of strategic deals with China on deep-sea mining, regional cooperation and economic issues. Xi told Luxon today that ties with New Zealand had 'long been at the forefront of China's relations with Western developed nations', according to Chinese state news agency Xinhua. 'There are no historical grievances or fundamental conflicts of interest between China and New Zealand,' the news agency reported Xi as saying. The Chinese leader added that the two countries should 'tap potential for cooperation in areas such as scientific and technological innovation, climate change response, and infrastructure'. They should also 'strengthen education, culture, youth, people-to-people and local exchanges, and enrich the connotations of bilateral relations', Xi said. 'We should respect each other, seek common ground while putting aside differences, and correctly view and handle the differences and disagreements between the two countries,' he said. — AFP