Embassy of India

Vientiane, Laos

Embassy of India
Vientiane
Press release

Visit of Dr. Rajkumar Ranjan Singh, Minister of State for External Affairs to

Lao PDR

Minister of State for External Affairs (MOS), Dr. Rajkumar Ranjan Singh paid an official visit to Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) from 22-26 June 2022. During the visit, MOS had a meeting with H.E. Mr. Bounleua Phandanouvong, Deputy Foreign Minister of Lao PDR, and paid courtesy calls on (i) Mr. Saleumxay Kommasith, Foreign Minister; (ii) Mrs. Suanesavanh Vignaket, Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism, and (iii) Mr. Phet Phomphiphak, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry. MOS also met the Governor of Champassak Province, during his visit to the Champassak province. Besides, MOS visited Vat
Phou, an ancient Shiva temple, and inspected restoration work undertaken by a team from Archaeological Survey of India since 2009.

2. MOS, along with Mr. Phouth Simmalavong, Minister of Education and Sports of Lao PDR, inaugurated a grant project involving construction of a dormitory within the premises of Laos-India Entrepreneurship Development Centre. The Centre was set up in 2004 with Indian grant assistance and trains Lao nationals for setting up small and medium scale businesses. MOS, along with Mr. Kykeo Singnavong, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Forestry of Lao PDR, also inaugurated another grant project— promotion of cultivation of green cardamom in Paksong district of Champassak province. MOS also interacted with some farmers from the surrounding villages who are benefiting from the project. They expressed happiness that this project will support them in improving their livelihood.

3. MOS, along with Mr. Phet Phomphiphak, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry of Lao PDR participated in groundbreaking ceremony of an irrigation project being implemented under Indian Lines of Credit (LOC) of US$ 14.7 million. MOS also visited Nabong Sub-station, which has been built under as US$ 34.66 million LOC project “230 kV D/C & 115 kV M/C Transmission lines and associated 115/22 kV substations at Thabok & Nabong“.

4. MOS participated in the celebrations of 8 th International Day of Yoga organized by the Embassy in partnership with Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Ministry of Education & Sports; Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism; and authorities of Vientiane capital at the iconic That Luang square, Vientiane. Associate Professor Mr. Phout Simmalavong, Minister of Education and Sports, Lao PDR and Vice Minister of Education and Sports H.E. Ms. Khanthaly Sriphongphanh graced the ceremony. The event was attended by about 400 people, including senior officials from various ministries of Lao PDR, and members of the Indian community.

5. MOS interacted with Indian diaspora at Pakse on 24 June 2022 and in Vientiane on 25 June 2022 and briefed them about various citizen centric initiatives of the Government and also about portals like MADAD etc.

6. The visit provided an opportunity to review the entire gamut of bilateral relations and gave further impetus to the bilateral relations.

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