Laos and Switzerland strengthen efforts to improve dam safety
The meeting, held at the DoubleTree by Hilton recently, brought together key government officials, technical experts, and development partners to review progress and set priorities for the year ahead.
Co-chaired by Bouathep Malaykham, Director General of the Department of Energy Industry and Safety Management under the Ministry of Energy and Mines, and Björn Schranz, Head of the Climate Change and Natural Resource Management Program at the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) in the Mekong region, the session marked another step forward in the growing partnership between the two countries.
Since its launch in 2022, the DSTIA project has received CHF 5.36 million (around US$6.5 million) in funding from the Swiss Government, with implementation led by Helvetas Laos.
Working closely with the Lao government and partners such as the National University of Laos, the Lao Association on Dams, and Electricité du Laos Generation (EDL-Gen), the project has made notable progress.
It has supported the implementation of the 2022 Dam Safety Law, helped build the capacity of the newly established Department of Energy Industry and Safety Management, and improved monitoring, reporting, and emergency planning systems.
A major milestone highlighted at the meeting was the launch of Laos's first-ever Dam Engineering Course at the National University of Laos in February 2025.
This course represents a significant achievement in developing homegrown technical expertise and reducing long-term reliance on external specialists.
The project also serves as a platform for connecting Lao institutions with Swiss experts to find sustainable, long-term solutions for dam safety. The overarching goal is to ensure that the country's growing hydropower infrastructure is managed safely and responsibly, protecting more than 1.5 million people living downstream.
During the meeting, the Steering Committee reviewed the main achievements of 2024 and formally endorsed the operational work plan for 2025.
This plan focuses on enhancing safety protocols, advancing professional training, and continuing institutional reforms to ensure that dam development is both secure and sustainable.
In his remarks, Bouathep Malaykham emphasized the vital role DSTIA plays in strengthening the country's dam safety institutions and expressed appreciation for Switzerland's ongoing support.
Schranz echoed this sentiment, noting the importance of combining Swiss technical expertise with Lao leadership to build a more resilient energy sector.
The Steering Committee also adopted several recommendations to guide the next phase of work, including improved cooperation across sectors, increased capacity-building support for local agencies, and greater transparency in how data is shared and used.
Looking ahead, an independent Mid-Term Review of the DSTIA project will provide insights into its effectiveness and ensure alignment with both national development goals and international standards. - Laotian Times
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
4 hours ago
- The Sun
Nestle develops new cocoa method to boost yields amid climate change
GENEVA: Nestle has developed a groundbreaking method to produce chocolate using up to 30% more of the cocoa fruit as climate change continues to diminish farmers' yields worldwide. The Swiss food giant announced this innovative approach on Wednesday, addressing the growing challenges facing cocoa production. Traditional chocolate manufacturing uses only cocoa beans from inside the pod, leaving much of the fruit including pulp, placenta and pod husk largely unused according to company researchers. The newly developed patented technique leverages all parts of the fruit inside the cocoa pod through a comprehensive processing method. Everything inside the pod gets collected as a wet mass that then undergoes natural fermentation, which Nestle says unlocks the key chocolate flavour essential for quality production. This fermented mass then gets ground, roasted and dried into chocolate flakes that can be used to make chocolate without compromising the taste that consumers expect from premium products. This innovative approach significantly reduces waste while simultaneously helping farmers achieve greater yield and value from their harvests. Louise Barrett, head of the Nestle research and development centre for confectionery in York, England, explained the importance of this development given current agricultural challenges. 'With climate change increasingly affecting cocoa yields around the world, we are exploring innovative solutions that could help cocoa farmers maximise the potential of their harvests,' she stated regarding the company's commitment to sustainable cocoa production. 'While this project is still at a pilot stage, we are currently exploring how to apply this innovation at a larger scale,' Barrett added, indicating the potential for broader implementation across Nestle's global supply chain. The timing of this innovation coincides with unprecedented volatility in cocoa markets that began in early 2023 after nearly a decade of price stability. Cocoa prices on the London commodities market have experienced dramatic fluctuations, starting at £1,900 per tonne in January 2023 before skyrocketing to £3,800 a year later and reaching an astonishing high of over £9,000 last December. This price surge resulted primarily from poor harvests in leading producers Ivory Coast and Ghana, where unusually heavy rains, cocoa pod disease outbreaks and subsequent drought took their toll on production volumes. A February study by the Climate Central research group confirmed that excessive heat contributes significantly to reduced harvest quantity and quality for cocoa growers. The report calculated that climate change has added an extra three weeks of temperatures above 32C in Ivory Coast and Ghana during the main growing season from October to March over the last decade, exceeding optimal levels for cacao trees. The price surge eventually dampened demand while encouraging farmers to devote more resources to cocoa cultivation, leading to recent price easing as reserves built up for the first time in four years. Since the beginning of 2025, prices have declined significantly, with a tonne trading at around £5,600 on Wednesday as market conditions continue evolving amid these production challenges and innovations. – AFP
The Star
9 hours ago
- The Star
Laos, Myanmar deepen ties as they mark 70 years of diplomatic relations
VIENTIANE: The foreign ministers of Laos and Myanmar have agreed to expand cooperation in the fields of labour, trade, connectivity and energy, as they prepare to mark 70 years of diplomatic relations with a series of joint activities. The commitment was made during talks between Laos' Minister of Foreign Affairs, Thongsavanh Phomvihane, and Myanmar's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, U Than Swe. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the 10th Mekong-Lancang Cooperation Foreign Ministers' meeting in Yunnan province, China, on Aug 15. Discussions centred on practical ways to deliver benefits to the people of Laos and Myanmar, with an emphasis on expanding trade and investment, creating more workforce opportunities, and strengthening collaboration in the energy sector. The two sides discussed ways to use the Laos-Myanmar Friendship Bridge to boost cross-border links and economic activity. The ministers also discussed border relations and other priority issues, reaffirming their commitment to building trust and strengthening ties. Laos and Myanmar established diplomatic relations on July 12, 1955. In recognition of this long-standing partnership, the two sides agreed to organise a number of festive and meaningful events to mark the 70th anniversary this year. U Than Swe informed the Lao delegation about elections that will take place in Myanmar later this year or in early 2026. Thongsavanh welcomed the progress made by the Myanmar government in recent months. - Vientiane Times/ANN
The Star
11 hours ago
- The Star
China, US trade talks boost investor optimism
Following the latest round of economic and trade talks between China and the United States in Stockholm, Sweden, last month, multinational corporations across sectors are reinforcing their commitment to the Chinese market, reflecting growing optimism for mutually beneficial bilateral cooperation. Business leaders highlighted China's vast consumer base, resilient supply chains and drive for industrial upgrading as reasons that the country remains a critical market despite geopolitical friction. They said sustained dialogue between the two sides would help steady investor expectations and bolster confidence in long-term business ties. China and the US extended on Aug 12 the pause on tariff hikes on each other's goods for another 90 days, according to a joint statement on the China-US economic and trade meeting in Stockholm released by the Ministry of Commerce last week. Nathaniel Madarang, president for the Asia-Pacific region at US tire manufacturer Goodyear Tire & Rubber, said that stable and healthy China-US economic and trade relations are essential for driving mutual economic growth and innovation, as shown by the substantial trade volumes and jobs they support. As China's auto industry is being reshaped by technology and changing consumer demand, Madarang said the country will see strong growth in the electric vehicle, sport utility vehicle and luxury car segments. He said that in order to stay competitive, Goodyear has introduced its latest SUV tire products in China and other Asia-Pacific markets. Quin Liu, chief commercial officer at Logitech International, the Swiss maker of computer peripherals and software, said that his company will invest more in research and development in Suzhou, Jiangsu province, in the coming years, adding that free trade and reduced geopolitical friction are key to supporting the growth of multinationals operating in China, the US and beyond. "More than half of the products we make in China are shipped to global markets," said Liu, adding that China's industrial ecosystem has evolved into an innovation hub, helping multinationals tap local talent and deepen partnerships. Foreign-invested companies recorded foreign trade value of 7.46 trillion yuan ($1.04 trillion) in the first seven months of 2025, up 2.6 percent year-on-year and accounting for 29 percent of China's total trade. Meanwhile, their exports reached 4.1 trillion yuan, an increase of 4.9 percent year-on-year, data from the General Administration of Customs showed. According to Zhao Fujun, a researcher specialising in international economic cooperation at the Beijing-based Development Research Center of the State Council, in order to reinforce long-term investor confidence, China has pressed ahead with institutional opening-up as well as efforts to enhance market transparency and policy predictability, and to address concerns raised by foreign companies. For instance, the National Development and Reform Commission reiterated in July that China's policy on attracting foreign investment remains unchanged, pledging to further ease market access and expand openness while ensuring that foreign companies enjoy equal treatment in areas ranging from public procurement to standard-setting. Yin Zheng, executive vice-president of China and East Asia operations at French industrial conglomerate Schneider Electric, said that as China enters a new era of green and innovation-led growth, global investment in China is increasingly focusing on customised innovation, supply chain efficiency, high-end manufacturing, and digital and green solutions. Reflecting this trend, US materials science company Corning plans to localise the production of high-end optical fibers in Shanghai. Lin Chunmei, president and general manager of Corning China, said the move aims to meet surging demand for denser, faster data transmission in artificial intelligence data centers, where fibre specifications far exceed those of conventional facilities. Foreign direct investment in China's manufacturing sector amounted to 109.06 billion yuan between January and June, while high-tech industries attracted 127.87 billion yuan. FDI inflows from Switzerland, Japan and the United Kingdom rose by 68.6 percent, 59.1 percent and 37.6 percent year-on-year, respectively, according to data from the Ministry of Commerce. - China Daily/ANN
