Australian Ambassador to the Lao PDR, Jean-Bernard Carrasco, during his visit to a citrus farm supported by the Australian Government and Australian company Ironbark

(KPL) Newly appointed Australian Ambassador to the Lao PDR Jean-Bernard Carrasco visited Savannakhet Province in late February.

During his visit to the central province, Ambassador Carrasco paid a courtesy call to Savannakhet Governor Santiphab Phomvihane to discuss Savannakhet Province’s economic and social development progress.

Ambassador Carrasco noted that Savannakhet was a region of increasing commercial dynamism, with an increasingly diversified economy. “Australia and Savannakhet have growing business linkages, a strong development partnership and dynamic people-to-people linkages”.

Savannakhet is the Lao PDR’s largest province with the highest population in the country.  Australian investment in Savannakhet spans a range of sectors, from agriculture to manufacturing and mining.

Ambassador Carrasco also met with Australian businesses operating in Savannakhet and attended the Australian Chamber of Commerce in the Lao PDR’s networking event on the evening of 26 February, attended by Governor Santiphab and around 100 other guests, including the Savannakhet Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Mr Tee Chee Seng, General Manager, led the Ambassador on a tour of Savan Seno Special Economic Zone where he learned more about the success of the economic zones in attracting investment.

Ambassador Carrasco also visited Australia’s support to education in Savannakhet through the Basic Education Quality and Access in the Lao PDR (BEQUAL) programme, which partners with the Lao Ministry of Education and Sports and the European Union.

The programme is helping disadvantaged children, including girls and children with disabilities, to access quality education.

Alongside Savannakhet Vice Governor Khamphoune Touphaythoune, and Mr Ket Phanluck, Director General of Teacher Education, Ministry of Education and Sports (MOES), the Ambassador officially opened new dormitories and sanitation facilities at Savannakhet Teacher Training College.

Together they also launched school infrastructure work in the province at a ground breaking ceremony at Ban Theum Noy School in Phalanxai district.

In Savannakhet, Australia is funding the construction and renovation of 69 schools (worth over US$2 million) and supporting 123 students to become teachers in remote areas.

Ambassador Carrasco remarked that Australia had been a long-term supporter of education in the Lao PDR, including in Savannakhet and had a shared interest in giving children the chance of a good education.

Ambassador Carrasco then met with a number of Australian volunteers and Australia Awards alumni demonstrating the active people-to-people linkages between Australia and Savannakhet. 

He visited the Thasano Rice Research Centre where several Australian Volunteers for International Development are helping local Savannakhet farmers to increase their understanding of pest and disease management to improve farming practices.

The Ambassador said that he looked forward to his next visit to Savannakhet where he hoped to see the bilateral trade and investment, development cooperation and people-to-people relationships deepen further. 

KPL