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Vice President of the Lao PDR Viengthong Siphandone has called on Oudomxay provincial authorities to strengthen economic management, boost domestic production, improve revenue collection and maintain social stability during an official working visit to the northern province from October 13-15, 2026.
(KPL) During a meeting with the Oudomxay Provincial Party Committee and provincial administration, Viengthong, a member of the Secretariat of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) Central Committee, urged local authorities to closely monitor domestic and regional economic developments, strengthen Party unity and promote sustainable local economic growth.
Deputy Secretary of the Oudomxay Provincial Party Committee Khamdee Vonglom presented the province's development performance for the first nine months of 2026 and its action plan for the final quarter.
The province generated 713.55 billion kip in state revenue, equivalent to 92.78% of its annual target. Local revenue accounted for 577.81 billion kip, or 91.18% of the target.
Authorities also worked to address fuel shortages and stabilise commodity prices while advancing construction of National Highways 2E and 2W.
In education, the province achieved five of its six targets and transferred 73 volunteer teachers into permanent civil service positions. The health sector met 12 of its 14 targets while maintaining supplies of essential medicines.
However, severe flooding in Xay, La, Namor, Beng and Nga districts affected 73 villages and damaged 1,028 houses, including 60 that were destroyed, 613 moderately damaged and 355 slightly damaged. Preliminary losses were estimated at 33.55 billion kip.
On October 14, Viengthong and her delegation inspected the Oudomxay Vocational Skill Development Centre to assess its operations, training quality and technical cooperation with China.
Established in 2000, the centre underwent major reconstruction in 2023 with a grant of 147.26 million yuan from the Chinese Government, equivalent to approximately US$21 million. Operating under the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare, the centre is equipped with modern workshops for 13 technical disciplines.
It currently provides training in nine skill areas through four levels: basic training lasting six months, semi-skilled training lasting 12 months, skilled training lasting 18 months and master technician training lasting 24 months. The centre aims to expand training to cover all 13 technical disciplines by 2030.
The inspection also reviewed progress under a seven-year Lao-Chinese technical cooperation programme running from May 2024 to February 2031. The programme is currently in its second phase, with China dispatching 16 technical experts per rotation to the centre and the third cohort of Lao instructors undertaking advanced technical training in China.
Viengthong commended the centre's progress in 2026 and called on its management to ensure that training programmes meet labour market demands and equip workers with practical skills to support economic development in northern Laos.
During the provincial visit, she also inspected a modern layer hen farm operated by Lao Phoenix Agricultural Development Co., Ltd. and the Zhongwu Oudomxay Rubber Processing Plant, which supports local contract farming and processes natural rubber for export as a semi-finished product.
KPL
