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Country Report4th Meeting of the Working Group on the Asian Highway

Bangkok, 27-29 Sept. 2011

LAO PEOPLELAO PEOPLE’’S DEMOCRATIC REPUBLICS DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC

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Contents

• Introduction• Government Policies• Asian Highway Road Network in Lao PDR.• Strategic Plan on the Network• Conclusion

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Lao P.D.R in South East Asia

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• Population: 6.29 millions

• Land area: 236,800 km2

• Avg.density : 24 p/km2

• 17 Provinces

• Capital City: Vientiane

• Border:

• China : 505 km

• Vietnam: 2,069 km

• Cambodia: 435 km

• Thailand: 1,835 km

• Myanmar: 236 km

• Landlock Landlink

Geography Information

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Economic Information• National Income GDP: USD 14.75 billion• GDP per capita: USD 985 • GDP growth rate: 7.2% / year• GDP composition by Sectors:

• Agriculture 45,5%• Industry 28,7%• Services 25,8%

• Main Products:• Coffee, Timber, Garment.• Electricity• Mining: Copper, Gold, Lead, Limestone• Handicraft

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Government Policies

National:

• New Economic Mechanism 1986: Opening Door Policy to outside world aiming at to develop socio-economy of the country

• Road Sector Development is One out of Eight National Priorities

• Medium and Long Term Planning of Ministry of Communication Transport Post and Construction 2005, 2010 and 2020

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Government Policies (cont.)Government Policies (cont.)International:

• Land Locked to be Land Linked: Transit Country, Expand International Trade and Attract Tourism

• GMS Agreement Border Crossing and Transit Facilities and Services

• ASEAN Highways Network Development Project:North – South and East – West Corridor Projects

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Transport Sector• Road network: 39,585 km.• Railway: 4 km, • Sea Port: No seaport• Inland waterway: Navigable 1,300 km• River port facilities: 21• Ferry: several ferries (Thailand)• Airport:

– International: Vientiane Capital, Luang Prabhang, Champasak, Savannakhet,

– Domestic: Bokeo, Oudomxayf Xiengkhouang and Luang Namtha

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Major Road NetworkBased on the Road Law 04/99/NA, 12/04/1999, the road network in Lao PDR is classified into six classes as follow:

• National road 7,235 km• Provincial road 7,960 km• District road 5,130 km• Urban road 1,915 km• Rural roads 16,440 km• Special road 905 km

Total Road Length 39,585 km

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ROAD LENGTH BY TYPE OF ROAD LENGTH BY TYPE OF SURFACESURFACE

• Concrete 77 km

• Asphalt concrete 608 km

• Paved (DBST) 5,427 km

• Gravel 13,874 km

• Earth 19,599 km

Total : 39,585 km

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AH3

AH11

AH12

AH13

AH15

AH16

AH131

AH132

(Current Status)

Huai Kon-Muang Ngeun-Oudomxai

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AH3

AH11

AH12

AH13

AH15

AH16

AH131

AH132

(Current Status)

Huai Kon-Muang Ngeun-Oudomxai-MuangKhoua-TaiChang (Lao/Vietnam Border)

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Summary of Asian HighwayCurrent:• AH 3 (NR 3) : HuaiXay-BoTen (Lao/Thai- Lao/Chinese bdr). L=251 km;• AH 11 (NR 13S): Vientiane-Ban Lao-Thakhek-Savannakhet-Pakse-Veunkham

L=861 km.• AH 12 (NR 13N): Nateuy -Oudomxai-Luang Prabang -Vientiane- Thanaleng

L=682 km.• AH 13 (NR 2): HuaiKon-MuangNgeun-Oudomxai.• AH 13 (NR 2): HuaiKon-MuangNgeun-Oudomxai-MuangKhoua-TaiChang,

L=391 km.• AH 15 (NR 8): Ban Lao-Nam Phao (Lao-Viet bdr). L=236 km.• AH 16 (NR 9): Savannakhet-Densavanh (Lao/Thai-Lao/Viet bdr.). L=240 km.

Proposed:

• AH 131 (NR 12): Thakhek-Mugia (Lao/Thai- Lao/Viet bdr). L=149 km.• AH 132 (NR 18B): Vang Tao- Ban Het (Lao/Thai- Lao/Viet bdr). L=309 km.

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Heavy Transportation

• Total no. of Weight Stations in Lao PDR: 39 Stations.

• GoL’s NOTICE: 1179/PM, 17/6/2011– 13 Stations at border remaining in active.– 26 Stations inland to be closed and run as a check point

on RANDOM basis for suspicious, dangerous and overloaded GOODS.

– In addition, 26 check points will be used for the Road Safety purposes.

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Heavy Transportation ( Continue )

Axle Load Approved:

• AH3 (NR3) and AH16 (NR 9): 11 tons/axle.• The remaining AHs and NRs: 8-9.1 tons/axle

(DEPENDING ON THE SRUCTURE).

Issues:

• AHs through Lao PDR needs installation of Asian Standard Road Furniture (Signs and Marking).

• Lao PDR seeks assistance from neighboring countries in this regards.

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Strategic Plan on Roads 2011-2015

Apart from the construction, improvement and upgrading of the domestic links, the Development of new roads linking to Neighboring countries are as follows:

• Road No. 6A: HangLong-SopBau-BanDan. L=122 kms. (expected to completed by 2014).

• Road No. 6B: SopBau- PaHang (Lao/Viet Bdr.). L=24 kms . (expected to be completed by 2014).

• Road No. 16: XeKong-DakChung (Lao/Viet Bdr). L=116 kms.

• Road No. 2W: MuangNgeun-PakBeng (Lao/Thai bdr). L=53kms.

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Strategic Plan on Railway

Railway Line Development Plan consists of 8 railway lines of which, 4 lines as a priority and in order as follows:

RL1: Vientiane-Kunming (China)RL2: Vientiane-Thakhek-MuGia (Vietnam)RL3: Thakhek-Pakse-Vangtao (Thailand)RL4: Phoukhoun-Xieng Khuang-Vietnam bdr.

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Suggestions

• Need an assistance to improve and modernize the transport fleets and the transport industry to meet the international standards.

• There is a need to construct the transport facilities along the International transport links (Road Side Station, Rest Area, Freight Distribution Center etc).

• Need to upgrade the International transport links to accommodate the Load of 9.1 tons/axle and beyond.

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Conclusions

• As landlocked and least developed country, it is essential for Laos to upgrade the infrastructures to facilitate the transport linking with assistance from neighboring countries, gaining access to sea port, boosting of international trade and attracting of foreign investment and tourism.

• Need an assistance to strengthen the Government officials and transport operators to have sufficient knowledge and capacity in the transportation fields (road, rail, air and waterway) to cope with the implementation of GMS and ASEAN Agreements.

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Thank You for your Attention