Representatives of cooperation projects between Laos and France gathered on June 2 for a review meeting of the bilateral cooperation between France and Laos.  They pledged to further cooperate to help with the development of agriculture, conservation, and rural infrastructure.

The meeting was held in Vientiane Capital in presence of the Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Mr Kikeo Chanthaboury, and Ambassador of France to the Lao PDR, Ms Claudine Ledoux.

A portfolio review allowed participants to acknowledge the formalization of two new financial agreements between Agence Française de Développement(AFD) and the Ministry of Planning and Investment.

The first one aims to follow up the development of the coffee sector, while enlarging the support to northern provinces where production has seen fast growth, and also pursuing the support to the national organization. The second one relates to the restoration of an irrigated area in Khammuan Province.

In addition to the objective of increased production and income generation for the local population, the project aims to implement participatory management of irrigation involving equally national authorities and customers, in accordance with the guidelines mentioned by the national strategy. France’s experience in this field is well known and Laos will benefit from it through this project.

In March of this year, the northern upland development program of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) came to an end. It was co-financed by AFD, the European Union, the Swiss cooperation for Common Fund and also German cooperation. The lessons learned have enabled the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) and AFD to continue working on the capitalization of this interesting experience.

Two components, “agriculture and conservation” and “rural infrastructure” will continue through 2018.

In addition, two new projects are being considered: the agriculture development project on Nakai plateau, in cooperation with Khammuan Province and Nam Theun Power Company, a concessionary of the Nam Theun 2 Dam.

The nutrition project contributing to the national policy will aim to reinforce the role of MAF in a limited number of provinces. This project will be organized in partnership with the European Union.

Thus, AFD confirms its area of concentration and its will to support the Lao government in the sector of agriculture and rural development by actively participating in the Sectoral Working Group co-chaired by France. AFD intends to remain active in other sectors in response to the Lao government wishes in areas such as enhancement of cultural heritage and urban development.

AFD, through several regional interventions involving Laos, has completed a range of projects: support to the Mekong River Commission, mutual recognition and development of protected geographic indicators on some agriculture products, and the development of protected geographic indicators on some agricultural of emerging diseases in collaboration with Institut Pasteur du Laos.

The meeting was organized by the Ministry of Planning and Investment (MPI), the French Embassy in Lao PDR and the French Development Agency (AFD).

Source:
courtesy of KPL NEWS AGENCY

by KPL

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