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Cargo trucks pass through the Second Lao–Thai Friendship Bridge over the Mekong river, which connects Savannakhet City with Mukdahan province. The bridge has helped improved the Lao PDR’s access to seaports in neighboring countries. Photo: ADB.

Lao PDR Steps Up Its Bid to Become a Logistics Hub with First Dry Port

The Lao People’s Democratic Republic is operating its first dry port in Savannakhet province, where it is strategically positioned along the Greater Mekong Subregion East-West Economic Corridor, at the mid-point between the nearest Vietnamese seaport of Danang, and Thai ports in Bangkok and Laem Chabang.


The additional financing will scale up efforts to improve food safety and ensure plant and animal health, as part of an initiative to improve sanitary and phytosanitary capacity in the Lao PDR. Photo: ADB.

ADB Funds to Scale Up Sanitary, Phytosanitary Efforts in Lao PDR

VIENTIANE, LAO PEOPLE’S DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC (4 October 2017) — The Asian Development Bank’s Board of Directors has approved a $10 million grant to the Lao People’s Democratic Republic as additional financing to scale up efforts to improve food safety and ensure plant and animal health, as part of an initiative to improve sanitary and phytosanitary capacity in the country.




Rural communities in the Greater Mekong Subregion are vulnerable to climate-related disasters, such as floods, droughts, and storms. Risk financing can help people protect their livelihood and productive assets better through a combination of risk retention, risk sharing, and risk transfer mechanisms. Photo: ADB.

How Risk Financing Can Help Mekong Farmers Cope with Disasters

Risk financing can help at-risk communities better cope with the economic costs of natural disasters and extreme weather.


Migrant and mobile populations in the Greater Mekong Subregion are often more exposed to malaria and out of reach of the health system. They can also spread the disease as they move within the region. Photo: ADB.

Migrant and mobile populations in the Greater Mekong Subregion are often more exposed to malaria and out of reach of the health system. They can also spread the disease as they move within the region. Photo: ADB.

Mosquitoes Know No Borders

Cambodia, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, and Myanmar are on the frontlines of the global fight against malaria.



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