MEDIA RELEASE
Released By:
Downer
I am pleased to announce additional funds of $250 000 to support Laos when it
becomes one of ASEAN'S newest members. The latest Australian support will focus
on helping Laos introduce economic reforms and manage an English language
training strategy for Lao Government officials.
This new contribution builds on grants of $200 000 already provided by
Australia to help Laos in its transition to ASEAN membership.
Australia is especially keen to help Laos seize the economic benefits that
can come with trade liberalisation. Integration into the ASEAN Free Trade Area
will allow Laos to become more closely linked with some of the world's fastest
growing economies.
The Lao Government has already achieved substantial progress in transforming
a centrally planned economy into a market based economy.
Nonetheless, Laos remains one of the region's poorest countries. To meet its
goal of moving beyond least developed country status by 2020, the Lao Government
will need to more than quadruple average incomes - which currently stand at one
dollar per person per day.
Joining ASEAN will be a very important step in Lao development, transforming
it from a poor land-locked country into a prosperous land-linked ASEAN member
located at the cross roads of South East Asia.
Australian assistance will be provided through AusAID, the Australian Agency
for International Development, with implementation support from the United
Nations Development Program (UNDP).
VIENTIANE
Media contact: Robert Jauncey
(AusAID Vientiane) (856 21) 413 600 Lucienne Manton (Mr Downer's Office) 06 2777
500/017 970 885