Speeches Shim
Laos sits at the heart of mainland Southeast Asia, bordering Burma, Cambodia, China, Thailand and Vietnam. As it seeks to play a more prominent role in global affairs, including in ASEAN, Laos faces significant challenges stemming from its low-skilled workforce and economic vulnerability. The United States partners with Laos to support informed decision-making that leverages its youthful population and contributes to a rules-based, resilient Indo-Pacific.
Today, in a ceremony at the Vientiane Capital Court, the U.S Agency for International Development (USAID) Legal Aid Support Program provided a grant of LAK 389,556,000 or equivalent to USD 42,700 to the Lao Bar Association. Deputy USAID Country Representative to Laos, Mr. Patrick Bowers, witnessed the signing of the grant between President of the Lao Bar Association (LBA) Mr Khamsay Soulinthone and the Asia Foundation Country Representative Mr. Todd Wassel.
Continuing the United States’ ongoing support for education in the Lao PDR, U.S. Ambassador to the Lao PDR Dr. Peter M. Haymond presented supplementary reading materials on behalf of the United States to Dr. Daravone Kittiphanh, Director of Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education and Sports (MoES) at Saka Primary School in Phonehong District, Vientiane Province on September 15, 2020. The event, attended by more than 100 people, including representatives from the Ministry of Education and Sports and teachers and students, commemorated International Literacy Day.
The Ministry of Health (MOH) and the United States Embassy celebrated the successful implementation of the Local Health System Sustainability (LHSS) COVID-19 Response program funded by the United States through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) at a project learning event and closing ceremony on August 27 in Vientiane Capital. The event, chaired by Dr. Sisavath Southaniraxay, Deputy director of DCDC, and USAID Country Representative to Laos Mr. Michael Ronning, convened representatives from the Government of Laos, the U.S. Embassy, USAID, Save the Children and Scaling Up Nutrition Civil Society Alliance to share lessons learned and key successes and plan for future actions to combat COVID-19.
On August 26, the United States Government, the Japanese Government, UNICEF Lao PDR handed over essential hygiene and recreational kits, including soap, bleach, detergent and painting tools for more than 1,000 children in residential care institutions and protection shelters to fight COVID-19. These supplies are provided with funding from the United States Government through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Government of Japan.
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