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Tuesday, December 15, 2020 - 4:15am

VIENTIANE, LAO PDR—U.S. Ambassador to Laos Dr. Peter M. Haymond presented scholarships to 18 female law graduates at a ceremony in Vientiane Capital on December 15 to attend a year-long professional legal training course at the National Institute of Justice (NIJ).  The event, held at the NIJ and attended by Vice Minister of Justice Mr. Bounsavath Boupha, Director General of the National Institute of Justice Mr. Bounta S.Phabmixay and more than 50 other representatives from the NIJ, Ministry of Justice, U.S. Embassy, private law firms, and development partners, demonstrates the United States’ continued support to the Lao PDR’s  justice sector and the Lao government’s work to build a rule of law state.

These scholarships, funded through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), will provide financial support to help these women complete a year-long professional legal training course at the NIJ, which is a requirement for law graduates to become certified judges, lawyers or prosecutors.  The scholarships are aimed at encouraging more female law graduates to pursue these careers.

Ambassador Haymond joined Government of Laos officials at Handover Ceremony of the Long Lasting Insecticide Treated Nets
Monday, July 27, 2020 - 2:00am

Continuing the United States’ longstanding support of the Lao health sector, U.S. Ambassador to Laos Dr. Peter M. Haymond presented 88,000 specially-treated mosquito nets funded by the United States to Vice Minister of Health Dr. Phouthone Muangpak at a ceremony in Vientiane on July 17. These mosquito nets, provided through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), will be distributed to Lao families in areas where the number of malaria cases remains particularly high. 

Thursday, July 9, 2020 - 2:15am

Continuing the United States support to reduce stunting in Laos, today, the Ministry of Health and Save the Children signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the extension period of 2020-2021 to implement the second phase of the Integrated Nutrition and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) project, funded by the United States through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). USAID Deputy Country Office Director Patrick Bowers on behalf of U.S. Ambassador to Laos Dr. Peter M. Haymond and Department of Health and Hygiene Promotion Director Dr. Phonepaseuth Ounaphone witnessed the MOU signing.

United States Provides Additional $2.5 Million to Support COVID-19 Response in Lao PDR
Monday, June 22, 2020 - 11:15am

The United States, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), has committed an additional $2.5 million to mitigate and prevent the spread of COVID-19 in Lao PDR. In coordination with the Government of Lao PDR, USAID will provide this additional funding to international organizations in Lao PDR to control the novel coronavirus pandemic.

U.S. Ambassador Dr. Peter M. Haymond announced additional funding of nearly $2 million from the United States in support of the Lao PDR in response to the global spread of the novel coronavirus disease COVID-19
Friday, March 13, 2020 - 3:30am

U.S. Ambassador Dr. Peter M. Haymond announced additional funding of nearly $2 million from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in support of the Lao PDR in response to the global spread of the novel coronavirus disease COVID-19.  Ambassador Haymond made the announcement as part of his opening remarks for a U.S.-sponsored tabletop exercise to help Lao officials and public health workers prepare for next steps in responding to the worldwide pandemic.  Dr. Rattanaxay Phetsouvanh, Director General of Department of Communicable Diseases Control (DCDC), representatives of twelve Lao ministries, as well as leaders of United Nations organizations in Laos, joined the tabletop exercise on March 13, sponsored by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (USCDC) and the U.S. Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA), in close partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO).  

Vice Minister of Health Dr. Phouthone Muoangpak (left) received personal protective equipment from U.S. Ambassador to Lao PDR Dr. Peter M. Haymond (right) at a ceremony in Vientiane today as part of the United States’ early assistance to Lao PDR to prepare for any potential spread of the novel coronavirus.
Monday, February 10, 2020 - 4:15am

U.S. Ambassador to Lao PDR, Dr. Peter M. Haymond handed over personal protective equipment to Dr. Phouthone Muoangpak, Vice Minister of Health, at a ceremony in Vientiane today as part of the United States’ early assistance to Lao PDR to prepare for any potential spread of the novel coronavirus. 

From center left to right: U.S. Ambassador Rena Bitter and Minister of Justice Mr. Xaysi Santivong witnessed the MOU signing between Mr. Todd Wassel, Country Representative for The Asia Foundation in the Lao PDR and Mr. Ketsana Phommachanh, Director General of International Cooperation, Ministry of Justice.
Monday, January 27, 2020 - 9:15am

Continuing U.S. support to the government of the Lao PDR in its mission to strengthen the country’s rule of law, the United States, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), launched the new three-year Legal Aid Support project at a ceremony in Vientiane on January 24. Minister of Justice Xaysi Santivong and U.S. Ambassador to the Lao PDR Rena Bitter witnessed the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that marks the beginning of the $3.67 million program, which is funded by USAID and the McConnell Foundation, a U.S.-based organization, and implemented by The Asia Foundation and the Ministry of Justice.

From center left to right: Assistant Administrator for USAID’s Bureau for Legislative and Public Affairs Richard Parker and Deputy Chief of Mission Colin Crosby Joined Officials at Xieng Khouang Provincial Governors Office.
Monday, January 20, 2020 - 10:45pm

During a three-day visit to Laos from January 12-15, a senior official from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) reinforced the United States government’s support to the Lao PDR as the two countries collaborate to achieve Laos’ development goals.

From center left to right: Mr. Vilayphong Sysomvang, Acting Director General of the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare’s Social Welfare Department, Mdm. Baykham Khattiya, Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Welfare, U.S. Ambassador to the Lao PDR Rena Bitter, and Dr. Xoukiet Panyanouvong, Chief of Party of the Laos CTIP program officially launched the Laos CTIP project.
Wednesday, January 15, 2020 - 9:30pm

Continuing the United States’ support to the Lao PDR in its mission to end human trafficking, the U.S. Government and Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare formally launched the three-year Laos Counter Trafficking in Persons (CTIP) program at a ceremony in Vientiane on January 13. Mdm. Baykham Khattiya, Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Welfare and U.S. Ambassador Rena Bitter presided over the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that marks the start of the $2.3 million program, which is funded through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

U.S. Ambassador to Laos Rena Bitter (center left) and Mrs. Khemmani Pholsena (center right), Minister of Industry and Commerce joined officials and representatives from the private sector to launch the USAID-funded Laos Business Environment Project.
Monday, December 16, 2019 - 10:30pm

Minister of Industry and Commerce Mme. Khemmani Pholsena and U.S. Ambassador to Laos Rena Bitter launched the new Laos Business Environment project at a ceremony in Vientiane on December 12.  The five-year project, funded by the United States, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), is the latest partnership between the United States and Laos aimed at supporting private sector competitiveness and facilitating trade.

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