The Guardian 14 June, 2006
Lao economy surges
The Lao economy continues to surge ahead, says the newly appointed Prime Minister Bouasone Bouphavanh yesterday. During the first seven months of the 2006-2007 period, the growth of the Lao economy has reached 7.5 percent.
"If there is no unforeseen incident in the next four to five months, we are confident that the same growth rate can be maintained", Mr Bouasone said. "This is the plan established by the resolution of the Eighth Party Congress, and I think that this achievement is not beyond capacity."
Mr Bouasone explained that the government had deliberately set a high goal for economic growth so that the nation would work harder to achieve it. He also pointed out that the development of the economy is in parallel with that of human resources.
The Prime Minister explained that the socio-economic development and budget plans from 2006 to 2010 aimed to resolve the difficulties of the past years and address the poverty levels of Lao people, in order to lift the country from its least developed status by 2020.
"In terms of the five-year plan, your concerns are always reasonable," said Mr Bouasone when addressing the National Assembly. "However, we should look carefully at these problems together to ensure the success of the plan. I must emphasise that our nation remains politically stable and secure, and there is solidarity within its revolutionary forces, without which we would not achieve our goals, no matter how comprehensive our plans."
Since 2004, the government has improved the political system of the people’s democracy, including the Party Congress at the grass-root, district, provincial and central levels in order to improve the management of those areas.
Vientiane Times (abridged)