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Written by Administrator
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Friday, 18 July 2008 02:53 |
Laos is a mountainous country with a population of about 5.5 million, over 80% of which lives in rural areas and is engaged in rice-based agriculture and harvesting of forest products. The economy is one of the least developed in the world with an approximate per capita Gross National Product of US$ 330 per annum .
Continued economic growth is needed to alleviate poverty and achieve social development goals, but the options for achieving this are constrained by the small domestic economy and limited trade opportunities. Lao PDR, at its present stage of development, has few industries in which it enjoys a comparative advantage in the region.ย
The most important of these is the generation of electricity based on Lao PDR's large, almost untapped, energy reserves, principally hydropower, and a central location in a region characterized by expanding electricity demand.ย
The Lao power sector is still in its infancy, with only one-third of the population having access to electricity. The sector has the potential to play a pivotal role in achieving the social and economic development objectives of the Government of Lao PDR (GOL) by expanding the availability of low cost, reliable electricity within the country and earning revenue from export sales to the region. GOL power sector policy facilitates these objectives by encouraging optimal use of the country's natural resources, promoting efficiency in power sector institutions and creating a conducive environment for responsible infrastructure investment, both public and private |
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Last Updated ( Friday, 18 July 2008 03:27 )
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