Vientiane (VNA) – The Swedish government has pledged to grant an aid package of 28 million USD to help Laos carry out projects to improve socio-economic development during the 2009-2011 period.
An agreement to this effect was signed in Vientiane on November 19 by the Lao Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Bounthavy Sisouphanthong and the Swedish Ambassador to Laos Lennart Linner.
The sum will be invested in projects and programmes to broaden farmers’ access to social services and markets, improve standards of teaching, preserve natural resources, and establish a national system of research.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, the Lao Deputy Minister Bounthavy said that the sum will be sourced from the Swedish Development Authority (SIDA) and that, over the past three decades, Swedish support has contributed significantly to improving the rate of Laos’ socio-economic development, particularly in its efforts to reduce poverty.