Laos, Korea join forces to build village community centre 

Rural residents of Vientiane have a new Saemaul Community Centre following the handover of a building in Makhiew village, Pakngum district on Monday.
The centre was built through cooperation between the Vientiane Agriculture and Forestry Department and the Saemaul Globalisation Foundation of South Korea.

The Foundation supported the project with more than 1.2 billion kip (US$140,000), with construction beginning in 2018. The two-storey building is designed to be used as a village office, meeting room, and an office for agriculture production groups, as well as for training activities.
The centre is part of a project to share Korea’s experience in rural development and successful technologies under the Saemaul Undong model, and to support the roll out of the rural development programme in Laos. 
The project gives villagers a better understanding of new agricultural technology and agribusiness models for improving productivity and market accessibility through demonstration, participation and practice in the field.
Authorities say the community centre will contribute to rural development, poverty reduction and improve the quality of life of local people. 
The handover ceremony was attended by the Director of the Vientiane Agriculture and Forestry Department, Dr Lasay Nouanthasing, and the district Governor of Goryeong, Korea, Mr Kwak Yong Hwan.

By Keoviengkhone Bounviseth
(Latest Update September 5, 2019)