More expatriates look towards Laos

More and more people of Lao origin, hitherto living overseas, have been returning home over the past two decades, and participating in Laos’ national development, a senior official noted.
A member of the Lao Front for National Development, Mr Hiem Phommachanh, told a meeting in Vientiane this week that the Lao expatriates are proud to witness positive changes in the country’s development over the past 45 years.
“Under the leadership of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party, our country which was previously destroyed by war has been developing consistently. There is continued growth in the country’s economy, improvement in people’s living standards as well as Laos’ reputation in the international arena,” he said.
Mr Hiem, who is also the Front’s Counsellor Head of Lao Expatriates, said although Lao expatriates hold a nationality of other countries, they express their aspirations to be a part of Laos’ development.
“Many Lao expatriates came back to do businesses and hold shares in various companies operated in Vientiane and other provinces. Other expatriates who are retired have returned to Laos’ to spend the rest of their lives in their birthplace,” he said.
He reiterated that many came as tourists, visiting a number of provinces to witness development changes in the country over the past five decades. Besides, they have contributed to mobilise funding to finance the construction or repairing of schools, hospitals and temples.
When severe flooding hit Attapeu and other southern provinces in 2018, Lao expatriates donated money and relief supplies to assist victims affected by the natural disaster.
Over the past years, Lao expatriates enthusiastically participated in sports competitions, learning Lao language and Lao culture as well as other religious activities.
The Party and the government of Laos has reaffirmed its policy to facilitate the return of people of Lao origin living abroad so that they can contribute their expertise and experience, as well as finances, to the development of their birth nation.
The Lao government regards Lao expatriates as part of its national community and they cannot be separated. The expatriates serve a driving force for Laos to further enhance cooperative relations with countries they live in.
An estimated 700,000 Lao expatriates now live in almost all continents. Many of them left Laos after 1975 and began new lives in the United States, Canada, France, Australia and New Zealand.
The Lao Front for National Development (LFND) plays a significant role in unifying ethnic Lao people, including the people of Lao origin living abroad.
 The LFND carries out people’s diplomacy towards Lao expatriates and includes their representatives as members of the LFND. The members of the LFND overseas play the role of strengthening the unity among Lao expatriates and summing up their aspiration towards the development of the Lao PDR.
The Front’s Counsellor Committee of Lao Expatriates represents the LFND to disseminate and explain the Party’s policy so that they take part in LFND activities and national development.

By Somsack Pongkhao
(Latest Update August 12, 2020)