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GGGI Laos team participates at Lao National EV Summit 2019

April 2, Vientiane – H.E. Mr. Khammany Inthirath, Minister of Energy and Mines, opened the Lao National Electric Vehicle Summit 2019 by providing background information in Lao PDR on energy generation and its outlook on strategic positioning toward e-mobility. H.E. Khammany laid out some foundations: infrastructure (charging stations and service centers), tax and custom, regulatory framework, and policies that need to be in place to promote electric vehicles. Speeches of thanks were given by Mr. Boun Oum Syvanpheng, Managing Director of Electricite Du Laos (EDL), and Mr. Bounleuth Luangpaseuth, President of EV Lao, followed by the signing of an MOU  between EDL and EV Lao to launch a pilot project for EV charging stations in Laos aiming to promote the use of electric vehicles, increase domestic use of electricity, reduce of import of fossil fuels from neighboring countries while improve domestic economy, environmental and health condition of Laos.

GGGI Laos Country Representative, Dr. Jason Lee, presented and addressed the concerns of financing barriers and lack of awareness in the transport sector – especially in regards towards transitioning from traditional petrol vehicles to green renewable electric vehicles. “It’s a lot cheaper than you think, and it’s cheaper than regular vehicles. Sometimes people think electric vehicles are more expensive because of upfront costs. There are international organizations like GGGI to help provide technical support on financing methods to lower these upfront costs.” – Dr. Jason Lee. GGGI’s contributions towards developing the economic case of EV’s in Lao PDR were mentioned amongst the panel discussion including representatives from the Ministry of Public Work and Transport, EDL, Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LNCCI), Banque pour le Commerce Exterieur Lao Public (BCEL), and EV Lao.

Multilateral collaboration between public and private companies, international organizations and the government is a huge achievement and the capacity built among key stakeholders of the transport sector on EVs have grown tremendously as evidenced in this EV Summit. GGGI Lao Country Program continues to support development of green cities and the transition to e-mobility – through the utilization of clean energy that is currently abundantly produced in Lao PDR.

On April 2, 2019, GGGI Laos’ Country Representative Dr. Jaeseung Jason Lee participated in the National EV Summit in Vientiane Capital, which brought relevant governmental ministries, key public and private companies to address environmental and air pollution problems from fossil-fuel based cars through E-Mobility.