Vietnamese companies assist Laos’ efforts in COVID-19 fight
Two Vietnamese businesses in Laos presented support in both cash and kind worth 370,000 USD to representatives of the Lao Government on April 6 to help with the host country’s fight against COVID-19.
Luu Manh Ha, General Director of Star Telecom (second, left), presents his firm's support to Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Somdy Duangdy (second, right) on April 6 (Photo: VNA)
Vientiane (VNA) – TwoVietnamese businesses in Laos presented support in both cash and kind worth370,000 USD to representatives of the Lao Government on April 6 to help with thehost country’s fight against COVID-19.
Luu Manh Ha, General Directorof Star Telecom (Unitel) – a joint venture of Vietnam’s telecom group Viettelin Laos and Lao Asia Telecom, noted as a leading information technology firm inLaos, the company is aware of its responsibility for deploying technologicalsolutions to assist COVID-19 prevention and control efforts in the country.
Since COVID-19 broke out inChina’s Wuhan city, the company has implemented technological solutions for theLao Government and Health Ministry such as installing teleconference devices,providing an SMS network that automatically sends coronavirus-relatedinformation to more than 3.5 million people, and offering 400 SIMs withpreferential policies to frontline cadres of the anti-COVID-19 committee.
Aside from the threeabovementioned aid packages worth 320,000 USD, the business has also carriedout many programmes to help its clients amid the pandemic, Ha added.
Meanwhile, the Bank forInvestment and Development of Vietnam (BIDV) contributed 50,000 USD to the LaoGovernment and people’s efforts to deal with COVID-19.
Nguyen Van Binh, GeneralDirector of LaoVietBank and head of BIDV’s representative office in Laos, saidthe support, donated by over 20,000 staff members of the bank in Vietnam, aimsto assist Laos in the combat against the pandemic.
BIDV will continue directingits representative bodies in Laos to keep making practical contributions to thecountry’s efforts in this regard, he noted.
In response, Lao Deputy PrimeMinister and Finance Minister Somdy Duangdy, who is also head of the country’snational steering committee for COVID-19 prevention and control, appreciatedthe two businesses’ assistance, affirming that his country will use the aid inthe most effective manner to control and curb the spread of the disease./.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Laos Nguyen Ba Hung handed over medical equipment worth over 7 billion VND (304,000 USD) as gifts from the Vietnamese Government and people to their Lao counterparts at a ceremony in Vientiane on April 4.
The Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs on April 5 informed Vietnam citizens of new entry-exit regulations the Lao Government has issued as an effort to contain the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Vietnamese Embassy in Laos issued an announcement on April 5, recommending Vietnamese citizens who are living and studying in the host country to strictly follow its regulations on COVID-19 countermeasures.
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Luu Manh Ha, General Director of Star Telecom (second, left), presents his firm's support to Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Somdy Duangdy (second, right) on April 6 (Photo: VNA) 
