Xekong province needs more than 690 billion kip to develop infrastructure and achieve targets set under the UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015.
Xekong provincial Planning and Investment Department Director Mr Nouphon Khemmalay spoke at a consultative meeting on the implementation of the socio-economic development plan for the achievement of the MDGs, which ended yesterday in Xekong province.
Mr Nouphon said Xekong authorities had requested 45 billion kip in funding from the government to implement priority projects in the 2011-12 fiscal year but the government was able to provide only 28 billion kip.
If there are insufficient funds allocated to develop all provinces in Laos, including Xekong, the country may not achieve the MDGs.
Xekong is the poorest province in Laos, but socio-economic development continues to improve and the number of poor families is decreasing. At present, 151 of the 229 villages across the province are considered poor.
Over 100,000 people live in Xekong province, 90 percent of them in rural areas. Two districts in the province – Dakcheung and Kaleum – are on the government’s list of the 47 poorest districts in the country.
The average per capita income in Xekong province has increased from 3.4 million kip (US$426) in 2010 to 3.5 million (US$443) in 2011.
“Only 91 villages have access to electricity. The poverty rate has decreased from 37 percent in 2009 to 34 percent in 2010. The life expectancy of people in Xekong is 58 years. The proportion of people who complete primary education is 93 percent,” Mr Nouphon said.
There are large development gaps between urban and rural areas, he said, adding that many people in remote areas rely on nature for their livelihoods and continue to follow traditional beliefs.
He also said the knowledge and ability of provincial officials is limited and coordination between sectors is inefficient, adding that these issues need to be addressed to facilitate development.
Although Xekong has made progress in implementing the provincial socio-economic development plan over the past nine months, various shortcomings and challenges need to be addressed in the coming years.
Mr Nouphon said that to alleviate poverty and achieve the MDGs, the province needs to focus on laying out a detailed work plan for each sector and production needs to be boosted through the use of modern technology and encouraging collective groups to produce goods on a commercial basis.
This approach requires banks and production groups to work together, he noted.
Infrastructure in Xekong province remains limited and more funds are needed to develop electricity and water supply networks. “Basic infrastructure is essential for local people. The first priority for development in Xekong is to focus on infrastructure,” Mr Nouphon said.
