LocationsPhoto by: UNDP Lao PDR
Khammuan Province, 25 September 2020- Today, guests and participants witnessed the Official Launching Ceremony of the Community Radio Station for Development in Nakai District, Khammuan Province. The station will be handed over under the Enhancing People’s Participation Through Community Radio Project, led by Department of Mass Media, Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism and with the support from the United National Development Program in the Lao PDR (UNDP) and the Nam Theun 2 Power Company Limited (NTPC), with the total supported fund of 200,000 USD. The Project will operate over the course of three years period, starting from September 2019 to August 2022.
The ceremony was attended by a number of honourable guests including H.E Mr. Oday SOUDAPHONE, Governor of Khammuane Province; H.E Mr. Savankhone RAZMOUNTRY, Deputy-Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism; Ms. Jinha KIM, Representative from the United Nations Development Programm in the Lao PDR and Mr. Stephane LEMASSON, Chief Operation Officer, Nam Theun 2 Power Company Limited, and with participants from both Central Government and Local authority, Development Partners, Community Radio Volunteers and Local Organisations were also presented at the ceremony as well.
At the launching ceremony, H.E Mr. Oday SOUDAPHONE, Governor of Khammuan Province expressed his appreciation to the United Nations Development Programm in the Lao PDR and the Nam Theun 2 Power Company Limited for this important contribution to the community radio, which will be an effective tool to support the socio-economic development and the achievement of the sustainable development goals at the district and provincial levels.
Furthermore, H.E Mr. Savankhone RAZMOUNTRY also emphasised the success of the Project as an important contribution to the development of the country, and on the same note, he also encouraged everyone to work together in addressing problems and overcoming challenges that may arise in the distance future.
Ms. Jinha KIM, Acting-Director of Governance Programme of UNDP Lao PDR commended the effort made by the Government of the Lao PDR, in particular under the leadership of Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism, Local Authorities and Community Radio Volunteers, for their active participation in implementing and contributing to the success of the Project. Ms. KIM also added that the operation of the community radio station would contribute to the overall achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030 through enhanced access to information, which is more critical in the era of COVID-19 pandemic. Currently, the Community Radio Station has broadcasted various topics related to community development. Moreover, she encouraged the active participation of all relevant stakeholders from Government sector, local community, private sector in supporting the community radio as a platform that could bring about a tangible result toward building community’s participation and decision-making in the socio-economic development.
Mr. Stephane LEMASSON, Chief Operation Officer, Nam Theun 2 Power Company Limited expressed his appreciation and gratitude to be able to attend this Official Launching Ceremony of the Community Radio Station for Development in Nakhai District. He added that it was such a privileged to witness the contribution and the joint support between Nam Theun 2 Power Company Limited and UNDP Lao PDR, in enhancing and improving transmission capacity and extending the broadcasting coverage of the Nakai Community Radio to reach wider audiences, specifically those living in remote and rural areas. In this regard, on behalf of Nam Theun 2 Power Company, Mr. LEMASSON also took this opportunity to convey the appreciation to the Government of the Lao PDR, in particular the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism, as well as authority from the Provincial and District levels for their guidance and support in this Project.
Overall, the main objective of the Project is to ensure that people living in the remote and rural areas can access to important information and that they are able to make better informed decisions in community development and utilise the information to improve their livelihood.
For the full Lao Press Release, please click here.
For more information, please contact:
Department of Mass Media, Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism
Mr. Souliyo, Project Manager,
Enhancing People’s Participation Through Community Radio Project
Tel: 020 22437662
Email: bounhaps@hotmail.com
UNDP
Ms. Khanphoungeune VOLAOT, Planning Coordinator
Tel: 020 53689900
Email: khanphougeune.volaot@undp.org
Enhancing People’s Participation Through Community Radio Project
Mr. Somsack SOUNVANNALATH, Project Coordinator
Tel: 020 22215252
