In advance of its decision on Laos' Nam Theun 2 hydro-electric power project, the World Bank held a briefing yesterday(Wednesday, March 30th) to discuss the controversial dam project.
Ian Porter, Country Director for the Lao PDR and Thailand says the Lao PDR is one of the poorest countries in the East Asia, but has made improvements for the past ten years albeit on a small scale. He says the main goal for the NT 2 project is to provide the country resources for poverty reduction as well as for social and environmental improvements.
Echoing Ian Porter, World Bank chief economist for East Asia and the Pacific, Homi Kharas, the NT2 project will give the Lao PDR a hand in helping the government reduce the poverty rate and improve social indicators such as school, birth and mortality rates etc...
The World Bank's 24-member executive board will make a final decision on the Nam Theun 2 project tomorrow March 31, 2005 at 3:00 pm.
Listen to our report on the World Bank briefing for detail.