Laos has officially joined the School Meals Coalition, a global alliance focused on advancing child nutrition, education, and well-being through comprehensive school meal programs. The announcement was made on 4 September in Vientiane during an event attended by key figures including Minister of Education and Sports Phout Simmalavong and French Ambassador Siv-Leng Chhuor.
The School Meals Coalition, now comprising 101 countries, aims to ensure that every child has access to a nutritious meal at school by 2030. This initiative supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 17 (Partnerships), and SDG 4 (Quality Education).
Currently, more than 33 percent of Lao children suffer from chronic malnutrition, impacting their cognitive development and academic performance. Laos’ national school meal program reaches 25 percent of primary schools, serving 250,000 children.
As a new Coalition member, Laos plans to expand its school meal initiatives and collaborate with international and local partners to address malnutrition. The government aims to utilize international expertise and resources to develop a sustainable, locally sourced school meal program, benefiting both students and local agriculture.
Laos has been developing its national school nutrition system since 2000, with support from the World Food Program, Catholic Relief Services, and the World Bank. The national program, launched in 2010, targets regions with high food insecurity and malnutrition. In 2020, a domestic budget line was allocated, and in 2022, a Decree for Promoting School Lunch was endorsed.
The Nam Theun 2 Development Fund (NT2DF) is set to expand its reach beyond Nakai’s resettled villages, bringing the transformative projects to the entire district and soon to neighboring Gnommalath and Mahaxay districts.
On 27 August, the Khammouane Provincial Authorities, in partnership with Nam Theun 2 Power Company, held the eighth steering committee meeting for the Nam Theun 2 Development Fund (NT2DF). Co-chaired by Vanxay Phongsavanh, Khammouane Governor and Marc-Antoine Rupp, Nam Theun 2 Chief Executive officer.
The meeting reviewed NT2DF’s progress over the past six months, emphasizing successes in long-term scholarships, social safety nets, and funding for domestic animal disease prevention in 16 hamlets.
The fund originally aimed at enhancing livelihoods in 16 newly established villages in Nakai and now is moving into Phase 2. This phase will extend support to the entire Nakai District, with future plans to include Gnommalath and Mahaxay Districts, aiming for more substantial outcomes.
Nam Theun 2 CEO Antoine stressed the importance of ongoing collaboration: “We must work together as a team. Each of us has a crucial role in turning plans into action and advancing our region. Let’s stay united in building a brighter future for Nakai and beyond.”
Nam Theun 2 Power Company is committed to sustainable development, environmental protection, and empowering communities. As NT2DF enters this new chapter, the company looks forward to continued progress.
During the meeting, the NT2DF Steering Committee handed over equipment and medicines valued at LAK 171 million (USD 7,745) to the Nakai Forestry and Agriculture Office, responsible for program implementation.
Established through a 2018 cooperation agreement between Khammouane Province and Nam Theun 2, NT2DF exclusively supports sustainable economic and social development around the Nam Theun 2 Project. Funding is based on annual energy production, with LAK 1,000 (USD 0.045) allocated per megawatt-hour. Additionally, Nam Theun 2 has contributed over LAK 30 billion (USD 1,358,800) to the fund from 2018 to 2023.
https://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Nam-theun-.jpg6271200Sylivanla Vongphachanhhttps://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Lao-Simply-Beautiful-.webpSylivanla Vongphachanh2024-10-11 10:25:002024-09-16 10:26:49Nam Theun 2 Development Fund Expands to Benefit More Districts
Yoyo Laos Sauce is making a significant leap onto the global stage. Originally produced in Yorkshire, UK, by Lao-British couple Frazer and Hatsadee “Yoyo” Rhodes, the sauce will now be manufactured in Laos thanks to a new partnership with Mai Savanh Laos, a local social enterprise.
It all began in 2020 when Yoyo served her homemade ginger chili sauce to friends during the Covid-19 pandemic. The response was overwhelmingly positive, she recalled.
“They dipped it non-stop with their sticky rice. They told me, ‘Yoyo, it’s so good. I can’t stop eating it,’” Yoyo said.
Inspired by their friends’ enthusiasm, Frazer saw the pandemic as an opportunity to launch a business. With supermarkets being one of the few places people could buy food, he proposed selling their sauce there.
“So we bought some bottles, made a really simple label, and started making the sauce. We took it to the market, and it all sold,” Frazer said, reflecting on how the couple began producing the sauce at home.
This initial success quickly led to further opportunities, allowing the Rhodes family to expand production to their own factory.
“Then we got into our first shop, then our first restaurant, and then we received our first international order. It just kept growing and growing. We developed more sauces and built a bigger range,” Frazer added.
Frazer emphasized that the sauce is made by hand by the couple and their team to ensure top-quality ingredients. They believe that this manual process, rather than using machines, achieves the best results.
Moving to Laos and Partnering with Local Businesses
As their business grew, the Rhodes family realized they needed to scale up production. They sought out manufacturers in the UK willing to hand-make the Lao-style sauce but found this effort futile.
Their luck changed when they visited Yoyo’s home country of Laos in January this year. In Laos, Frazer discovered a small bottle of sauce with a design similar to their own, sparking the idea of shifting production to Laos, where ingredients are “fresher.”
Noticing the label “Produced by Mai Savanh Laos,” he emailed them as Yoyo Laos Sauce from the UK to express interest. Frazer quickly met Schmidt Philippe, CEO of Mai Savanh Laos, who offered to help expand their brand, aligning with their mutual goal of promoting Lao products.
By November, the Rhodes family plans to ship 35,000 bottles back to the UK. The enhanced production process in Laos has also created jobs for locals. There are currently three production sites in Laos—Vientiane, Bolaven, and Sekong—employing 51 workers, including 61 percent women and 43 percent ethnic minorities, many of whom have been marginalized in Laos.
During their time in Laos, Yoyo Laos Sauce also partnered with The Mines Advisory Group (MAG), a UK-based charity, where they also donated their sauce.
“The production costs here are lower than in the UK, which means we can offer a better price to retailers, who can then make a better margin,” Frazer explained. “Now we’re starting to get interest from other places, like the Middle East, Dubai, and Japan.”
Some of their products are already available in Vientiane, and they plan to expand distribution to more shops nationwide starting in September.
Despite the progress, the transition has not been without challenges. Yoyo noted that achieving the same taste as the original UK recipe required numerous adjustments. “The team has done about 30 or 40 different tests. It’s taken many attempts, with slight changes each time,” she said.
Raising Awareness of Laos
In addition to business growth, the Rhodes family aims to increase awareness of Laos. “A lot of customers in the UK ask us, ‘What is Laos? Where is Laos?’” Yoyo said. To address this, the sauce labels include a QR code linking to information about Laos.
The family is also conducting research with locals to gather more information about the country. “We’d like to get some interviews with the staff and learn about their history and background,” Frazer added.
Yoyo Laos Sauce can be used as a dipping sauce, marinade, or added to stir-fries and salads to spice things up. As they say in Laos, “Sap lai lai,” which means very tasty.
The sauce’s popularity soared after winning Great Taste™ awards in 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024, along with the winner of the UK National Chilli Awards in 2022.
“Some of the awards we’ve won have all been blind taste tests. The judges don’t see any packaging; they just get a little pot, taste it, and judge. Winning the UK National Chilli Awards, ranking 18th globally, getting an award for the European Hot Sauce Awards, and the Great Taste Awards—it’s all a big honor,” Frazer said.
https://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/WhatsApp-Image-2024-09-02-at-03.00.42_789b8d80.jpg5761280Sylivanla Vongphachanhhttps://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Lao-Simply-Beautiful-.webpSylivanla Vongphachanh2024-10-10 10:22:002024-09-16 10:24:37Yoyo Laos Sauce Spices Up the World Stage with New Laos Production Hub
Laos Joins School Meals Coalition
Laos has officially joined the School Meals Coalition, a global alliance focused on advancing child nutrition, education, and well-being through comprehensive school meal programs. The announcement was made on 4 September in Vientiane during an event attended by key figures including Minister of Education and Sports Phout Simmalavong and French Ambassador Siv-Leng Chhuor.
The School Meals Coalition, now comprising 101 countries, aims to ensure that every child has access to a nutritious meal at school by 2030. This initiative supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), specifically SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 17 (Partnerships), and SDG 4 (Quality Education).
Currently, more than 33 percent of Lao children suffer from chronic malnutrition, impacting their cognitive development and academic performance. Laos’ national school meal program reaches 25 percent of primary schools, serving 250,000 children.
As a new Coalition member, Laos plans to expand its school meal initiatives and collaborate with international and local partners to address malnutrition. The government aims to utilize international expertise and resources to develop a sustainable, locally sourced school meal program, benefiting both students and local agriculture.
Laos has been developing its national school nutrition system since 2000, with support from the World Food Program, Catholic Relief Services, and the World Bank. The national program, launched in 2010, targets regions with high food insecurity and malnutrition. In 2020, a domestic budget line was allocated, and in 2022, a Decree for Promoting School Lunch was endorsed.
Source: https://laotiantimes.com/2024/09/05/laos-joins-school-meals-coalition/
Nam Theun 2 Development Fund Expands to Benefit More Districts
The Nam Theun 2 Development Fund (NT2DF) is set to expand its reach beyond Nakai’s resettled villages, bringing the transformative projects to the entire district and soon to neighboring Gnommalath and Mahaxay districts.
On 27 August, the Khammouane Provincial Authorities, in partnership with Nam Theun 2 Power Company, held the eighth steering committee meeting for the Nam Theun 2 Development Fund (NT2DF). Co-chaired by Vanxay Phongsavanh, Khammouane Governor and Marc-Antoine Rupp, Nam Theun 2 Chief Executive officer.
The meeting reviewed NT2DF’s progress over the past six months, emphasizing successes in long-term scholarships, social safety nets, and funding for domestic animal disease prevention in 16 hamlets.
The fund originally aimed at enhancing livelihoods in 16 newly established villages in Nakai and now is moving into Phase 2. This phase will extend support to the entire Nakai District, with future plans to include Gnommalath and Mahaxay Districts, aiming for more substantial outcomes.
Nam Theun 2 CEO Antoine stressed the importance of ongoing collaboration: “We must work together as a team. Each of us has a crucial role in turning plans into action and advancing our region. Let’s stay united in building a brighter future for Nakai and beyond.”
Nam Theun 2 Power Company is committed to sustainable development, environmental protection, and empowering communities. As NT2DF enters this new chapter, the company looks forward to continued progress.
During the meeting, the NT2DF Steering Committee handed over equipment and medicines valued at LAK 171 million (USD 7,745) to the Nakai Forestry and Agriculture Office, responsible for program implementation.
Established through a 2018 cooperation agreement between Khammouane Province and Nam Theun 2, NT2DF exclusively supports sustainable economic and social development around the Nam Theun 2 Project. Funding is based on annual energy production, with LAK 1,000 (USD 0.045) allocated per megawatt-hour. Additionally, Nam Theun 2 has contributed over LAK 30 billion (USD 1,358,800) to the fund from 2018 to 2023.
Source: https://laotiantimes.com/2024/09/04/nam-theun-2-development-fund-expands-to-benefit-more-districts/
Yoyo Laos Sauce Spices Up the World Stage with New Laos Production Hub
Yoyo Laos Sauce is making a significant leap onto the global stage. Originally produced in Yorkshire, UK, by Lao-British couple Frazer and Hatsadee “Yoyo” Rhodes, the sauce will now be manufactured in Laos thanks to a new partnership with Mai Savanh Laos, a local social enterprise.
It all began in 2020 when Yoyo served her homemade ginger chili sauce to friends during the Covid-19 pandemic. The response was overwhelmingly positive, she recalled.
“They dipped it non-stop with their sticky rice. They told me, ‘Yoyo, it’s so good. I can’t stop eating it,’” Yoyo said.
Inspired by their friends’ enthusiasm, Frazer saw the pandemic as an opportunity to launch a business. With supermarkets being one of the few places people could buy food, he proposed selling their sauce there.
“So we bought some bottles, made a really simple label, and started making the sauce. We took it to the market, and it all sold,” Frazer said, reflecting on how the couple began producing the sauce at home.
This initial success quickly led to further opportunities, allowing the Rhodes family to expand production to their own factory.
“Then we got into our first shop, then our first restaurant, and then we received our first international order. It just kept growing and growing. We developed more sauces and built a bigger range,” Frazer added.
Frazer emphasized that the sauce is made by hand by the couple and their team to ensure top-quality ingredients. They believe that this manual process, rather than using machines, achieves the best results.
Moving to Laos and Partnering with Local Businesses
As their business grew, the Rhodes family realized they needed to scale up production. They sought out manufacturers in the UK willing to hand-make the Lao-style sauce but found this effort futile.
Their luck changed when they visited Yoyo’s home country of Laos in January this year. In Laos, Frazer discovered a small bottle of sauce with a design similar to their own, sparking the idea of shifting production to Laos, where ingredients are “fresher.”
Noticing the label “Produced by Mai Savanh Laos,” he emailed them as Yoyo Laos Sauce from the UK to express interest. Frazer quickly met Schmidt Philippe, CEO of Mai Savanh Laos, who offered to help expand their brand, aligning with their mutual goal of promoting Lao products.
By November, the Rhodes family plans to ship 35,000 bottles back to the UK. The enhanced production process in Laos has also created jobs for locals. There are currently three production sites in Laos—Vientiane, Bolaven, and Sekong—employing 51 workers, including 61 percent women and 43 percent ethnic minorities, many of whom have been marginalized in Laos.
During their time in Laos, Yoyo Laos Sauce also partnered with The Mines Advisory Group (MAG), a UK-based charity, where they also donated their sauce.
“The production costs here are lower than in the UK, which means we can offer a better price to retailers, who can then make a better margin,” Frazer explained. “Now we’re starting to get interest from other places, like the Middle East, Dubai, and Japan.”
Some of their products are already available in Vientiane, and they plan to expand distribution to more shops nationwide starting in September.
Despite the progress, the transition has not been without challenges. Yoyo noted that achieving the same taste as the original UK recipe required numerous adjustments. “The team has done about 30 or 40 different tests. It’s taken many attempts, with slight changes each time,” she said.
Raising Awareness of Laos
In addition to business growth, the Rhodes family aims to increase awareness of Laos. “A lot of customers in the UK ask us, ‘What is Laos? Where is Laos?’” Yoyo said. To address this, the sauce labels include a QR code linking to information about Laos.
The family is also conducting research with locals to gather more information about the country. “We’d like to get some interviews with the staff and learn about their history and background,” Frazer added.
Yoyo Laos Sauce can be used as a dipping sauce, marinade, or added to stir-fries and salads to spice things up. As they say in Laos, “Sap lai lai,” which means very tasty.
The sauce’s popularity soared after winning Great Taste™ awards in 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024, along with the winner of the UK National Chilli Awards in 2022.
“Some of the awards we’ve won have all been blind taste tests. The judges don’t see any packaging; they just get a little pot, taste it, and judge. Winning the UK National Chilli Awards, ranking 18th globally, getting an award for the European Hot Sauce Awards, and the Great Taste Awards—it’s all a big honor,” Frazer said.
Source: https://laotiantimes.com/2024/09/04/yoyo-laos-sauce-spices-up-the-world-stage-with-new-laos-production-hub/