Sweden will not introduce any dramatic changes in its aid policy for Laos, says Ms. Lott Jansson at the Foreign Ministry in Stockholm to ScandAsia.
“Aid to Laos is currently provided according to a country strategy for the years 1999 to 2003. A new strategy will be drafted this fall. There are at this stage no plans to make any radical changes of aid to Laos, but during the drafting of a new strategy is of course the present situation in the country and the effects of Sweden’s aid analysed.”
Swedish aid to Laos has historically been directed towards roads and usage of natural resources, democracy and human rights, education and training, health and mine/bomb clearing.
In 1999 Laos received SEK 95 541 000 worth of aid, in 2000 SEK 133 405 000, in 2001 SEK 125 053 000. The numbers for 2002 have not been fully gathered but will end slightly higher than 2001.
