A DELEGATION from the Lao People’s Democratic Republic is in Buffalo City to learn about national, provincial and local government environmental management systems in South Africa.

The study tour is part of a comprehensive capacity building programme, entitled Strengthening environment management phase two, supported by the Swedish International Development Agency (Sida).

Led by Noulinh Sinbandhit, who is Lao’s vice-minister to the Prime Minister’s Office and the deputy head of water resource and environment administration, the 13-member delegation will also visit Eastern Cape Premier Mbulelo Sogoni.

Welcoming the guests at the council chambers on Monday, 22 September, Executive Mayor Zintle Peter thanked them for choosing Buffalo City to conduct their environmental study.

“Buffalo City municipality takes environmental management very seriously because it is key to any development happening. I am confident that your quest in the city will be fruitful,” Peter said.

Explaining the visit, Shirley Ferguson, Buffalo’s manager for integrated environmental management, said that Lao’s water resource and environment administration was formulating an environmental management system.

“The team is in the city to learn about various environmental management issues, including environmental impact assessments and energy in South Africa. The information acquired during the visit will assist them in their process of developing their own environmental management systems.”

History
According to the United Nations, the southeast Asian country is one of the few remaining official Communist states.

However, it began decentralising control and encouraging private enterprise in 1986. The results, starting from an extremely low base, were striking - growth averaged 7 percent between 1988 and 2001.

Despite this high growth rate, Laos remains a country with a primitive infrastructure; it has no railroads, a rudimentary road system, and limited external and internal telecommunications. Electricity is available in only a few urban areas.

Its capital is Vientiane and it is bordered by Thailand, Burma, China, Vietnam and Cambodia.