The Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia's (ERIA) delegation for the Lao PDR Energy Statistics Project 2017 paid a courtesy visit to H.E Dr Khammany Inthilath, Minister of Energy and Mines (MEM) of Lao PDR at the Minister's office on 12 June 2017.

Mr Shigeru Kimura, ERIA's Special Advisor on energy affairs, said that under the leadership of Prof Hidetoshi Nishimura, the President of ERIA, ERIA has paid close attention in supporting Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar, and Viet Nam (CLMV countries) in building human resources, especially in improving the capacity of civil servants. He also briefed the Minister about the preparation for the first Lao Energy Statistics in 2017. The work will involve energy data collection from line ministries, and also and energy survey for final energy consumption sector which consists of, industry, transportation, residential, and commercial subsectors. During the course of the data preparation, ERIA will also provide capacity building for the staff of MEM and the line agencies who are involved in this energy statistics project.

Minister Inthilath expressed deep appreciation for ERIA's support in developing Lao PDR energy statistics and he expressed his wish to make a joint launch of the survey publication with Prof Nishimura towards the end of 2017 when the project is completed. It will be the first ever Lao Energy Statistics, which will enable the Ministry to improve the country's energy planning and consequently shape the formulation of energy policies in the future. He appreciated ERIA's strong support in building the capacity of the Ministry's staff, especially for the Department of Energy Policy and Planning. Minister Inthilath wished ERIA's project team every success in this Energy Statistics Project.