PRIME MINISTER 1
SPEECH BY THE PRIME MINISTER, THE HON PJ. KEATING, MP
OPENING OF BORDER CONTROL FACILITY, LAOS, 6 APRIL 1994
On behalf of the Government and people of Australia I am very pleased to hand over
this Border Control Facility to the Government and people of Laos.
If the Mekong Friendship Bridge which will be opened next Friday is the door to the
development of Laos and surrounding regions, this building is the key.
This is the place where immigration, customs, police, bankin& and postal services from
the Government of Laos will facilitate the movement Of people and goods across these
borders. It will be an introduction to Laos for many visitors.
Like the Friendship Bridge, which it will complement, the Border Control Facility is a
very tangible expression of cooperation and friendship between Australia and Laos.
Australian companies designed and built it, drawing on traditional Lao design and on
Lao technical and other assistance.
It is a model of the best sort of development cooperation, because it involved not just
the provision of infrastructure from outside, but also training for Lao customs and
immigration staff'-some of them through sponsored overseas study teams.
And today, specialists from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation are assisting the
Lao television'and radio crews to ' cover this event as part of a five year regionaJ
pro-ram Australia is sponsoring.
Last September nothing existed on this site. Transfield Construction has completed
the building since then, on cost and on schedule,
Today we congratulate all those, both Lao and Australian, who have been involved.
It is a splendid tribute to the expertise of Australian companies, and I hope it will
encourage others to invest in the region.
TEL: 6. Apr. 94 15: 01 No. Olb F. UZ/ uz
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It is also a reminder of the friendship and good will which exists between our two
countries. On Australia's side those who deserve credit include Maunsell Sinclair Knight, the
project's consultant engineers; John Holland Construction, who were responsibile for
creating the earth platform from paddy fields; Gauard Shelton, the supervising
architects, and of course Transfield,
All of these companies provide a first rate example of what Australian businesses have
to offer in the development of infrastructure in South-East Asia.
Of course, it is not only in engineering and construction that Australian companies
offer expertise.
In mining, power generation, telecommunications and in education and training
Australians are active in Laos.
Some 50 Australian companies are now operating here and many of them, I am pleased
to say, are represented here today.
The signature of the Australia-Laos Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement
which Prime Minister Khamtay and I have just witnessed will give added confidence to
potential investors from Australia.
I welcome that. and the opportunities for further economic cooperation between
Australia and Laos which are now being opened up.
Mr Prime Minister, I welcome also the new opportunities which this Border Control
Facility will bring to the people of Laos. and I hope it will remind all who pass through
it of the enduring friendship between our two countries.
And now it gives me great pleasure to declare this Border Control Facility officially
open.