GE opens Laos office, its 10th in Southeast Asia

It will be the base for a local team headed by Sinnasone Boulom, chief country representative for GE Laos.
GE president and chief executive Wouter Van Wersch noted at the opening that Laos was one of the fastest-developing members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, with a projected economic growth rate topping 7 per cent. 
“Laos is in the process of building critical infrastructure to advance its modernisation plans,” he said.
“We look forward to contributing to the country’s development by bringing our technologies, expertise and experience to support initiatives in energy, healthcare, aviation and more.”
Van Wersch said a priority focus for GE is to help Laos accelerate its plans of becoming a major power producer and exporter in the region.
“To further Laos’ ambitions of becoming the ‘battery of Asia’, we can supply a full range of energy solutions, from power generation to digital solutions, storage technology and financing under our GE Energy Ecosystem portfolio.”
In the hydropower sector, GE recently signed deals to provide equipment to projects underway in the country. Its “grid network solutions” will be utilised in important hydro projects.
GE is also committed to attracting and nurturing Laos’ next generation of engineers and infrastructure experts.
GE and Electricite du Laos (EDL) signed a memorandum of understanding last September to launch joint research and training programmes to support the long-term development of the nation’s energy sector, including the provision of hydro laboratory equipment from GE factories and technical as well as business-management training for hydro workers, engineers and project managers.
This programme will share with local communities the benefits of hydropower development through electrification, localisation and community management, GE said in a press release.
“Over the last eight months, more than 150 hydropower professionals from EDL and students from the National University of Laos and Polytechnic College have attended hydro technical, finance and security workshops, with more programmes scheduled in June on topics such as operation and maintenance, security, finance and leadership.
“Based on experience gained around the world, we understand that the latest technologies must be supported by a skilled workforce,” Sinnasone Boulom said. “That’s why GE has invested and will continue to invest in programmes to develop young talent in Laos.
“As someone who was born in Laos and educated and lived overseas for many years, coming back to help build the nation and our workforce is an important focus for me.”
GE said it has also donated engineering equipment for practical training programmes and undertaken a national grid study aimed at improving the security and reliability of EDL’s transmission network.
GE also has offices in Singapore, Malaysia, Brunei, Myanmar, Cambodia, Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia and Vietnam.