An official announcement of the appointment took place at the institute on Friday when Deputy Prime Minister Dr Bounthong Chitmany presided over the ceremony.

This announcement comes in the wake of the retirement of several other leading government officials.

The Prime Minister’s Office recently announced the retirement of senior government administrators including Dr Somphao Phaysith, a member of the Party Central Committee and former Governor of the Bank of the Lao PDR.

Other government officials granted permission to leave their posts upon reaching the retirement age were Party Central Committee member and former Governor of Oudomxay province, Mr Phetsakhone Luangaphay; Deputy Minister to the Prime Minister’s Office, Mr Somsanith Souvannalath; and Mrs Boupha Khenvongdara and Dr Viengsavanh Duangsavanh, both Deputy Heads of the Prime Minister’s Office.    

Dr Souphanh Keomixay retired as a member of the Party Central Committee and Minister of Planning and Investment and was replaced by Politburo member and Deputy Prime Minister Dr Sonexay Siphandone as Minister of Planning and Investment.

In other changes, Mr Khamphanh Phommathat, Politburo   member and former Head of the Administrative Office of the Party Central Committee  was appointed Head of the Party Central Committee’s Propaganda Training Board, replacing Dr Kikeo Khaykhamphithoun.

Associate Prof. Dr Thongsalith Mangnormek, Party Central Committee member and former Director General of the National Academy of Politics and Public Administration, replaces Mr Khamphanh Phommathat as Head of the Administrative Office of the Party Central Committee of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party.

Elsewhere, Mr Athsaphangthong Siphandone, formerly Deputy Minister of Finance, was appointed the Vice Mayor of Vientiane.

More announcements are expected regarding other retirements and appointments.