Briefs

Switzerland has allocated 75 million francs (Bt2.6 billion) for various development projects in the 2017-20 period to enhance relations with Indonesia.
The funds would be allocated to macroeconomics assistance, private sector development, infrastructure and trade, the head of economic development cooperation at the Swiss Embassy Martin Stottele said on Monday after meeting Industry Minister Airlangga Hartarto.
Swiss Ambassador Yvonne Baumann said Switzerland was particularly keen on developing human resources in Indonesia’s manufacturing.
“In the past, we’ve funded some schools and polytechnics here to improve the quality of vocational training. “Now we want to do it again in |manufacturing, but on a larger scale,” she said, declining to disclose details. |– The Jakarta Post

Laos prepares to send 
500 workers to SK 
Some 500 Laotians will be selected to work in South Korea this year if they can pass a test called the Employment Point System-TOPIK, a skills test and a competency test.
The information was supplied by the ministry’s Director of the Lao Employment Service Centre (ESC), Khamsene Xayavong, who said on Monday that the centre will invite |members of the public to register to take the tests.
The skills test will be administrated by the Human Resources Development Service of Korea (HRD Korea) in collaboration with the Lao Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare in Vientiane from April 3-28.
HRD Korea will set the standards for the tests and confirm them with the ESC if necessary. The number of applicants can be decided through prior consultation by both sides.
More than 500 people came to |register after the ministry issued the announcement recently. |– Vientiane Times

IDB approves $488m
financing for Indonesia
The Jeddah-based Islamic Development Bank last weekend approved a financing deal worth US$488 million (Bt17 billion) to support infrastructure development and education in Indonesia.
Of the total, $250 million will be used to develop Java’s southern coastal road to increase its capacity and alleviate congestion on the northern coastal road, which is known for often being overcrowded. 
The project will include the construction of a 158-kilometre road as well as bridges in Yogyakarta, Central Java and East Java. – The Jakarta Post