China Eximbank provides $31.875 million preferential buyer’s credit for Electronic Identification Card Project

On March 30, 2015, the Government of Laos officially launched a $37.5 million Electronic Identification Card Project with a preferential buyer’s credit (PBC) from China Eximbank. The borrowing terms of the PBC are unknown. The proceeds from the PBC were to be used by the borrower (the Government of Laos) to partially finance an EPC (commercial) with Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.. The purpose of the project was to issue new identification cards for all Lao citizens across the country, progressively rolling out the technologically advanced cards that will replace the older ones. The project involves an ID card production center, a data collection center and 160 data supply stations. The $37.5 million project will be implemented three phases beginning in Vientiane Capital. The second phase will be conducted in the six provinces of Oudomxay, Luang Prabang, Xieng Khuang, Vientiane, Xaysomboun, Savannakhet and Champassak, and the third phase will be implemented in Phongsaly, Luang Namtha, Bokeo, Xayaboury, Huaphan, Borikhamxay, Khammuan, Saravan, Xekong, and Attapeu. The project was implemented in three phases. Phase 1 targeted the capital city of Vientiane. Phase 2 targeted the six provinces of Oudomxay, Luang Prabang, Xieng Khuang, Vientiane, Xaysomboun, Savannakhet and Champassak. Phase 3 targeted Phongsaly, Luang Namtha, Bokeo, Xayaboury, Huaphan, Borikhamxay, Khammuan, Saravan, Xekong, and Attapeu. Huawei Technologies was the general contractor responsible for implementation. However, it hired Hongda Hi-tech Group Co Ltd as a subcontractor. The project was eventually completed, but its precise implemntation end date is unknown.

Additional details

This project is also known as the Electronic ID Project, the E-ID Project, or the the Laos National Population and Electronic Identity Card Project. The Chinese project title is 持的老挝电子身份证项目 or 施的老挝电子身份证项目 or 老挝全国人口和电子身份证项目. The precise face value of the PBC is unknown. However, since China Eximbank PBCs typically finance 85% of the total cost of a commercial (EPC) contract, AidData assumes that the face value of the PBC was $31.875 million (85% of $37.5 million). The China Eximbank loan that supported this project is not included in the Overseas Development Finance Dataset that Boston University’s Global Development Policy Center published in December 2020.

Number of official sources

7

Number of total sources

14