ADB OKs $46 million loan to Laos

   MANILA, Sept. 9 (Kyodo) -- The Asian Development Bank 
(ADB) approved Tuesday a 46 million U.S. dollar loan to Laos 
to finance part of a 64.5  million dollar rural road 
improvement project.
   Bank officials said the project is aimed at improving 
about 300  kilometers of two national sections of roads in 
the remote northern  province of Xiang Khouang and rural 
roads in other parts of the  country.
   The ADB said about 85% of the Laotian population lives in 
rural hamlets and the road project is expected to improve 
the living standards of the  rural population and accelerate 
agricultural development.
   The loan is interest-free and repayable in 40 years with 
a 10-year  grace period, the bank officials said.