Export of Copper                                                                                                              News Release, Lao Embassy in Washington DC.

The first load of Lao copper came out with the amount of 60 tones ($US 3,000/tone) to Thailand at the end of last month. The representative of Oxiana (Australian mining company) disclosed that up to the date, the Lanxang mining factory of Laos is ready to produce and supply its production to various concerned companies both inside and outside Laos. By the end of 2005, the mine is expected to yield 30,000 tones of copper, it will turn out double next year, and will further yield up to 100,000 tones in 2009.