ລາວ
Photos by: Phoonsab Thevongsa
Champa Meuanglao recently caught up with Anthony Assassa, an International Finance Expert at Lao Airlines.
1. What brought you to Laos, and what has been your experience living and working here?
I came to work in Lao PDR in January 2016. What brought me here was the need for consulting firms to have experienced managers who would help support fast- growing business development. During my first years, hydropower companies were the main companies I was servicing as an advisor. Later, I worked in other industries, in particular banks and insurance, as well as all types of manufacturing companies and international organizations.
2. How does working in aviation finance in Laos differ from
your previous international experiences?
The aviation industry is different from other industries in different ways. The market and the economic cycles are specific and highly dependent on the international demand for air travel services. It is a very competitive transportation service industry that requires heavy investments, high operating costs, and stringent financial management. By nature, it is also a customer-centric industry.
From a country’s perspective, it is a crucial and strategic industry that allows the flow of goods and people from one point to another. All of this is reflected in the financials of the airline companies. If you want to understand airline financials, you need to understand the airline business model first.
3. What’s your typical day like at Lao Airlines’ headquarters in Vientiane?
Finance and accounting are anything but typical. There are so many tasks and responsibilities to handle that it is a challenge to manage them all. At Lao Airlines, it is a lot about handling the accounting work related to clients and suppliers. The whole company supports the daily operations of international and domestic flights. I am in a support and advisory role, I observe how all of the accounting is being performed and managed, and then I also provide guidance on how to align with international standards.
4. What’s your favorite destination on the Lao Airlines network, and why?
I have had the chance to visit Xieng Khouang and Luang Prabang with Lao Airlines, but I want to say that all domestic destinations in Laos could be my favorite. The provinces here are all so beautiful to visit.
5. After your years working here, what aspects of Lao culture have you embraced the most in your daily life?
In my daily life, I reflect Lao culture by
being tolerant, easy-going, and amiable. With
my friends, I encourage modesty, respect
privacy, and I value trust in relationships.
I show positivity as much as I can. I keep
learning as per the Lao proverb “You know,
you teach. You don’t know, you learn” (ເຈົາຮູ້,
ເຈົ້າສອນ. ເຈົ້າບໍຮູ້, ເຈົ້າຮຽນຮູ້).
Anthony Assassa works under the Lao Airlines Sustainability Project with the cooperation of the World Bank and Lao Airlines.