Thailand’s mobile operator AIS plans to invest USD 43.35 million in Lao Telecom, one of Laos’ leading telecom providers, through a deal that would give it an indirect 24.01 percent stake in the company.
AIS plans to make the investment through its subsidiary, AIS Inter Venture, which will buy 49 percent of Shenington Investments, a Singapore-based company that owns 49 percent of Lao Telecom.
This would give AIS an indirect 24.01 percent stake in the Lao operator, while the Lao Government would continue to own 51 percent directly.
AIS announced the plan on 21 October, after its board approved the deal a day earlier. The companies have not yet signed the final...
Thailand’s mobile operator AIS plans to invest USD 43.35 million in Lao Telecom, one of Laos’ leading telecom providers, through a deal that would give it an indirect 24.01...
The number of foreign nationals living in Laos has nearly doubled over the past decade, led by a sharp increase in Chinese residents, even as hundreds of thousands of...
Laos’ population is growing more slowly, with birth rates falling and the population getting older, according to the country’s 2025 Population and Housing Census.
The fifth nationwide census ran from...
Bolikhamxay authorities signed investment agreements on 15 October for three solar power plants of up to 5 megawatts (MW) each in two districts, adding to a 100 MW project...
Vietnam is preparing to introduce Lao-language classes in schools in Son La Province, Hue City, and Quang Tri Province, with each locality at a different stage of implementation, local...
Prime Minister Saleumxay Kommasith has ordered the Ministry of Public Works and Transport to urgently address urban water shortages and clear overdue investment project debts.
The newly elected prime minister...
The number of foreign nationals living in Laos has nearly doubled over the past decade, led by a sharp increase in Chinese residents, even as hundreds of thousands of Lao citizens live abroad.
Laos recorded 79,827 foreign residents in its 2025 census, up from 45,538 in 2015. The census also counted 313,766 Lao citizens living abroad, as the country faces slowing population growth and labour shortages.
Chinese nationals accounted for much of the increase in the foreign population. Their numbers rose from 1,825 in 2005 to 13,400 in 2015 and 25,492 in 2025. Vietnamese nationals remained the largest foreign group, with 28,269 residents in 2025.
Thousands of Lao Citizens Seek Work Abroad
The...
Laos hosted the Mekong Tourism Forum 2025 in Luang Prabang from 24 to 27 June, spotlighting the proposed ASEAN Rail Tourism Corridor (ARTC) as a key initiative to boost regional travel and connectivity.
Held...
Laos expects to welcome between 5 and 6 million international tourists in 2026, with Chinese visitors projected to account for around 2 million of that total, according to government estimates.
The numbers will be...
Red electric bikes bearing the “Laos Shared E-Bike” logo have reappeared across Vientiane, raising questions about who operates the service, whether it has official approval, and how the bikes will be parked.
The bikes can be unlocked through Zuimei’s LAOS-Ebike app and appear to revive an red e-bike service that authorities ordered removed in February over licensing concerns, unsafe riding, and improper parking. The operator of the newly appeared red bikes has not been publicly identified, and it remains unclear...
Laos is preparing to compete in 12 sports at the 14th ASEAN Para Games in Kuala Lumpur next October.
The Lao team has proposed entering athletics, swimming, powerlifting, boccia, women’s goalball, men’s blind football,...
Laos continues working to develop chess among younger generations.
A group of young Lao players has returned from Singapore with 12 medals after gaining international experience against competitors from across Asia and beyond.
Team Laos...
On 11 October, Laos hosted the "Capital Links Forum" at the Souphattra Hotel in Vientiane, bringing together financial institutions, investors, policymakers, and fintech innovators. The event focused on the significant barriers hindering capital mobilization in the country, sparking critical discussions about how to unlock Laos’s economic potential.
Laos has long been an attractive economic and infrastructure partner for its neighbors, thanks to its strategic location in Southeast Asia. Many see great potential in Laos as a connecting hub for regional trade and investment. Recent initiatives, such as the "Land Locked to Land Linked" project—part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative—aim to enhance infrastructure and promote economic integration within the ASEAN region.
“The first time I came (to Laos), over a decade ago, there wasn’t much infrastructure development,” said Hongwei Wang, CEO of CGIF, a collaboration project involving ASEAN +3 and the Asian Development Bank. “Importing goods was challenging. Now, improved connectivity makes a big difference.”
Despite these advancements in physical connectivity, the financial landscape remains underdeveloped, especially in rural areas. Many residents lack access to formal banking services, resulting in what participants at the event referred to as a "capital lock." This...
