Thai authorities have discovered and severed illegal internet cables running from Thailand’s Mukdahan Province across the Second Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge into Laos, Thai media reported.
Police suspects these cables were supporting scam operations, giving the impression that scammers were based in Thailand while they operated from Laos.
Nathathorn Prousoontorn, Thailand’s commissioner of the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC), announced that the illegal link was detected on 19 October. The cables stretched about five kilometers into Laos’ Savannakhet Province, serving a business district and potentially providing internet access to up to 10,000 users.
The commissioner explained that the telecommunications company responsible for the cables had been licensed to operate only within Thailand....
Laos and China have deepened their cooperation in traditional medicine, focusing on medical plant cultivation, research, and innovative treatments to enhance healthcare services in Laos.
On 18 October, a formal...
By SOULIYASONE GNOTSYOUDOM, OULAYVANH SISOUNONTH
Since the Lao-Thai railway’s launch on 20 July, regional connectivity and economic growth in Laos have significantly improved, particularly in the tourism sector. Over 13,000...
In September, Laos recorded a total foreign trade valuation of USD 1,064 million, marking a 12 percent decline from August, according to the Lao Trade Portal (LTP). This figure...
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has provided USD 1.8 million to support an urban renewal project in Vang Vieng, aiming to transform the popular tourist destination into a greener,...
The United Kingdom’s Mission to ASEAN and the British Council have officially launched the ASEAN-UK Advancing Creative Economy (ACE) program, an initiative aimed at strengthening the creative economies across...
Recent data from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry highlights significant strides in poverty alleviation across Laos, although challenges remain as the country aims for developed status.
In 2023, 83.13...
By SOULIYASONE GNOTSYOUDOM, OULAYVANH SISOUNONTH
Since the Lao-Thai railway’s launch on 20 July, regional connectivity and economic growth in Laos have significantly improved, particularly in the tourism sector. Over 13,000 passengers have traveled the Bangkok-Vientiane route. The railway enhances both passenger and freight transport, creating vital links between Laos and Thailand.
In addition to improving Laos’ access to international markets, the Lao-Thai railway also connects Vientiane, Laos, with Nong Khai, Thailand, serving as a key border crossing. The railway has reduced logistical costs and streamlined the export of Laos' minerals, agricultural products, and manufactured goods, thus increasing the country's trade volume.
The upgraded infrastructure brought by the Lao-Thai railway makes Laos more...
ARTICLE UPDATED ON 27 JUNE, 2024 AT 4:04 PM
To bolster tourism in the second half of Visit Laos Year 2024, the Lao government is set to introduce a new policy granting free visas...
On 24 September, the StarExpress, a new cross-border tourist train, launched its inaugural journey from Kunming, China, to Luang Prabang and Vientiane, Laos.
This new train link is an important step in promoting cultural...
Laos and China have deepened their cooperation in traditional medicine, focusing on medical plant cultivation, research, and innovative treatments to enhance healthcare services in Laos.
On 18 October, a formal agreement was signed in Vientiane between three parties, including Khampheng Phongluxa, Director General of the Lao Tropical and Public Health Institute, Bounleuane Douangdeuane, Director General of the Institute of Traditional Medicine, and a representative from China’s 24 Solar Term Health Management Co., Ltd.
As part of this agreement, the Chinese health...
Japan has donated over 400 sets of football training wear to the Lao Football Federation (LFF). On 24 September, the Japanese government, in collaboration with the Japan Football Association, officially handed over the...
The 23rd Beerlao Badminton Championship concluded in Vientiane on 25 August, with the Labdok Badminton Academy emerging victorious once again. The Academy clinched five gold medals across various events, maintaining their title from...
At the ASEAN Business Forum in Vientiane on 24 September, John Samuel, Asia Regional Director of Oxfam International, delivered a powerful message on the importance of inclusivity and women's empowerment in Laos's business landscape.
Representing Oxfam—a confederation committed to alleviating global poverty since 1942—Samuel brought eight years of advocacy experience to the forefront, stressing the critical role that micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) play in the region's economy.
With over 80 percent of Laos's workforce employed in these enterprises, he emphasized the need for supportive frameworks that promote equitable growth and sustainable practices, calling for collaboration among governments, businesses, and civil society to achieve these goals. Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, MSMEs remain the backbone of the national economy, especially in rural areas.
“In Laos, small and micro-enterprises provide employment and job opportunities for people in villages. Oxfam has also been working with women's groups, supporting initiatives such as community tourism and environmentally-friendly tourism,” he explained.
Community tourism refers to travel experiences that are owned, managed, and operated by local communities, including non-profits, cooperatives, and social enterprises.
Addressing Regional Challenges
While praising progress in Laos and other ASEAN countries, Samuel acknowledged...