Development

Laos Collects USD 12 Million in Digital Taxes From Global Tech Companies

Laos has collected approximately USD 12 million in digital taxes from global technology companies since introducing its digital tax system in late 2024, according to Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Santiphab Phomvihane. The tax applies to foreign digital service providers without a physical presence in Laos, including Microsoft,...

Vietnam, Philippines Reach Upper-Middle-Income Status as Laos Eyes 2035 Target

Vietnam and the Philippines have been reclassified as upper-middle-income economies by the World Bank,...

Vientiane Completes New 9.3-Kilometer Mekong Embankment

On 1 July, Vientiane officially opened a new 9.3-kilometer stretch of Mekong riverfront featuring...

Laos Reports Economic Growth as Inflation Slows to 7.4 Percent in June

Laos recorded 5 percent economic growth in the first half of 2026, while inflation...

Japan Approves USD 2.3 Million Scholarship Grant for Lao Civil Servants

Japan has approved JPY 378 million (USD 2.3 million) in scholarship funding to support...

Champasack Authorities Survey Phou Salao for Conservation, Tourism Development

Champasack provincial authorities on 21 December conducted a field survey of Phou Salao as part of plans to develop the area into a provincial-level...

Authorities Agree on Rehabilitation, Toll Collection Plan on Road 13 North

On 19 December, Lao authorities agreed to study, survey and design a rehabilitation and maintenance project for a section of National Road 13 North,...

Laos Advances National Road 22 Repairs, Nearly Half Completed

Lao authorities are accelerating repairs on National Road 22 following damage from landslides and heavy rain, with more than 47 percent of the work...

Électricité du Laos Steps up Reforms to Cut Debt, Stabilize Power Costs

Électricité du Laos (EDL) has stepped up a wide-ranging reform program to stabilize its finances and lower electricity costs.  The move also aims to improve...

Vientiane Capital Plans Flood Prevention Measures Ahead of 2026 Rainy Season

Vientiane Capital authorities are preparing a series of flood management measures to reduce recurring flooding, with implementation scheduled before the 2026 rainy season.  Bounyavath Niraxay,...

Japan Pledges USD 7 Million for Disaster Prevention, Emergency Response in Laos

Japan has committed USD 7 million to enhance Laos’ capacity for disaster prevention and emergency response, a critical step in addressing the country’s vulnerability...