Development

Prime Minister Calls for Tighter Oversight of Boten SEZ Amid Development Challenges

Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone has called for stronger management of the Boten Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Luang Namtha as Laos seeks to expand the border area as a trade and investment hub. Laos began developing the Boten SEZ in 2012 to attract investment in finance, trade, industry, transport and...

Laos Studies USD 1 Billion Vientiane-Lidu Industrial Park in Pakngum

On 13 August, Laos agreed to study the development of a new industrial park...

Laos Attracts USD 8.5 Billion in Investment Projects in First Seven Months of 2026

Laos attracted over USD 8.5 billion in investment approvals during the first seven months...

Laos State Utility Revenue Grows 9.4 Percent in First Half of 2026

Electricité du Laos (EDL), the state-owned power utility, grew its revenue by 9.4 percent...

Oudomxay Seeks More Railway Services to Boost Investment

Authorities in Oudomxay Province, northern Laos, have announced plans to expand railway services and...

Laos Steps Up Debt Reforms With New Strategy, Stronger Oversight

Laos is advancing major public debt management reforms with a new medium-term strategy and tighter oversight of state-owned enterprises to strengthen fiscal stability and...

Laos, UN Mark 70 Years of Partnership, Highlighting Support for Youth and Sustainable Development

Laos and the United Nations (UN) marked the 70th anniversary of their partnership on 20 November, celebrating decades of cooperation in development, peacebuilding, and...

Laos Launches 16 Days of Activism Campaign Focused on Digital Violence

Laos kicked off the 2025 global campaign for the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence on 25 November, putting a national spotlight on...

Laos Launches Training Center to Boost Mining, Energy Skills

On 18 November, Laos inaugurated the Lancang-Mekong Training Center and launched a specialized training program designed to address the country’s shortage of skilled workers...

International Monetary Fund Says Lao Economy to Grow by 4.5 Percent in 2026

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has projected that Laos’ economy will expand by 4.5 percent in 2026, supported by stronger exports, rising tourism, foreign...

Lao Central Bank Cuts Base Interest Rate to Support Economic Growth

The Bank of the Lao PDR (BOL) announced on 20 November that it is reducing the 7-day base interest rate from 9% to 8.5%...