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...

Laos, Thailand Expand Energy Cooperation as Power Trade Grows

Laos and Thailand discussed expanding energy cooperation during talks in Bangkok on 1 May between Lao and Thai energy officials. Lao Minister of Industry and...

Laos Signs Feasibility Agreement for Two New Expressway Sections to Chinese Border

The government of Laos and China’s Hunan Banying Industrial Group have signed a feasibility agreement to study and design two new sections of the...

Laos, Lithuania Sign New Cooperation Agreement to Boost Diplomatic Ties

On 27 April, Lao Foreign Affairs Minister Thongsavanh Phomvihane and Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys signed a new bilateral cooperation agreement in Bandar Seri...

Laos-China Trade Nears USD 10 Billion as Ties Deepen

Laos and China marked 65 years of diplomatic relations this week, with both sides highlighting deepening economic ties, including more than USD 18 billion...

Laos Launches New Climate Project to Support Vulnerable Communities in Northern Laos

Laos has launched a new climate adaptation project in the north, targeting vulnerable groups including ethnic communities, women, youth, and people with disabilities across...

Laos Exports Hit USD 2.77 Billion in Early 2026 as Fuel Costs Weigh on Trade

Laos recorded total exports of USD 2.77 billion in the early 2026, maintaining steady trade activity despite a slight slowdown in March. Gold remained the...