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...

Russia to Begin Preliminary Studies for Nuclear Power Plant in Laos

Laos and Russia agreed to begin preliminary studies to set up a nuclear power plant in Laos with the initial phase aim to identify...

‘Hidden Hands’ Cave Opens as New Tourism Site in Khammouane

On 8 June, authorities in Khammouane Province have officially opened Hidden Hands Cave (Tham Pha Mue) to visitors, marking the launch of a new...

Border Point with Thailand Hits 60 Percent Completion in Xayabouly

Construction of the Nam Ngeun International Checkpoint in Xayabury Province has reached over 60 percent completion as of June, slightly behind schedule, officials reported. Located...

No Longer Poor: Can Laos be Clean, Green and Great?

By Anoulak Kittikhoun, originally published on Fulcrum Analysis on Southeast Asia Laos will graduate from the UN’s Least Developed Country (LDC) category this year. Doing so...

Vang Vieng Gears Up for USD-216M Tourism Overhaul as Old Airport Transforms

Preparations are underway for a USD 216 million tourism complex at the old airfield in Vang Vieng. Lao Yijin Group Co., Ltd. is leading the...

Laos Inflation Drops to 9 Percent, But Living Costs Remain High

Laos recorded an inflation rate of 9 percent in May, down from 10.2 percent in April, marking the first slowdown in consumer price growth...