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 Signs Clean Energy Deal with Chinese, Singaporean Firms

Laos has taken another step toward expanding its clean energy sector by signing a USD 1.45 billion agreement with China Western Power Industrial and...

Laos Achieves Trade Surplus of USD 310 Million in February

Laos recorded a trade surplus of USD 310 million in February, as the total value of imports and exports (excluding electricity) reached approximately USD...

Lao Government Grants Tax Exemption Up to 30 years for Amata Investment Zone

On 20 March, members of the National Assembly (NA) approved a special incentive package for investors in the Amata Special Economic Zone, granting them...

Lao National Assembly Debates Major Constitutional Reforms: What’s at Stake

The Lao National Assembly is currently debating the 2025 Draft Constitution of Laos, which proposes a number of major changes to the country’s legal...

Laos Tackles Bureaucratic Bloat with Major Government Overhaul

As Laos continues to grow and change, the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party has recognized that its government structure isn't keeping pace with the country's...

Digital Growth in Laos with Internet Faster by 17.8 percent in Early 2025

The internet and social media landscape in Laos experienced significant growth in 2025, driven by faster internet speeds and increasing mobile phone adoption. According to...