Economy

Laos Economy Grows 5% in Year’s First Half, Government Holds to 6% Target

Laos’ economy expanded 5 percent in the first half of 2026, helped by a strong tourism season and growth in services, but slowed in the second quarter as the government works to meet its 6 percent target for the year. Growth reached 5.5 percent in the first quarter before easing...

Attapeu Looks to Job Support as School Dropouts Rise

Attapeu is expanding its employment services as the province seeks to respond to labor...

Laos Moves to Update Electricity Law for Energy Sector Shift

Laos is moving to update its electricity sector as the government prepares to adopt...

Laos Cuts 7-Day Base Interest Rate to 7% as Economic Risks Persist

The Bank of Laos (BOL) has cut its seven-day base interest rate from 8...

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...

Bank of Laos to Launch Centralized Forex Market

The Bank of Laos (BOL) and 15 commercial banks signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on 5 August to establish a centralized foreign exchange...

Study Reveals Water Insecurity Crisis in Rural Laos, Urges Improved Management Strategies

Despite Laos' abundant water resources, a recent research by the Faculty of Public Health at the University of Health Sciences has revealed critical issues...

First Lao Nationals Certified as Train Drivers by Lao-China Railway

On 5 August, the Lao-China Railway awarded driver certificates to 14 Lao nationals who successfully completed a self-driven test. This certification ceremony marks the...

Japanese Ambassador Celebrates Lao Scholars Heading to Japan

On 1 August, the Ambassador of Japan, Tsutomu Koizumi hosted a reception at his residence in Vientiane Capital for students and senior fellows of...

Laos Faces Sixth Consecutive Monthly Trade Deficit, Reaches USD 133 Million in June

Laos experienced a trade deficit of USD 133 million in June, marking the sixth straight month of trade deficits in 2024. According to data...

Laos Unveils Electronic Certificate of Origin Issuing System to Boost Trade

The Ministry of Industry and Commerce (MOIC) of Laos, with support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), has launched an enhanced...