Economy

Laos Cabinet Approves New Draft Laws Amid 7.6% Inflation, Reviews Economic Priorities

Laos's Cabinet approved 12 draft laws and proposals during its August 24-25 meeting, as the government reported average inflation of 7.6 percent and reviewed economic, social and disaster-related challenges for the second half of 2026. The drafts cover government administration, public procurement, alcohol control, civil law, health insurance, social security,...

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...

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...

Inadequate Minimum Wage Deepens Economic Woes in Laos, Fueling Labor Shortages, School Dropouts

Laos is grappling with growing economic and societal challenges as the current minimum wage, deemed inadequate by both workers and business owners, exacerbates labor...

Laos Launches New E-commerce Platform for Agricultural Products, Supported by Chinese Government

After two years in the work, a new e-commerce platform for Lao agriculture products has finally been launched to promote both domestic trade and...

Laos-Thailand Railway Prepares for Official Opening with Trial Runs

Laos and Thailand have commenced a trial run of the new cross-border railway service before its official launch, which is expected to be announced...

Second Lao University Games Concludes with NUOL Triumph

The second Lao University Games wrapped up in Vientiane on 13 May with the distribution of hundreds of medals to Lao athletes.  Held at the...

Lao Government Mandates Licensing for Commercial Land Use

In a move aimed at regulating land-related businesses and tax management, the Lao government has introduced a ban on issuing land titles to buyers...

Lao Ministry Warns Foreign Tourists Against Illegal Currency Exchange

The Office of the Lao Ministry of Information, Culture, and Tourism has recently issued a notice cautioning foreign tourists against engaging in unlawful currency...