Economy

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-China Railway Trade Surges as Cross-Border Freight Hits New Highs

Trade along the Laos-China Railway continued to grow sharply in the first half of...

Laos Identifies Two New Rare Earth Target Areas Across Four Provinces

Laos has completed field surveys and identified two major potential rare earth target areas...

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 Border Checkpoints Report Strong Revenue Growth in First Half of 2026, Exceed Targets

Laos’ international border checkpoints collected strong state budget revenue in the first half of...

Iran-US- Israel Ceasefire Offers Laos Fuel Relief After Six Weeks of Crisis

On 7 March, The United States, Israel, and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire in the Middle East, temporarily halting hostilities and reopening strategic...

Vientiane Authorities Order Businesses and Major Retail Chains to Hold Prices Ahead of Pi Mai Lao

Authorities in Vientiane Capital have instructed businesses, markets, local sellers, and major retail chains to keep prices stable ahead of Pi Mai Lao, as...

Laos PM Orders Tighter Safety Rules for Tourism Sector

Laos’ Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone has called for stricter safety measures across Laos’ tourism sector, with a focus on high-risk and emerging activities, as...

Vientiane Province-Luang Prabang Road Fully Reopens with New Toll System

National Road No. 22, commonly known as Phou Kao Lak, which traverses this notorious mountain stretch connecting Vientiane and Luang Prabang provinces, reopened on...

Laos Auditors Uncover Billions in Budget Violations in 2025

Laos' State Audit Office audited 154 targets in 2025, hitting 100 percent of its annual plan and recovering LAK 5,303.17 billion (approximately USD 244...

Southern Laos Joins Vietnam, Thailand to Push East-West Economic Corridor Forward

Top officials from Laos, Vietnam, and Thailand met in Pakse on 3 April to revive East-West Economic Corridor, a 1,450-kilometer route linking the region. With...