Economy

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 of 2026, with officials greenlighting 34 projects in concessionary businesses and controlled business lists. The figures mark a 68 percent increase over the same period last year, and actual capital inflow from these projects has already...

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...

Laos Considers VAT Exemption to Subsidize Electricity for Low-Income Households

Laos’ National Assembly (NA) is considering a proposal to exempt subsidized residential electricity from...

Oudomxay Seeks More Railway Services to Boost Investment

Authorities in Oudomxay Province, northern Laos, have announced plans to expand railway services and...

Vientiane Halts New Microfinance, Pawnshop Licenses Amid Regulatory Review

On 31 July, the Bank of the Lao PDR (BoL) suspended applications for new...

Vietnam’s Hydropower Crisis Persists As Water in Reservoirs Drop to Dangerous Levels

Two out of the three largest hydropower dams in Vietnam, Son La and Lai Chau are reported to be at dead water levels, leaving...

Laos, ASEAN Vow to Uphold Women’s, Senior Citizens’ Rights

Laos along with other members of the bloc has vowed to safeguard women and older people’s rights to create a more inclusive society during...

UN Agency Says Myanmar Has Suspended International Aid Deliveries To Cyclone-hit Areas

BANGKOK (AP) — Myanmar’s military government has rescinded its approval for international organizations to distribute food, shelter, and medicines to thousands of residents of...

German Embassy, Proud To Be Us Advocate LGBTQI+ Inclusion at Workplace in Laos

Last week, the Embassy of Germany in Laos and Proud To Be Us organized a policy dialogue titled Inclusion of All People at Work...

Cambodian PM Accuses Thailand of Planning to Expel Migrant Workers

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen falsely claimed at a rally that Thailand's Move Forward Party, which recently won the national elections, plans to expel...

Global Economy on Precarious Footing Amid High Interest Rates

Global growth has slowed sharply and the risk of financial stress in emerging market and developing economies (EMDEs) is intensifying amid elevated global interest...