Economy

Laos Opens New Route for Businesses to Protect Product Designs Abroad

From 14 October, Lao designers and businesses will be able to protect the look of their products in multiple countries through a single application submitted to the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), instead of filing separate applications in every country where they want protection. The change works both ways. Foreign...

Bear Paws, Pangolin Meat Seized in Vientiane Restaurant Raid Amid Laos’ Wider Crackdown

Lao authorities have stepped up their crackdown on illegal wildlife trade after raiding a...

Laos Formalizes Shanghai Cooperation Organization Dialogue Partner Status

Laos has strengthened its regional ties after formally confirming its status as a Dialogue...

Global Financial Bodies Warns of Slower Growth, Higher Inflation for Laos in 2026

Laos' economy is expected to continue expanding this year, even as slower growth and...

Railway Expansion, Education Reform Among Key Issues at National Assembly

Expanding the railway to southern Laos, rolling out a new school system, reducing poverty,...

Laos Economy to Grow by 4.5% in 2023, Say Researchers

Researchers in Laos are optimistic and predict that the economy may grow up to 4.5% this year. The Macro-economic Research Institute of the Lao Academy...

Opening of 7-Eleven in Laos Evokes Mixed Response Among Netizens

The construction team behind the first 7-Eleven in Laos went viral on social media last week after showing pictures of the location of their...

Laos-Vietnam Friendship Hospital Opens in Xieng Khouang

The Laos-Vietnam Friendship Hospital, built with financial aid from the Vietnamese government with a construction cost of USD 21.3 million, opened in Xieng Khouang...

Young Lao Scientist Selected as 2023 Young Explorer at National Geographic Society

A young scientist from Laos has been selected as one of the 15 candidates for the National Geographic Society’s Young Explorers 2023 program, which...

Passport Office Problems Still Ongoing Issue in Laos, Say Locals

Despite repeated promises to reform the slow processing time of passports in the country, residents say there has been no improvement on this front. Locals...

European Union Anticipates Increased Rice Imports from Laos

The European Union in Laos has encouraged farmers and agricultural companies in the country to export more rice to European countries. Two Ambassadors and...