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...

Fire Incidents Cost Vientiane Capital LAK 760 Million in Four Months

Vientiane Capital has reported economic damages of about LAK 760 million or over USD 40,000 due to fire-related incidents from January to April. Lieutenant...

BOL, Ministry of Finance Sign MOU to Enhance Cooperation

The Bank of the Lao PDR (BOL) and the Ministry of Finance signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on Monday to improve cooperation between...

President of Laos to Attend “Future of Asia” Conference in Japan

President Thongloun Sisoulith will attend the Future of Asia Conference in Tokyo, Japan which is being held under the slogan, "Leveraging Asia’s Power to...

Drinking Water Association Announces Price Hike Due to Economic Hurdles

The Drinking Water Association in Vientiane Capital released a notice on Thursday, announcing an increase in price of the 18 liters bottle of drinking...

Inflation and Debt Weigh Down Laos Economic Recovery, Says World Bank Report

Economic activity in Laos is weighed down by structural challenges, macroeconomic instability, and a deteriorating external environment, according to the World Bank’s latest Lao...

El Niño to Hurt In-Season Rice Output in Thailand

Royal Ploughing Day, held on 17 May, marks the start of the rice planting season in Thailand, but researchers say El Niño could hurt...