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,...

UN Suggests Leveraging Public Debt for Development Gains

While the average government debt level in the Asia-Pacific region is at an 18-year high, this is not necessarily bad news, and it is...

Student Contest Reveals Mekong Innovation in River Monitoring 

The Mekong River Commission (MRC) on Monday announced the winners of its first-ever River Monitoring Technology Competition for university students. The competition was held...

CCTV Refurbishment Completed Across 93 Locations in Vientiane Capital

The Ministry of National Defence's Communications Department has taken charge of the new CCTVs installed in Vientiane Capital, as part of a refurbishment project...

East Asia and Pacific Regional Growth to Accelerate as China Rebounds

Growth in developing East Asia and the Pacific is forecast to accelerate in 2023 as China’s economy reopens, while the pace of growth in...

Laos Sees Marginal Relief From High Inflation, With 0.29% Decrease in March

According to the Lao Statistics Bureau (LSB), the total inflation rate for March decreased slightly to 40.97% compared to February's figures of 41.3%. However, the...

Technical Consultation Held for Lao 5th Population and Housing Census 2025

On Sunday, the Lao Statistics Bureau (LSB), Ministry of Planning and Investment, and United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), in collaboration with the United States...