Economy

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 Value-Added Tax (VAT) as the government looks for ways to ease living costs for low-income households. The Standing Committee raised the proposal during its monthly meeting on 6-7 August. According to the NA, the VAT exemption would...

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...

Lao State Fuel Enterprise Posts 70 Percent Profit Surge in 2025, Eyes Stock Market Listing

The Lao state-owned Lao State Fuel Company (LSFC) reported a sharp rise in profits...

Naphao Customs Exceeds Annual Target on Mining Debt Repayments, Trade Growth

Naphao International Border Checkpoint in Khammouane Province collected more than LAK 669.5 billion (USD...

Thailand’s Phi Phi Islands Collect THB 1 Million Daily in Tourist Fees

Since the introduction of an e-ticketing system in July 2022, Thailand's Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation has reportedly collected an average...

Lao Officials Confiscate KIP 4 Billion Worth of Illegal and Expired Products in 2022

In a recent public meeting, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce reported that they confiscated over KIP 4 billion worth of illegal or expired...

New Declaration Presses Mekong Countries, Partners to Intensify Cooperation

The Southeast Asian members of the Mekong River Commission issued a landmark declaration at the 4th MRC Summit on Wednesday, reiterating the region’s commitment to...

Vientiane Authorities Alert Vendors to Not Raise Prices During Lao New Year

With the Lao New Year festival just around the corner, the Department of Industry and Commerce in Vientiane Capital has reminded shopkeepers and stall...

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...