Economy

Prime Minister Calls for Tighter Oversight of Boten SEZ Amid Development Challenges

Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone has called for stronger management of the Boten Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Luang Namtha as Laos seeks to expand the border area as a trade and investment hub. Laos began developing the Boten SEZ in 2012 to attract investment in finance, trade, industry, transport and...

Laos-China Railway Trade Surges as Cross-Border Freight Hits New Highs

Trade along the Laos-China Railway continued to grow sharply in the first half of...

Laos Identifies Two New Rare Earth Target Areas Across Four Provinces

Laos has completed field surveys and identified two major potential rare earth target areas...

Laos Studies USD 1 Billion Vientiane-Lidu Industrial Park in Pakngum

On 13 August, Laos agreed to study the development of a new industrial park...

Laos Border Checkpoints Report Strong Revenue Growth in First Half of 2026, Exceed Targets

Laos’ international border checkpoints collected strong state budget revenue in the first half of...

Asian Development Bank Urges Faster Infrastructure Delivery as Vientiane’s Bus Rapid Transit System Stalls

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has called on Laos to speed up the implementation of major infrastructure projects, as delays continue to affect high-profile...

Vientiane Tourism Exceeds 2025 Targets, Generating Over USD 621 Million

Vientiane welcomed more than 2.2 million visitors in 2025, exceeding its annual tourism target and generating over USD 621 million in revenue, Lao authorities...

Laos Inflation Eases to 5.1 Percent in January 2026 as Utility Costs Drive Price Pressures

Laos recorded an inflation rate of 5.1 percent in January 2026, down from 5.6 percent in December 2025, as the country continues to grapple...

Laos, Vietnam Agree to Deepen Cooperation Across Seven Key Sectors

Laos and Vietnam have agreed to strengthen cooperation across seven key sectors, reaffirming their commitment to deepen political trust and expand practical collaboration following...

Laos Partners with European Union for New Forest Conservation Project

The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) Laos, and the European Union have launched a EUR 1.6 million (nearly USD...

Laos Eyes Hydrogen-Roasted Coffee to Lift Exports, Cut Emissions by 2027

Laos is advancing to transform its coffee sector by 2027, shifting the focus to higher value, cleaner production, and stronger access to international markets....