Economy

Laos Cuts 7-Day Base Interest Rate to 7% as Economic Risks Persist

The Bank of Laos (BOL) has cut its seven-day base interest rate from 8 percent to 7 percent a year as inflation remains below the government’s 8 percent target. The Monetary Policy Committee approved the cut at its meeting on 20 August, where it reviewed monetary policy, economic conditions, fuel...

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...

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...

Saddle Dam Rebuilt at Xe Pian Xe Namnoy Hydropower Project

The Xe Pian Xe Namnoy hydropower project in Attapeu province has reconstructed a saddle dam at the reservoir following a fatal collapse two years...

Sanakham Dam Impact Assessment Should be Broadened with Up-To-Date Information

The Sanakham hydropower project developer and the Lao government should widen the project’s impact assessment and propose additional measures to mitigate potential adverse impacts...

Rich Resources Remain Available to Laos Mining Sector

Mineral and mining projects in Laos cover a land area of over seven million hectares throughout the country or over 30 percent of the...

Vang Vieng Sees Over One Million Visitors in Five Years

Authorities reported that over one million people have visited Vang Vieng over the last five years, including over 700,000 foreign tourists. According to a report...

Vehicles Under 350cc Prohibited from Expressway Use

Vehicles with engine capacity under 350cc will not be permitted on the Vientiane to Vang Vieng Expressway, according to a new report. Vientiane Times reports...

Laos Among 15 Nations to Sign RCEP, World’s Biggest Trade Pact

Laos, China, and thirteen other countries have agreed to establish the RCEP, the largest free-trade bloc in the world, comprising nearly a third of...