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...

PM Asks Ministry of Energy and Mines to Clarify Electricity Tariffs

Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith has asked the Ministry of Energy and Mines to clarify the pricing structure for electricity tariffs amid widespread public...

Oudomxay Farmers Face Difficulty Exporting Crops

Farmers in Oudomxay Province are experiencing difficulty selling crops due to the economic crisis caused by the Covid-19 epidemic. Two shipments of 2,593 tons have...

Chifeng Jilong to Restart Gold Production at Sepon Mine in Laos

China's Chifeng Jilong Gold Mining Co has said it will begin processing gold ore from its mine in Sepon, Laos, after a six-year hiatus. According...

Laos Submits for Prior Consultation of Sanakham Hydropower Project

Laos has submitted plans for the construction of its new Sanakham hydropower project on the Mekong River, according to the Mekong River Commission (MRC). The...

Government Mulls Unemployment Package amid Economic Downturn

The government is considering measures to be included in an unemployment package to aid those who have found themselves jobless due to the Covid-19...

Electricity Rate Price Hike Causes Stir Among Residents

An increase in electricity rates has taken Lao residents by surprise amid an economic downturn due to the Covid-19 pandemic, with many turning to...