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...

Vientiane Capital Garbage Disposal Rates Cut by Half

Garbage disposal rates in Vientiane Capital will be cut by half until June this year as part of measures to reduce the impact of...

Covid-19 Restrictions Could be Eased to Minimize Economic Impact

Authorities have said that after 11 consecutive days without a new case of Covid-19 in Laos, some lockdown restrictions could potentially be eased. Prime Minister...

Laos to Experience Stunted Economic Growth amid Coronavirus Pandemic

As a result of the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, Laos' Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is expected to rise by only 3.3 percent in...

Vientiane Economic Officials Patrol Wet Markets, Enforce Price Controls

Government officials from Vientiane Capital were on the scene at wet markets to enforce compliance with the government's instruction prohibiting price gouging of essential...

World Bank Approves Emergency Financing for Covid-19 Response

The World Bank’s Regional Vice-Presidency of the East Asia and Pacific Region yesterday approved US 18 million for Lao PDR to help the country...

Ministry Orders Temporary Suspension of Mining Activities, Hydropower Construction

The Lao Ministry of Energy and Mines has ordered the temporary suspension of mineral processing plants and hydropower construction projects under a new notice...