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...

World Bank Backs Laos in Boosting Education, Health Worker Performance

On 16 January, the World Bank (WB) approved a new project aimed at strengthening the performance of primary education and health workers in Laos...

Laos Inflation Falls to 7.7 Percent in 2025, Showing Signs of Economic Stabilization

Laos’ average inflation fell to 7.7 percent in 2025, down sharply from 23.13 percent in 2024, according to the Bank of the Lao PDR...

Laos to Export Electricity to Singapore Under Regional Power Agreement

Laos has taken another step toward expanding regional electricity exports after a new agreement cleared the way for Lao-generated power to be transmitted to...

Laos Targets 6 Percent Economic Growth in 2026 Amid Reforms, Election Preparations

The Lao government has set a target of at least six percent economic growth in 2026, supported by fiscal reforms, major infrastructure projects, and...

Asia Development Bank Backs Urban Planning for Resilient and Sustainable Cities in Laos

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a USD 700,000 grant to support feasibility studies and project preparation for more resilient and sustainable urban...

Former Ban Keun Zoo Reopens as Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre Near Nam Pien Yorlapa

The former Ban Keun Zoo in Vientiane is set to begin a new chapter as a wildlife rehabilitation centre, with operations relocating near the...