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...

Nam Mo 2 Reservoir in Xieng Khouang Impounded, Final Construction Phase Underway

The Nam Mo 2 Hydropower Project in Xieng Khouang Province successfully impounded its reservoir on 10 January, marking a major milestone as the project...

Laos-China Railway Enables Record-Breaking Journey from Singapore to Portugal

The world’s longest train journey now runs from Singapore to Portugal, covering nearly 19,000 kilometers across 13 countries and linking Southeast Asia to Western...

Laos Sets Digital Transformation as Key Driver of Modernization

Laos has placed digital transformation at the centre of its national development agenda, identifying it as a key driver of modernization, productivity, and sustainable...

Bueng Kan–Bolikhamxay Cross-Border Bus Service Begins Trial Operations

A new cross-border bus service linking Bueng Kan Province in Thailand with Bolikhamxay Province in Laos began trial operations on 7 January, aiming to...

Champasack Pushes Pakse–Hong Kong Flights to Boost Tourism

Champasack Province is in talks to open a direct air route between Pakse and Hong Kong, a move provincial leaders say would strengthen tourism...

Laos Targets Upper-Middle-Income Status by 2055

Laos has set a long-term goal to become an upper-middle-income country and move closer to high-income status by 2055, according to a strategic roadmap...