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...

Residents Await Laos-China Railway Compensation Payments

Preliminary counts have been completed in the provinces through which the Laos-China railway will pass, to pave the way for compensation to be paid...

Laos-Thailand Railway Link Set for Expansion Next Year

Phase II of the Laos-Thailand railway, which will see the line extended from the suburbs to central Vientiane, is set to resume after the...

Switzerland Gives Further Boost to Poverty Reduction Fund

Switzerland has agreed to contribute US$18 million to help Laos reduce poverty and achieve the targets set in the National Socio-Economic Plan. A grant agreement...

Govt to Get Tougher on Regulation of Investment Projects

The Ministry of Planning and Investment has issued an instruction that will more closely regulate government-funded investment projects from the start of work until...

WB Helps Laos to Upgrade Rural Roads

The World Bank's Board of Executive Directors is providing US$25 million credit for Laos to strengthen its road maintenance systems and improve road connectivity...

Construction of Petroleum Refinery to Resume This Month

A petroleum refinery project located in the energy and chemical precinct of Saysettha Development Zone, Vientiane is expected to resume this month after construction...