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...

Électricité du Laos Steps up Reforms to Cut Debt, Stabilize Power Costs

Électricité du Laos (EDL) has stepped up a wide-ranging reform program to stabilize its finances and lower electricity costs.  The move also aims to improve...

Vientiane Capital Plans Flood Prevention Measures Ahead of 2026 Rainy Season

Vientiane Capital authorities are preparing a series of flood management measures to reduce recurring flooding, with implementation scheduled before the 2026 rainy season.  Bounyavath Niraxay,...

Japan Pledges USD 7 Million for Disaster Prevention, Emergency Response in Laos

Japan has committed USD 7 million to enhance Laos’ capacity for disaster prevention and emergency response, a critical step in addressing the country’s vulnerability...

Lao Development Bank Marks 4th Anniversary, Launches New Features on LDB TRUST App

On 12 December, at Landmark Mekong Riverside Hotel in Vientiane Capital, Lao Development Bank Co., Ltd. (LDB) held LDB Night to mark the fourth...

Laos, Vietnam Plan Joint University, Expand Student Exchange

Laos and Vietnam have agreed to establish a Lao-Vietnam University in Laos and expand a program sending students from border areas to study in...

Laos Rejects Claims of Oil Re-exports to Cambodia, Assures Compliance with Law

Lao Minister of Industry and Commerce Malaithong Kommasith has confirmed that all oil imported from Thailand is strictly reserved for domestic use within Laos,...