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...

Laos Reaffirms Interest in Joining BRICS, Deepens Ties with Russia

Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphadone has reaffirmed Laos’ interest in joining BRICS, a key alliance of emerging economies, stating that the country is currently...

Laos Grants Land to South Korea for Tourism Project in Phonhong

The Lao government has granted 500 hectares of land to South Korea’s Oriental Pearl Company Limited to develop a modern, full-cycle tourism hub in...

Plans Advance for New Vientiane-Nong Khai Railway Bridge

Laos, Thailand, and China are discussing plans to advance the construction of a new Vientiane-Nong Khai railway bridge crossing the Mekong River. The trilateral meeting,...

Lao Overseas Workers Send Home USD 29 Million in First Half of 2025

Lao nationals working overseas remitted more than USD 29 million in the first half of 2025, according to the Ministry of Labour and Social...

Vientiane Prepares for BRT Launch with New Parking Rules

Vientiane authorities implemented new no-parking regulations along sections of the capital’s Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) corridor ahead of its September debut. No-parking rules are now...

Schools in Vientiane Province to Ban Student Phones Starting September

Starting 1 September, Vientiane Province will ban students from bringing phones to school to reduce distractions and help them focus on their studies, the...