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...

Laos, China Approve Seven New Development Projects Worth USD 3.31 Million

Laos has secured seven new development projects worth USD3.31 million under the Mekong–Lancang Special Fund for 2026, as it deepens cooperation with China on...

Russia to Begin Preliminary Studies for Nuclear Power Plant in Laos

Laos and Russia agreed to begin preliminary studies to set up a nuclear power plant in Laos with the initial phase aim to identify...

Laos Joins East-West Rail Corridor Stretching from Southeast Asia to Europe

Laos joined an international railway corridor stretching from Southeast Asia to the Baltic coast of Europe, in what officials describe as a historic milestone...

Lower Fuel Prices Bring Relief, But Many Eye EVs as Living Costs Rise

UPDATED on 12 June at 11PM with a correction on the number of provinces covered by EV stations Fuel prices in Laos have declined steadily...

Luang Namtha Authorities Warn Lao Students in China Against Kratom Involvement

Authorities in Luang Namtha issued a formal warning to all Lao students studying in China, strictly prohibiting them from any involvement with kratom. Laos’ northern...

‘Hidden Hands’ Cave Opens as New Tourism Site in Khammouane

On 8 June, authorities in Khammouane Province have officially opened Hidden Hands Cave (Tham Pha Mue) to visitors, marking the launch of a new...