Socio-Economic Development

Laos Inflation Reaches 7.7% in August, Remains Above Target

Laos’ inflation rate reached 7.7 percent in August, a slight increase from 7.6 percent in July, while average inflation for the first eight months of the year stood at 7.9 percent. Housing, water supply, electricity and cooking fuel recorded the largest increase, rising 30.2 percent from the same period last...

Laos Tightens Foreign Borrowing Rules as Debt Risks Persist

Laos has tightened controls on foreign borrowing as the government seeks to limit debt...

Laos Economy Grows 5% in Year’s First Half, Government Holds to 6% Target

Laos’ economy expanded 5 percent in the first half of 2026, helped by a...

Laos Moves to Update Electricity Law for Energy Sector Shift

Laos is moving to update its electricity sector as the government prepares to adopt...

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...

Bank of Laos Reduces Transfer Fees on Foreign Currency Deposit Accounts

On 3 April, the Bank of Laos (BOL) made a new announcement, mandating that transfers between foreign currency deposit account holders will incur a...

Laos Sets Ambitious Targets for Energy, Mining Sector

Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone has outlined a vision for the energy and mining sector, aiming to increase its contribution to 25 percent of...

Lao Business Forum Highlights Progress, Challenges, Path Forward for Private Sector Development

At the 16th Lao Business Forum, held at the Don Chan Palace in Vientiane on 3 April, government officials, foreign diplomats, business leaders, and...

ASEAN Unveils Guidelines for Agroecology Transitions

Member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), in collaboration with key international partners, have officially launched the ASEAN Guidelines for Agroecology...

Australian Ambassador Pushes for Deeper Laos-Australia Economic Engagement

Australian Ambassador to Laos, Megan Jones, has called for stronger trade and investment ties between Australia and Laos, stressing the importance of opportunities in...

Luang Prabang Economy Sees Steady Growth, Surpassing GDP Targets

Luang Prabang has experienced steady economic growth over the past five years, with an average annual growth rate of 6.9 percent.  The province's gross domestic...