Socio-Economic Development

Vientiane Completes New 9.3-Kilometer Mekong Embankment

On 1 July, Vientiane officially opened a new 9.3-kilometer stretch of Mekong riverfront featuring parks, walking and cycling paths, sports facilities, and flood protection infrastructure following the completion of Phase II of the Mekong River Integrated Management Project. The new embankment extends from Wat Nak village in Sisattanak District to...

Laos Raises Tax-Free Income Threshold Under New Personal Income Tax Rules

Laos has officially raised the monthly income exempt from personal income tax from LAK...

Laos Reports Economic Growth as Inflation Slows to 7.4 Percent in June

Laos recorded 5 percent economic growth in the first half of 2026, while inflation...

Laos Restores Higher Fuel Excise Taxes as Emergency Relief Measures End

On 24 June, Laos reinstated higher excise taxes on fuel, restoring regular gasoline tax...

Japan Approves USD 2.3 Million Scholarship Grant for Lao Civil Servants

Japan has approved JPY 378 million (USD 2.3 million) in scholarship funding to support...

Bamboo Concession Project to Boost Local Economy in Oudomxay Province.

On 20 December, Oudomxay Province signed a concession agreement with Ammata Lao Lanexang Co., Ltd., a private company, granting them the rights to utilize...

Vientiane Surpasses Poverty Reduction Target, 99.43% Progress Achieved

Almost the entirety of Vientiane’s population is now above the poverty line, according to Sengaloun Souliyavong, the Head of Vientiane's Department of Agriculture and...

Rising Costs Prompt Market Reform Proposals

National Assembly Representative for Vientiane Capital, Valy Vethsaphong, has called on the Lao government to address the rising prices of essential goods, despite the...

Vientiane Economy Hits 5.85 Percent Growth, Beating Expectations

Vientiane Capital's economy grew by 5.85 percent, surpassing the National Assembly's initial target of 0.30 percent, according to the city Mayor Atsaphangthong Siphandone.  Atsaphangthong reported...

Creative Economy Revolution: How ASEAN’s Youth are Leading the Charge

On 2 to 5 December, the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) Summit 2024 brought together 100 young leaders from across ASEAN and Timor-Leste...

Seno Grilled Chicken Earns Official Recognition as Savannakhet’s New Symbol

On 12 December, Seno Grilled Chicken was officially recognized by Savannakhet authorities, becoming a new symbol of the central Lao province. It all started in...