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...

Laos Earns Over 200 ASEAN Tourism Awards, Global Acclaim

Laos continues to shine on the global tourism stage, earning 219 ASEAN Tourism Standards Awards for its dedication to sustainability and exceptional travel experiences.  On...

French Research Institute Discusses Ecosystem Sustainability with Lao, French Partners in Luang Prabang

On 18 to 19 November, the French National Research Institute for Sustainable Development (IRD) held a meeting in Luang Prabang, Laos, with local and...

Lao National Assembly Opens 8th Ordinary Session to Address Key National Challenges

The 9th-tenure National Assembly (NA) opened its 8th Ordinary Session on 18 November in Vientiane. Under the leadership of Xaysomphone Phomvihane, the assembly convened...

OP-ED: A New Chapter for Laos – Harnessing Global Expertise for Local School Meals

By Phout Simmalavong, Minister of Education and Sports, Laos and Marc-Andre Prost, World Food Program (WFP) Representative and Country Director in Laos, with inputs...

Nam Theun 2 Power Company Earns Laos’ First International Anti-Bribery Certification

Nam Theun 2 Power Company Ltd. (Nam Theun 2) became the first company in Laos to receive the ISO 37001:2016 or the Anti-Bribery Management...

Laos, Russia Team Up on Unexploded Ordnance Clearance in Houaphanh Province

Laos’s Ministry of Defense and the Russian Embassy in Laos launched a humanitarian project to clear unexploded ordnance (UXO) in Houaphanh Province on 10...