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...

Vientiane Province’s Checkpoint Upgraded to International Status

The Ban Vang Local Checkpoint has been officially upgraded to an international border checkpoint, connecting Laos's Vientiane Province to Thailand's Loei Province. This development...

Laos and South Korea Deepen Agricultural Cooperation in Key Areas

Laos and South Korea have strengthened agricultural cooperation, focusing on modernizing Laos’s farming sector and boosting ties within ASEAN. On 30 October, South Korea’s Minister...

World Bank Approves USD 56 Million Climate-Resilient Road Project in Laos

The World Bank has approved the launch of the Climate-Resilient Road Connectivity Improvement Project in Laos on 1 October to improve road and transportation...

Cambodia Withdraws from Development Pact with Laos, Vietnam

Cambodia has officially withdrawn from the regional development pact with neighboring Laos and Vietnam. The decision was announced by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet...

Lao Government Increases Minimum Wage to Combat Rising Living Costs

The Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare has announced a new minimum wage policy, aiming to support workers facing economic challenges due to rising...

European Union-ASEAN Dialogue Explores Green Transition Opportunities, Challenges

European Union (EU)-ASEAN businesses and cooperation agencies discussed the opportunities and challenges of ASEAN’s green transition in the Partners’ Dialogue forum with the Delegation...