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...

Vientiane Province Boosts Tourism Goals with 1.3 Million Visitor Target by End of 2025

Vientiane Province is actively boosting tourism to position the industry as a key economic driver, with a goal to attract over 1.3 million visitors...

First Direct Export of New Energy Buses from Guizhou to Laos Begins via China-Laos Railway

CGTN - A train carrying 28 China-made new energy buses departed on 28 October from the Dulaying International Land-Sea Logistics Port in Guiyang, Guizhou...

Lao Government Plans Salary Hike, Sectoral Staffing Increase for 2024

During its monthly meeting on 24 October, the Lao government announced 2025 plans to raise civil servant salaries, expand staffing quotas across various sectors,...

Lao Durian Sector to Focus on Export Growth to China

On 24 October, government officials, agricultural experts, and representatives from the private sector gathered to discuss enhancing the Lao durian sector for export to...

Japan Supports School Improvements in Bokeo to Reduce Dropout Rates

The Government of Japan has awarded a grant of USD 107,000 to improve schools in Bokeo Province, Laos, with the goal of reducing student...

Vientiane Special Economic Zones Attract Over USD 622 Million in Investment in First Nine Months of 2024

During the first nine months of 2024, Vientiane’s five special economic zones (SEZs) attracted investments from 39 new domestic and foreign companies, totaling USD...