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...

Human Capital, Green Sustainability: Two Priorities for Laos’ Future Economic Model

Laos is currently facing challenges transitioning from commodity-driven growth to a more inclusive prosperity model, reveals a new report from the Organisation for Economic...

Thailand Interested in Building Sixth Friendship Bridge to Laos

Thailand has confirmed its intention to build a sixth friendship bridge connecting the country to Laos over the Mekong River. This bridge would link...

Decline in Secondary School Enrollments Continues for Third Consecutive Year

The number of secondary school students in Grades 4 and 7 across Laos has declined for the third consecutive year, as reported by the...

Laos, Singapore, Cambodia Unite to Facilitate Cross-Border Electricity Trade

Singapore, Cambodia, and Laos have formed a working group to push cross-border electricity trade, inching closer to the ASEAN Power Grid vision.  On 3 June,...

EuroCham Laos Organizes Its Annual General Assembly, Hosts Laos-Europe Business Networking Event With EU Delegation

The European Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Laos (or ECCIL EuroCham Laos) gathered all its members at this year’s Annual General Meeting on...

Nam Theun 2 Power Company Boosts Lao Government Revenue with Significant Tax Contribution

Nam Theun 2 Power Company handed over more than USD 15 million in income taxes from its electricity production in 2023 to the Lao...