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...

Sustained Inflation in Laos Forces Shift in Employment Patterns, Hits Low-Income Families Hardest: World Bank Reveals

Laos is grappling with significant shifts in its job market and socio-economic landscape as a result of prolonged inflation, as per the latest findings...

LOCA Currently Operates 20 Fast EV Charging Stations, Plans to Boost EV Infrastructure with 40 Stations by 2024

In a significant stride towards sustainable mobility, the CEO of LOCA announced at the ZEEKR Launch event that the company is now operating 20...

Australia Strengthens Partnerships with Laos, ASEAN

Australia’s ASEAN Senior Official Michelle Chan visited Vientiane this week on a mission to further strengthen Australia’s partnerships with Laos and ASEAN. Last month’s ASEAN-Australia...

Asian Development Bank Greenlights Funding for Enhanced Healthcare in Lao Border Provinces

In a bid to enhance access to quality healthcare services in Laos border provinces, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a financing package...

Inflation Rate in Laos Dips Slightly to 24.98 Percent in March

Amidst a backdrop of economic challenges, Laos experienced a marginal decline in its inflation rate, dipping to 24.98 percent in March from February's 25.35...

Laos Drops in Global Happiness Rankings, Economic Factors Play Key Role

In the 2024 global happiness report, Laos has slid down to the 94th position among more than 140 countries worldwide, marking a decline of...