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...

Efforts Underway to Enhance Tourism Standards in Laos

The Lao government, along with stakeholders in the tourism sector, is increasing efforts to elevate tourism standards with the aim of attracting more visitors...

Laos, Thailand to Implement Permanent Border Checkpoint, Boost Trade Cooperation

Update; Laos and Thailand have joined forces to elevate a temporary border trade checkpoint to a permanent facility, aiming to bolster trade relations between the...

Savannakhet Takes Initiative in Weather Monitoring With Advanced Equipment

Savannakhet Province is set to become the first province in Laos to revolutionize its weather monitoring capabilities with the installation of state-of-the-art Light-Emitting Diode...

Laos Vows to Graduate from Least Developed Country by 2026

The Lao government has pledged to complete its Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and carry the nation out of the Least Developed Country (LDC) status...

Laos, Japan Join Forces to Boost Coffee Production

The Japanese government joined various partners to launch a project aimed at empowering coffee farmers in two districts of Luang Prabang Province on 15...

Laos’ Teen Pregnancy Rates Highest in Southeast Asia, Study Reveals Key Factors

Recent findings have once again confirmed that Laos has the highest rates of adolescent pregnancy in Southeast Asia. A study conducted by Marie Habito, a...