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...

Laos Chairs ASEAN Meeting on Commitment to Tackling Transboundary Haze

Laos hosted an ASEAN ministerial meeting on Wednesday that saw environmental ministers come together to address the issue of transboundary haze. The 17th ASEAN Ministerial...

ADB to Finance USD 45 Million Package to Strengthen Health Care Services in Laos

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a USD 45 million financing package to help strengthen quality health care in 16 districts across 10...

USAID and Ministry of Justice Release Videos to Promote Legal Aid Services in Laos

The Ministry of Justice has legal aid services available to protect the legal rights of vulnerable populations throughout Laos. However, most people at risk...

Laos, Cambodia Launch Cross-Border QR Code Payment System

The 13th multilateral meeting between the Bank of Laos and the National Bank of Cambodia was held in Vientiane Capital last Friday to discuss...

Laos to Increase Minimum Wage for Workers in October

The Lao Prime Minister's Office has approved raising the minimum monthly wage in the country from LAK 1,300,000 (USD 67) to LAK 1,600,000 (USD...

Skyrocketing Vegetable Prices Highlight Cost of Living Crisis in Laos

A social media post about the rising prices of basic vegetables in Laos went viral on Monday, calling attention to a real cost of...