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...

Champasak Welcomes Nearly 730,000 Tourists, Exceeds Annual Target

Champasak Province recorded positive tourism growth in 2025, welcoming nearly 730,000 visitors and reaching 207 percent of its annual target, according to provincial authorities. The...

Hungary Advances Wastewater Project in Vientiane, Extends Scholarships for Laos

Hungary has moved forward with key development support for Laos, reviewing progress on a major wastewater treatment project in Vientiane and confirming continued scholarship...

Laos Records 4.8 Percent Growth in 2025, Sets Higher Economic Targets for 2026

Laos recorded economic growth of 4.8 percent in 2025, signalling a steady recovery across major sectors, according to the Lao Statistics Bureau.  Services, manufacturing, and...

Laos Breaks Ground on 230 kV Transmission Line Project in Northern Laos

Laos launched construction of a new 230-kilovolt (kV) transmission line on 30 January in northern Laos, connecting Luang Prabang and Xieng Khouang provinces. The 186-kilometer...

Laos Targets Upper-Middle-Income Status by 2035 Through Growth and Fiscal Reform

The Lao government has reaffirmed its long-term development ambitions, linking sustained economic growth and tighter fiscal management to a goal of reaching upper-middle-income status...

Asian Development Bank Urges Faster Infrastructure Delivery as Vientiane’s Bus Rapid Transit System Stalls

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has called on Laos to speed up the implementation of major infrastructure projects, as delays continue to affect high-profile...