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...

Lao President Appoints New Committee for Country’s Digital Transformation

Mr.Thongloun Sisoulith, the President of Laos, has selected members of a new National Committee to implement the Digital Transformation plan for economic and social...

Laos to Provide Over 300,000 Employment Opportunities Next Year

The Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare expects to provide training and employment for more than 300,000 workers nationwide. Vientiane Times reports that Ms....

Laos-Vietnam Friendship Hospital Opens in Xieng Khouang

The Laos-Vietnam Friendship Hospital, built with financial aid from the Vietnamese government with a construction cost of USD 21.3 million, opened in Xieng Khouang...

Lao Police Vow to Promote More Women to Leadership Positions

Police forces in Laos have set a goal to promote more women to senior positions by 2025. The decision was taken during a meeting on...

Construction Begins in Laos on Largest Wind Power Plant in South East Asia

Construction work has begun on a major wind power plant project in Laos following the signing of a loan agreement of close to USD...

New Protection Shelter for Domestic Violence Victims Opens in Attapeu

A new shelter for survivors of gender-based violence has opened in the province of Attapeu, with support from the governments of Japan, UNFPA, and...