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...

Australia Supports Laos With Highly Skilled Volunteers

A new Memorandum of Subsidiary Arrangement (MSA) under a broader agreement between Australia and Laos on development cooperation was signed by Australian Ambassador to...

Rampant Inflation Causes Households To Rethink Education

A recent survey shows that households in Laos are slashing expenses on education, health, and food due to skyrocketing inflation. Economists have raised concerns about...

Govt. Unveils Data Management System for Digital Birth Registration

The government of Laos has introduced a digital central data management system to collect population data in the country.  Ministry of Home Affairs launched the...

JOINT OP-ED: United in Our Efforts to Move Towards Gender Equality

It is essential to consider how digitalization and innovation can be a source of gender equality and equity, writes Mariam Khan, Ina Marciulionyte, and...

Laos Secures Financial Deal on Region’s Largest Wind Farm

A developer alongside a regional bank has signed an agreement to fund USD 692 million for the 600MW "Monsoon Wind Power Project," Southeast Asia's...

World Bank Launches Group Partnership Framework in Laos

The World Bank Group on Thursday presented its new Country Partnership Framework for 2023-26 to support Laos in its efforts to stabilize the economy,...