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...

Japan Supports School Improvements in Savannakhet and Oudomxay

The Government of Japan is providing grant assistance worth approximately USD 200,000 for two education projects in Savannakhet Province and Oudomxay Province for the...

Ministry of Health Vows to Improve Hospital Care and Service in Laos

The Ministry of Health has pledged to tackle the issue of inadequate hospital care and service in response to public demands for improvement at...

Could Technology Solve the Problem of Illegal Parking in Vientiane? 

Pedestrians in Vientiane Capital are routinely forced to walk into oncoming traffic as they navigate around vehicles parked on the footpath. Despite hundreds of...

Staff Shortage, High Production Costs Remain Key Obstacles To Lao Businesses

The Macroeconomics Research Institute (MRI) recently conducted a survey to identify the main obstacles businesses are facing in Laos. According to the survey results, the...

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...