World

Prime Minister Calls for Tighter Oversight of Boten SEZ Amid Development Challenges

Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone has called for stronger management of the Boten Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Luang Namtha as Laos seeks to expand the border area as a trade and investment hub. Laos began developing the Boten SEZ in 2012 to attract investment in finance, trade, industry, transport and...

Laos-China Railway Trade Surges as Cross-Border Freight Hits New Highs

Trade along the Laos-China Railway continued to grow sharply in the first half of...

Van Crash in Thailand Kills Two Lao Nationals, Injuries 12

A passenger van carrying 14 Lao nationals crashed and caught fire in Thailand's Roi...

Laos Border Checkpoints Report Strong Revenue Growth in First Half of 2026, Exceed Targets

Laos’ international border checkpoints collected strong state budget revenue in the first half of...

Seven-Year-Old Becomes Laos’ Youngest Internationally Rated Chess Player

Seven-year-old Bounthiengtham “Jayson” Sengphachan has already done something no Lao chess player his age...

Laos, Cambodia Advance ASEAN Power Grid

On 25 May, Laos and Cambodia signed a joint framework agreement in Phnom Penh to launch a feasibility study on a cross-border power grid...

Laos, Japan Launch Major Upgrade of Wattay International Airport

Laos and Japan launched a major upgrade of Wattay International Airport in Vientiane on 22 May, a project valued at over JPY 2.8 billion...

European Union Sanctions Lao Bank JDB Over Alleged Russia Ties

The European Union has sanctioned the Lao-based Joint Development Bank (JDB), marking the first time the bloc has targeted a Lao financial institution as...

Three Lao Nationals Among Four Arrested at Nong Khai Agarwood Site

On 20 May, Thai authorities arrested three Lao nationals and one Vietnamese national for working without valid permits at an agarwood processing site in...

Vietnam Breaks Ground on Expressway to Connect Vientiane

On 18 May, Vietnam began the construction of a 60-kilometer Expressway section in Nghe An Province connecting to the Laos border, in a long-planned...

Laos Signs Concession for 80MW Xekaman 4 Hydropower Project to Export Power to Vietnam

Laos has formalized a build-operate-transfer (BOT) concession for the 80-megawatt Xekaman 4 Hydropower Project in Sekong province, with all electricity generated designated for export...