Economy and commerce

The government has authorised the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to issue entry visas for certain groups who have registered through the QR-Code (Vaccine-ID) on the website: ‘laogreenpass.gov.la’ without having to request approval from the Covid-19 taskforce.  The new ruling applies to foreign diplomats, employees of ...

The government has authorised a local company to mine gold ore on a 18.28 square-kilometre site over a period of 20 years. The company will invest about US$46 million in the mining operation and build an international standard factory on the site. The company has ...

Korean real estate investment firm D&C Mineun held a week-long promotional seminar in Vientiane from 13 to 16 November where investors could discuss business opportunities within the That Luang Lake Special Economic Zone. Tax breaks and other incentives have been promised by the government of ...

The government is set to hold talks with business operators to encourage them to produce more of the goods required by Chinese buyers. The government’s plan to promote commercial production associated with the Laos-China railway, which is scheduled to come into service next month, to ...

The 3rd Plenary Meeting of the 11th Central Committee of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party was held between Oct 18-22 in Vientiane under the presidency of Secretary General Thongloun Sisoulith. They noted that the most noticeable action taken in the past months was the designation of ...

The Lao economy is projected to steadily recover in the medium-term, but growth will remain below pre-pandemic levels at 4.5 percent in 2022. The Lao economy is projected to grow at 3.6 percent, down from the 4 percent growth anticipated in March 2021. The main risks ...

The Lao economy is on course for moderately improved growth in 2021, despite the second wave of COVID-19 denting the promising economic recovery made early in the year. The World Bank’s latest Economic Monitor for Lao PDR — A Path to Recovery —predicts that GDP ...

China remains the largest foreign investor in Laos, undertaking a total of 813 projects worth USD 16 billion. “China also plays a significant role in special economic zone investments, with the Lao government having authorized 89 projects worth over USD 215 million,” Mr. Sonexay Siphandone ...

The first extraordinary session of the National Assembly (NA)’s ninth legislature kicked off on Thursday to debate measures to address financial and economic difficulties and suppress the use of narcotic drugs. The premier pledged that the government would be decisive, transparent and professional in implementing ...

The Bank of the Lao PDR has issued a decision ordering commercial banks and micro-financial institutes to postpone for three months – from May – deadlines for principal and interest payments for those who have borrowed loans for living expenses.  The decision, dated May 13, 2021, ...