Government

Products or services the government doesn’t promote, including alcoholic beverages, will be subject to higher taxes if a new law on excise duties comes into force in January 2020. In contrast, lower levies will be imposed on items such as fuel and motorcycles that the government ...

VIENTIANE (Vientiane Times/ANN) – The governments of Laos and the United Kingdom have agreed to further strengthen bilateral ties and increase cooperation in education.This cooperation will support both governments to work together closely to improve the Lao education system to gradually meet regional and international standards.The ...

The government has projected that the country’s budget deficit for the first six months of this year could increase to as much as 1.16 trillion kip, intensifying budgetary tension against the backdrop of continuing revenue shortfalls.  If the money to pay the principal amount owed to ...

VIENTIANE (Vientiane Times/ANN) – The Siberian Association of International Cooperation from the Novosibirsk region of Russia plans to set up an office in Laos to improve business coordination and cooperation.The plan was unveiled by the association’s President, Mr Pavel Ostroverhov, when he led business operators ...

The government has highlighted the need to modernise the tax collection system and enhance transparency in the financial sector to boost national revenue, a senior official has said. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Somdy Duangdy presented a draft amended law relating to tax management ...

The government will reduce the budget deficit to zero by next year to ensure that the country’s high level of public debt can be repaid as p romptly as possible, Deputy Prime Minister Somdy Duangdy told the National Assembly (NA) last week.Mr Somdy, who is ...

The government will compile a medium-term plan for the development of human resources after hearing complaints from National Assembly members that Laos is facing a labour shortage in priority development areas.Addressing the National Assembly last week, Minister of Education and Sports, Mrs Sengdeuane Lachanthaboun, said ...

VIENTIANE (Vientiane Times/ANN) – The government has prohibited state departments from employing contracted and volunteer staff because the public services is viewed as being already overloaded with employees and officials.Addressing a question raised by members of the National Assembly (NA) last week, Prime Minister Thongloun ...

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Laos and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Sweden last week signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that aimed to enhance cooperation between the two ministries and countries.Lao Ambassador to Sweden, Mr Bounpheng Saykanya represented Laos ...

VIENTIANE (Vientiane Times/ANN) – Planned leadership capacity building for high-ranking Lao officials, macro-economic management, sustainability, and infrastructure development for Laos have been discussed between Laos and Japanese senior officials in Vientiane.The discussions took place during the meeting between Lao Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mrs ...