How To Register A Business: Laos Goes Online To Ease Start-Up Process

The steps needed to register a new business have now been posted online to ease business start-up, which will save time and simplify the process.

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Govt Eyes 14.6% Revenue Increase From Tariff-Fees In 2023

To achieve this goal, the Ministry of Finance has pledged to modernise customs management systems at the main border checkpoints as part of efforts to plug loopholes resulting in financial leaks

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Laos Launches Study On Electric 2-Wheelers

The Study examines the financial viability and environmental sustainability of implementing a battery swapping system model for electric two-wheelers in Vientiane, to help achieve the government’s 2030 target of 30 percent electric vehicle penetration

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Lao Economy Projected To Grow At Only 2.2 Percent This Year: IMF

The IMF’s downgraded growth for Laos is linked to both external and internal factors, with the report forecasting that global growth will decrease from 6.0 percent in 2021 to 3.2 percent in 2022 and 2.7 percent in 2023.

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Some 700 Malaysians Trapped In Laos After Answering Casino Job Ads

Some 700 Malaysians are reportedly being held captive in Bokeo province, Laos and have been abused by the resort managers who are allegedly demanding a large ransom for their release

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Just Scan To Pay: S’pore And 4 SEA Countries To Link QR Code Payments By Nov, Bypassing USD

The central banks of five Southeast Asian (SEA) countries have agreed to link their payment systems by November of this year, in order to allow for easier transactions for travellers within the region.

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Why A Monopoly Like The Lao Electricity Company Is Making Losses

Electricite du Laos (EDL), a monopoly company which should generate a significant amount of revenue from its dominance in the energy market, has been operating at a loss for many years and has accumulated huge debts.

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State Enterprise Reform: Some Now Profitable, Others Dissolved

Two banks previously owned by the state and which suffered chronic losses have begun making a profit following major reforms that saw a 70 percent stake in the banks sold to local investors

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Laos To Benefit As Pfizer Slashes Drug Prices For Poorest Nations

Pfizer Inc plans to sell its entire portfolio of brand-name drugs at cost in as many as 45 lower-income countries, including Cambodia and Laos, one of the most comprehensive and ambitious drug-access programmes ever announced by a large pharmaceutical manufacturer.

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Laos Issues Tax Obligations for Non-Resident E-commerce and Digital Platform Providers, Joins Other ASEAN Markets

Under the new rules, non-resident e-commerce and digital platform providers must register for a tax identification number (TIN) via an online portal to file and pay their taxes. Further, they must register and pay value-added tax (VAT) if their annual revenue meets a certain threshold.

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Labour Ministry To Set Up Worker Database

A Labour Registration and Data Platform will be set up in Vientiane for the compilation of information concerning both Lao and foreign nationals working in Laos.

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Foreign Currency Deficit Among Economic Challenges Confronting Laos

Laos’ overall balance of payments situation is negative despite a trade surplus of US$1.32 billion in 2021 because foreign exchange inflows represent only 26.45 percent of the total export value.

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Work On Vientiane-Vung Ang Railway Expected To Start In November

The railway, estimated to cost US$5 billion, is a proposed line that the Lao and Vietnamese governments have agreed to jointly develop. It would enable landlocked Laos to access the deep seaport – the closest feasible seaport to Vientiane.

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Exim Bank ‘Reckless’, Sought ‘Collateral Advantage’ When Selling Don Chan Palace Hotel, Rules Court

The properties included the Don Chan Palace Hotel, a 5-star international hotel constructed on a swathe of land measuring almost 176,000 sq metres along the Mekong River in Laos valued at US$140 million.

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Measures To Free Stranded Trucks, Rail Transport To China Outlined  

Lao authorities will ask their Chinese counterparts to consider reopening more border crossings to allow trucks carrying goods to enter China as hundreds remain stranded at the Boten-Mohan crossing on the Laos-China border.

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BOL Issues Licences For Cryptocurrency Exchange Platforms

The Bank of the Lao PDR (BOL) has issued licences authorising two companies to trade in cryptocurrencies, namely Lao Digital Assets Exchange (LDX) and Bitqik.

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Green Travel Zones Of Laos Ready To Welcome Visitors

Several tourist sites located within green travel zones in provinces across Laos are ready to welcome visitors from next month under “new normal” conditions amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

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Korean Company To Carry Out Feasibility Study For Upgrade Of Luang Prabang International Airport

The government has given the green light to the Korea Airport Corporation (KAC) to carry out a feasibility study for the upgrade of Luang Prabang International Airport

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New Roadmap To Drive Sustainable Wood Production, Exports

A new export roadmap for the wood processing sector will promote sustainable wood production and the export of wood products through the inclusion of more value-added products.

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Laos Could Lose Millions With Closure Of Boten Border Crossing

Laos may lose millions of dollars from lost exports to China now that Chinese authorities have closed the Boten International Checkpoint, a major travel and trade route between the two countries.

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Govt Pledges To Diversify Energy Sources To Minimise Imports

The government has vowed to diversify its sources of energy by developing solar, wind power and coal-fired power plants to address the electricity shortage in the dry season.

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Ministry Mulls Route Of Vientiane-Vietnam Expressway

The government is discussing the planned route of an expressway running from Vientiane through Xaysomboun, Xieng Khuang and Huaphan provinces to the Vietnamese border.

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Govt Extends Covid Controls But Keen To Open Schools, Factories

The government has in general extended Covid-19 control measures for another 15 days but has lifted some restrictions in order to ease the economic impacts, such as the reopening of more schools and factories.

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New Bokeo International Airport Expected To Be Completed In Months

The construction of new Bokeo International Airport with capability of accommodating 200-seat aircraft such as Airbus A320, Boeing 737 and ATR-72 is expected to take a few months to complete.

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