Smart City Project Tops Agenda At Monthly Gov’t Meeting
A plan to create “smart” and “eco” cities in Luang Namtha, and Oudomxay provinces topped the agenda at the government’s monthly meeting
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Government
Police Warn Public Over Car Break-Ins
The Vientiane Traffic Police Department is warning motorists to take steps to protect their vehicles following a spate of car burglaries
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Water Provider Augments Supply From Nam Ngum River
The Vientiane Water Supply State Enterprise has placed pumps in the Nam Ngum river to feed the Dongmakkhai water treatment plant in Xaythany district
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Laos Needs Support For Transition Out Of LDC Status: UNCTAD
The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) will encourage development partners to maintain their assistance to Laos for a while after the nation graduates from Least Developed Country status.
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Thailand Turns To China For High-speed Rail Boost
China has become a major player in the railway industry and, as a result, many countries — including Thailand — are working with China to develop their own high-speed rail networks.
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Two Large Mekong River Dams in Laos to Start Operations by End of Year
The first two of five planned large-scale Lao dams on the Mekong river are set to go online before the end of this year, amid controversy over their impact on the environment and people’s livelihoods.
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Laos Plans To Begin Work On Laos-Vietnam Railway in 2021
On behalf of the Lao Government, the Ministry of Planning and Investment and PetroTrade signed a memorandum of understanding on October 15 to study and complete a detailed design of the railway.
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China’s Crackdown On Sugar Smuggling Leaves Global Storage Headache
A crackdown on sugar smuggling into China has left abundantly supplied markets in Asia and beyond struggling to absorb excess supplies, causing a wider storage problem for global markets.
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Boat Races To Take Place In Front of Landmark Hotel
This year’s boat races will take place on a stretch of the Mekong River near the Landmark Mekong Riverside Hotel, in a change of plan announced on Thursday.
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Lao Telecom Tests Out Brand New 5G Technology
Lao Telecommunications Public Company (Lao Telecom) has begun tests of the new 5G technology, the much-touted high-speed fifth generation communication network.
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Imported Rice Is Cheaper Than Rice Grown In Laos
The majority of Lao people eat sticky rice and it is the main staple of the Lao population throughout the country.
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Bombie Blast Death Strikes Fear Among Luang Prabang Residents
People in Luang Prabang province’s Nambak district are fearful after a local elderly resident, Mr Khamkeo Sorpaseuth, was killed when he accidentally unearthed a BLU26 bombie recently.
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Laos Becomes Party To Two More UN Treaties
The government has become a party to the United Nations Convention on Contracts for International Sales of Goods, hoping to use the law to protect its international trade interests.
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Central Bank To Circulate 2015 Version Of 500 Kip Note
The Bank of the Lao PDR has announced that it will issue a 2015 version of the 500 kip banknote. It is giving advance notice of the circulation of the new banknote in a bid to prevent doubts about the validity of the currency.
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Govt Releases Stockpiled Rice To Lower Market Price
The government has approved the sale of 2,000 tonnes of stockpiled rice to bring down the high market price after a shortage of supply meant the price of rice rose by over 20 percent above normal.
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Free Pet Vaccination For Sep 27
Pet vaccination will be conducted for free of charge at the Chao Fa Ngum Park in Vientiane Capital on Sep 27 from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.
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ADB Outlook Expects Moderate Lao Economic Growth
Lao economic growth will remain moderate in 2019 and 2020, as expansion in the industry and services sectors softened in the first half of 2019 due to fewer international visitor arrivals
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UNDP Launches Accelerator Lab
UNDP’s vehicle for fast-tracking development solutions harvests local expertise, identifies grassroots innovations and taps into a global network
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Nearly 80 pct of China-Laos Railway Construction Completed
Nearly 80 percent of the construction of the China-Laos railway has been completed,
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Fund To Boost SME
The government has issued a prime ministerial decree to establish a Small and Medium-Sized Enterprise Promotion Fund, hoping the intervention will boost business access to finance.
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Suspect Confesses To Breaking Anti-Lao PDR Propaganda Law
Champassak police reported on Tuesday that a suspect accused of spreading misinformation on Facebook Live about the government’s recent flood relief efforts in southern provinces has confessed to her crime.
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Two Killed, Two Missing In Flood-hit South
Two people have died and two others are missing, while more than 54,000 households in six provinces have been affected by storms that have caused widespread flooding.
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Cabinet Pushes For Effective Management Of Exchange Rates
The cabinet has named the management of currency exchange as one of its top priorities in the coming months, as the gap between the official and market exchange rates widens.
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Tropical Storm Podul Set To Hit Laos Today
Tropical storm Podul is on track to lash northern, southern and central areas of the country and everyone should be on the alert for heavy rain and winds due to storm activity from August 29 to September 1.
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What’s Next After the New Cambodia-Laos Border Tensions?
A recent incident has once again reinforced the border management challenges that remain for the two countries.
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Lao’s First Digital Forensics Lab Opens
The first digital forensics laboratory in Laos opened at the General Police Department of the Ministry of Public Security.
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Laos, Trying to Build Its Way to an Economic Boom, Could Be Sunk by Debt
Is Laos on the edge of an economic boom, or a bust?
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Lao Central Bank Advised To Strictly Regulate Money Changers
The Bank of the Lao PDR (BoL) should not merely issue warnings to money changers who break the currency regulation rules
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World Could See Many Water Conflicts In Coming Years
If climate change trends continue and if population continues to increase, water conflicts will probably be an aspect of our future.
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Govt To Issue Bonds To Tackle Fiscal Deficit
The Lao government will try to sell more domestic bonds in the local currency in an attempt to address the fiscal deficit and strengthen the national capital market.
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Myanmar And Lao To Get Infrastructure Boost
Myanmar and Lao PDR look to be the biggest winners of an ASEAN plan to boost connectivity with a series of infrastructure projects.
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Lao Airlines to launch Vientiane-Kumamoto service in November
Source: Japan Times Lao Airlines said Thursday it is planning to launch regular flights in November connecting the Laotian capital
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Booming Regional Meth Industry – Thailand, Myanmar, China and Laos
A UN Office of Drugs and Crime report released last week states that the methamphetamine trade is now worth between US$30-61 billion per year in East and South East Asia, Australia, New Zealand and Bangladesh.
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Laos Moves to Register Private Online News Sites in a Bid to Control ‘Fake News’
Government authorities in Laos have ordered the administrators of news outlets carried on Facebook and other social media platforms to register their accounts or face jail time and fines
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Aquatic Life Faces Extinction As Upstream Dams Leave Mekong River Dry
The Mekong River’s extremely low level of water caused by upstream hydropower dam projects has triggered the death of masses of fish and heightened the risk of mass extinction of aquatic life
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Severe Form Of Dengue Strikes As Cases Continue To Mount
Laos is facing an outbreak of the most virulent form of the dengue virus this rainy season.
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Bank Lending Slows Amid Economic Downturn
The injection of bank credit into the economy continues to slow despite government measures to improve the investment climate for the private sector.
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Inflation Spikes In Laos
Laos has steadily faced a higher Inflation rate over the past five months after being pressed by several economic factors.
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UNESCO Lists Plain Of Jars As World Heritage Site
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) on Saturday added the Plain of Jars in Xieng Khuang province to its list of World Heritage Sites.
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Villagers in Laos and Thailand Suffer as China Opens the Floodgates on Mekong River Dams
Villagers living near the Mekong River in Thailand and Laos are finding it difficult to cope with sudden releases of water from dams upstream in China.
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Kip Weaker Against Thai Baht, US Dollar
There is growing concern about the strengthening of the Thai baht and US dollar against the Lao kip.
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Drones, Big Money and Cheap Drugs
Landlocked, secretive and with ungovernable borders, Laos has become a sluice for transporting Made-In-Myanmar meth to the drug hungry markets of Southeast Asia and Australia, where billion-dollar seizures are now being made.
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Dramatic Upturn In Business Environment Expected: PM
The business environment is expected to improve dramatically in the coming years as the government intensifies action to better facilitate business
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China-Laos Railway Marred By Compensation Issues And Pollution
The new China-Laos railway is spanning the Mekong River and drilling through mountains. So far, many local Laotians are seeing more trouble than benefits from the project.
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Laos Worst Place In ASEAN For Children
With the exception of Singapore, none of the ASEAN countries are doing so well in terms of providing a great place for their children to live in.
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1,285 People Involved In Corruption With 999 billion Kip Lost
Some 1,285 people have been found to be involved in corrupt practices, defrauding the government of 999 billion kip
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Laos Can ‘Manage’ Debt To China, PM Insists
PM Thongloun pushes back against warnings over infrastructure burden
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Ministry Aiming For Lower Electricity Prices
The energy and mining sector is trying to cut electricity prices so that power is affordable for local residents and businesses.
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Private Sector Hopes For Easier Business Operation Through Int’l Evaluation
The private sector in Laos is optimistic that trade and investment will be made easier by the public sector following the application of international evaluation standards.
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Visitor Numbers From High-end, Target Countries Plummet
The number of visitors to Laos from high-end and target countries declined significantly in the first three months of this year compared to the same period in 2018, a recent report reveals.
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Lao Dam Collapse Due to Use of Soil: Water Experts
Poor construction methods, with soil used in place of concrete, caused a fatal hydropower dam collapse last year in Laos, a panel of water experts has concluded, prompting a rejection of its findings by the South Korean firm that built the project.
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Spouse Visa – The Grand Puzzle Decoded !
Finally, a visa category specifically designed for those foreigners who had made the serious and time-consuming commitment to marry a Lao National
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Extension to Wattay International Airport Planned
Source: Vientiane Times The government is planning to expand Vientiane’s Wattay International Airport to meet the growing need for passenger
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Laos ‘Disciplines’ Hundreds of Corrupt Officials in Recent Months, Jails Few
The Lao government has disciplined more than 200 officials involved in taking bribes or embezzlement in recent months as part of a bid to crackdown on rampant corruption in the Southeast Asian nation, but few have been held criminally accountable for their actions.
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Telecom Operators Eye Potential Of 5G Network
The Department of Radio Frequency under the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications continued discussions on a roll-out of the 5G network in Laos with internet service providers yesterday.
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Petrol Stations Hike Prices Nationwide
The Ministry of Industry and Commerce has announced an increase in fuel prices across the country in line with changes in the global oil prices.
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Cabinet Agrees To Lower Electricity Price, Orders Action To Strengthen Economy
The government cabinet has agreed to revise the electricity unit price structure to lower the cost of electricity, as an incentive to boost investment and productivity.
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Lao Banks Join Hands To Boost Payment System
Seven major banks in Laos signed a memorandum of understanding on April 22 to establish the Lao National Payment Network (LAPNet) company for a faster, reliable and more convenient payment system.
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Laos’ Trash Problem Is An Ecological Time Bomb
In Laos, newly-empowered consumers are basking in the benefits of the polymer industry without knowing the consequences of their consumption on marine ecosystems.
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“We are poor, not blind”: Opinion Piece
n recent weeks, the Government of Lao PDR (GoL), has received a visit from a UN Special Rapporteur (SR), who holds a mandate on extreme poverty and human rights.
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Laos’ Eonomic Growth Outlook Stable For 2019, 2020
Economic growth in Laos is expected to remain stable this year and next, supported by the expanding agriculture, energy, industry and services sectors, says a new Asian Development Bank (ADB) report.
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Pi Mai Lao: 8 Rules To Follow
Vientiane Public Security Headquarters announced eight regulations, aimed at maintaining social order during Lao New Year (April 14-16).
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Poverty Persisting In Laos Despite Economic Growth
The economic growth rate of Laos is high compared to neighbouring countries and some regional peers, however, this has not seen poverty reduction in the country.
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UN Finally Tells The Truth About Laos
UN Special Rapporteur on poverty and human rights plans to refer the reclusive authoritarian nation to the UN Human Rights Council for a host of abuses and failings
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Lao Inspection Reveals 1,002 Cases of Corruption in 2018
As many as 1,225 state investment projects have been implemented unlawfully over the past years, the Government Inspection Authority (GIA) reported this week.
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People Breathe Easier After Rain In Vientiane
Air pollution levels of particulate matter that are 2.5 micrometres and less in diameter (PM2.5) have returned to safe levels after a few days of rainfall.
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China’s US$7 Billion Railway Link To Laos Is Almost Half Done, On Schedule To Begin Service In 2021
The 414km railway from Yunnan’s provincial capital of Kunming to the Laotian capital of Vientiane would cut travelling time to three hours, from three days
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Lao Government Considers Tax To Protect Environment
Industries that produce pollution may have to pay more taxes now that the Lao government has embraced the National Green Growth Strategy.
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Lao Banking Industry Updated On Financial Regulations
Source: Vientiane Times The Lao banking sector is working to improve regulations and update preparations for implementing the Basel II
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Lao Government Slaps Wrists of 7 Vientiane Officials for Public Project Fraud
Source: RFA Seven high-ranking current or formal officials in Laos’ Vientiane province have been warned and publicly identified for their
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Pollution At Hazardous Levels In Vientiane
Source: Vientiane Times Wildfires in Laos and neighbouring countries are causing dangerous levels of air pollution in many regions of
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PM’s visit: Germany Pledges To Help Laos Banish Poverty
Source: Vientiane Times Germany has pledged to increase assistance to Laos for the development of agriculture and the processing industry,
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Fire Warning As Temperatures Soar
Authorities are warning people to exercise caution when lighting fires outdoors, as well as highlighting the dangers posed by household electrical faults.
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Laos Suspends Pig, Pork Imports From China, Vietnam
The Lao government has announced the temporary suspension of pig and pork product imports from China and Vietnam after African Swine Fever outbreaks in these countries.
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Laos Expected To Benefit From US-China Trade War
Laos is one of the Southeast Asian nations that may benefit from the ongoing trade dispute between the US and China, but the government should also take steps to improve the investment environment.
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Crazier Than Fiction: The Elephant Rangers of Laos
An innovative project to utilise Laos’ elephant experts in service of protecting the country’s natural treasures is waiting on just one thing – government approval
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How China’s WeChat Became A Grim Heart Of Illegal Animal Trading
Sales of illegal animal products shifted away from shopfronts in Laos and are surging on the Chinese social media platform WeChat
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Governmental Decree Stipulates Safe & Healthy Workplaces
Workers have the legal right to require their employers to ensure occupational health and safety, a new governmental decree stipulates.
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Pay Road Tax 2019 Or Face A Big Fine
Large fines meted out by authorities on slow paying vehicle owners are forcing more to pay their road tax on time and helping to fill the government’s coffers
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Inactive Investors To Lose Land Concession Licences
The government has given the green light for state agencies to revoke land concession licences held by investors who fail to develop state land in accordance with agreements.
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Laos Seeks To Become Electricity Transmitter
AOS is developing a strategic plan to become the network centre for a regional electricity transmission system by 2025.
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Private Education Institutes To Resume Bachelor Degree Courses
Education authorities have given approval for some private colleges to raise their status to private education institutes so they can recommence bachelor and higher level courses.
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PM Moves To Streamline Apparatus Of State Agencies
Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith has asked the country’s Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA) to take prompt action to streamline the apparatus of state organisations so as to improve the performance of officials and public employees.
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Laos Eliminates Tariffs On Most Asean Goods
LAO authorities have reduced import tariffs on 8,536 items to zero as part of national efforts in establishing the Asean Free Trade Area, according to a government report.
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Australia Approves AUD4.5 Million For Business, Trade Improvement
Laos is now actively working to improve the business environment and facilitate trade as part of supporting the government’s policy to improve the ease of doing business.
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Central Bank Urged To Stabilise The KIP
The Bank of the Lao PDR must introduce more concrete measures to keep the value of the kip stable, otherwise the country will face a big challenge in keeping the cost of living at an acceptable level
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Laos Continues To Deepen Military Ties With Russia But Risks Chinese Backlash
Recent arms deals with Russia offer Laos few gains. Instead, the republic risks becoming a battleground for Russia and China to compete for influence.
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Which Is The Best Country To Start A Business In Asia?
Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Bangladesh are the lowest ranked Asian countries in the ease of doing business report
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Laos’ First Ever Specialized Real Estate Investment Show Launches This 1st & 2nd March!
Laorealestate.la, in partnership with the Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LNCCI) and Laos’ leading online marketplace, www.yula.la, is excited to announce it will be hosting the country’s first real estate investment expo at Don Chan Palace Hotel on Friday & Saturday, the 1st and 2nd of March, 2019.
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Ministry Keeping Close Check On Air Quality
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has been keeping a close eye on air quality in Vientiane as Bangkok suffers high pollution levels.
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New Amended Law On VAT
The key important points to note from the Amended Law on VAT are summarized in this alert.
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Pay The Minimum Wage Or Face Legal Action, Employers Told
Employers in Laos will be subject to legal action if authorities discover they are failing to pay their workers the minimum wage.
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Laos To Host 2024 ASEAN School Games
Laos will have the opportunity to host the 16th ASEAN School Games for the very first time in its capital Vientiane in 2024, Lao sports authorities said.
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Party Adopts Nine Urgent Measures To Drive Economy
The Central Committee of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party recently adopted core and urgent measures to drive the macro economy which is currently encountering some difficulties.
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Rice Prices Fall In Laos Despite Widespread Crop Losses
The price of rice dropped at the end of last year in Laos with farmers managing to supply enough rice even after their crops were hit by floods.
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App-facilitated Land Tax Payment Service Launched
The Department of Tax has launched a system that ensures land tax payment is bank-based, safe, and fast.
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Laos Expects More Private Investment In 2019
The Lao government expects domestic and foreign private investment to climb to 23,086 billion kip (over 2.72 million U.S. dollars) in 2019
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Illegal Ivory Seized In Raid On Luang Prabang Shop
More than 73 kilograms of ivory products were confiscated from a souvenir shop in Luang Prabang province recently and the foreign owner detained for suspected trading in elephant ivory.
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Laos To Woo Chinese Tourists
Laos has announced plans to draw more Chinese tourists to the landlocked country that stands at the heart of the Mekong Region.
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Laos, China, Myanmar and Thailand to join hands against drug trafficking
Laos, China, Myanmar and Thailand will soon come together to boost measures against drug trafficking, following the worsening situation in …
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Govt Places Focus On Tackling Business Constraints
Improving the investment climate, and building a state governed by the rule of law will be the main focus of government activities in the first month of 2019.
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Corruption Still Rife in Laos Despite Continued Crackdown Efforts
The government of Laos says it has been ramping up its efforts to battle corruption over the past two years, but NGOs say that the situation in Laos is getting worse.
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Laos not fully benefiting from regional economic integration: think tank
Laos has not fully benefited from the recent regional economic integration as its share of trade with ASEAN nations has declined, according to the National Institute for Economic Research (NIER), a Lao think tank.
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Construction Officially Underway For New Mahosot Hospital
Construction of buildings to house the new Mahosot Hospital in Vientiane started on Friday to replace the existing century-old facility as part of efforts to overhaul the country’s health services.
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Laos Faces Tourism Setback
Laos will close its “Visit Laos Year 2018 promotion well short of the 5 million tourist arrivals target
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Electronic Signature Law Will Boost E-Commerce
The government has told the National Assembly (NA) that Laos needs to have an electronic signature law in place to boost E-commerce and facilitate E-governance.
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National Assembly Approves Brou As New Ethnic Minority Group
The National Assembly has approved the Brou as an official ethnic group of the Lao PDR. As a result, the country now has 50 ethnic groups.
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Thailand Considers Same-Sex Partnership Bill
Thailand’s government is considering a proposed Life Partnership Bill, which would guarantee same-sex couples rights similar to couples in traditional marriages, including the use of one’s spouse’s surname, property rights and the right to end the partnership.
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Private Investment Remains Strong In Laos (Government Report)
Private investment prospects in Laos remain robust despite the nation’s drop in ranking on the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business Index, according to a government report.
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Villagers Warned Not To Swim In River Near Vientiane
Chemicals released into a river by a Chinese-owned banana farm near the Lao capital Vientiane killed over 300 kg of fish in November, prompting warnings by authorities to local villagers not to bathe or fish in the polluted stream, sources in the country say.
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Tap Water Business Booming In Laos
THE TAP-WATER business in Laos’ top tourist destination Luang Prabang has enormous potential for growth due to the rapid expansion of tourism, a high-speed rail project in the works and high demand for water utilities across the country, according to Exim Bank and Thai investors in Laos.
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Lao Medics Partner With Thai University To Battle Bile Duct Cancer
A new project is underway at the Lao Tropical and Public Health Institute to improve the treatment of bile duct cancer in Laos and reduce the number of fatalities.
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Chinese-Owned Cement Factories Pollute Lao Villages
Two Chinese-owned cement factories in the Vang Vieng district of Laos’ Vientiane Province are covering approximately 900 local families in at least four villages with dust and smog, threatening their health, local sources say.
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Laos Jails ‘Pyramid Scheme’ Company Owners For 15 Years
A court in the Lao capital Vientiane today handed 15-year prison terms to the owners of a company accused last year of defrauding investors of thousands of U.S. dollars in personal savings, a Lao source says.
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SMES To Be Subject To VAT
Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) in Laos must prepare for a new challenge when the government enforces the Law on Value Added Tax (VAT) next year.
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Govt Sets Measures To Boost Foreign Reserves
The government is planning to purchase foreign currencies from various sectors as part of measures to boost foreign reserves, according to a government leader.
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Laos To Cut Civil Servant Employment To Ease Budgetary Tension
The Lao government will cut the annual quota of new civil servants from 3,000 people this year to 1,500 people next year to ease its budgetary burden, Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith told the parliament on Tuesday.
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Online System Boosts Road Tax Revenue
The revenue earned from taxes has increased massively since the government introduced an online payment system.
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Drone Owners In Laos Advised Of Permit Regulations
The department’s Deputy Director General, Mr Bounteng Symoun, told Vientiane Times the operators of drones that weigh one kilogram or more must obtain a certificate from the Radio Frequency Department.
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China Pushes Free-Trade Zone in Mekong Region with Thailand, Laos
The free trade zone will also be a way for Thailand and the Mekong countries to profit from China’s flagship Belt and Road initiative.
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Tour Operators Call For Chronic Problems To Be Addressed
Authorities should address issues that are a source of annoyance for tour operators and tourists, to ensure better conditions for visitors during Visit Laos-China Year 2019 and beyond, tour operators say.
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Myanmar-Laos Border Gate Receives International Status
The border gate between Myanmar and Laos has been upgraded and given international status, according to the Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Population.
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INTERPOL Launches A Project Designed To Strengthen Capacity Of Law Enforcement Agencies
The iTWIN-JAPAN/LAOS Project, which aims to strengthen the capacity of law enforcement and border security agencies, was launched by INTERPOL on Thursday.
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Vientiane State Bus Doubles Bus Fares
The Vientiane State Bus Enterprise (VSBE) has doubled bus fares for students commuting on Thangon, Dongdok and Phontong-Dongdok routes.
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Collapsed Lao Dam ‘Was Built On A Sinkhole’
That is the claim of a Stanford University engineering expert who has scientifically analyzed the site of the disaster that likely killed hundreds of Lao villagers
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As Lao PDR Prepares For LDC Graduation, Inequality Has To Be Overcome
UNDP’s annual statistical update points out challenges and successes
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What’s In The First Vietnam-Laos-Cambodia Trilateral Border Exchange?
Later this week, Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia will hold the first iteration of a new trilateral border exchange between them in Vietnam.
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PM Urges Central Bank To Facilitate Access To Finance
Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith has urged the Bank of the Lao PDR (BOL), the nation’s central bank, to pay serious attention to implementing Order No. 02/PM on improving the climate for doing business.
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Asia, Europe Should Cement Cooperation To Narrow Development Gap: Laos
Asia and Europe should strengthen cooperation to narrow the development gap that remains wide, Laos has told the 12th Asia-Europe Meeting (Asem12) in Brussels, Belgium.
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Did Korean Builder’s Corner-Cutting Lead To Lao Dam Disaster?
South Korean lawmaker and liberal newspaper allege that SK E&C altered original plans to maximize profits
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Inflation Rate Climbs Above 3 Percent
The Lao inflation rate continued to increase above 3 percent in September despite the government introducing a number of measures to control the price of goods in local markets.
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China’s Belt and Road Hits Bumps in Laos
Chinese economic development strategies need fine-tuning
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Plain Of Jars Potential As Unesco World Heritage Site Considered
A meeting will be held this week in Xieng Khuang province to report on the progress made for the consideration of the Plain of Jars (Thong Hai Hin) as a potential UNESCO World Heritage Site.
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Lao Airlines Service Set For Take-Off As Flag Carrier Shifts Focus
Lao Airlines has shifted its primary focus from searching for a business partner to improving service in a bid to make the national flag carrier more competitive
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Malaria’s Ticking Time Bomb
Scientists are racing to stamp out the disease in southeast Asia before unstoppable strains spread.
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Provincial SME’s Need Regulatory Burden Relief, Swifter Tax Registration
Authorities need to reduce the regulatory burden or “red tape” that businesses face in conducting their activities due to rules and regulations so that their compliance costs can be cut to increase their efficiency.
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Lao Tax: Everyone Who Travels Pays
Sources at the friendship bridge said there were no exceptions and the tax applied to all foreigners regardless of their travel documents, include foreigners who are resident in Laos.
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Improved Business Environment To Support Sustainable Growth In Lao PDR
Lao firms and households are expected to benefit from a new US$13-million project, which will promote reforms to the business environment, for instance reducing the number of days needed to start a business.
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Laos Slaps A Dollar Tax On Tourists
Almost forgotten but on the brew for years the much talked about tourist tax was quietly introduced at all of Lao PDR’s border checkpoints 1 October.
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Two More Years To Meet Laos’ Development Plan: Minister
Natural disasters coupled with global economic and political uncertainty have had a direct impact on the implementation of the 8th Five-Year National Socio Economic Development Plan (NSEDP 2016-20), according to a senior government official.
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New Lao Airlines Chief Navigates Flag Carrier Toward Future
Lao Airlines welcomed a significant leadership change yesterday that comes as the government moves to transform the state-owned enterprise into a more efficient and competitive one.
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Vientiane Airport: International Expansion As China Tourism Booms
Vientiane Airport has doubled the size of its international terminal, supporting a Laotian initiative to boost tourism. Laos expects Vientiane’s international passenger traffic to double over the next five years, driven by a rapid increase in visitor numbers.
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Can Tourism Boost Lao’s Economy?
Source: The Asean Post Last July, Lao witnessed a catastrophe when the Xe-Pian Xe Namnoy dam located on the Xe
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Laos To Conduct Next Population Census In 2020
Laos will conduct a population census in 2020 to provide updated information for indicators, baselines and targets to be incorporated in the 2021-2025 National Socio-economic Development Plan.
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Countries In Asia Where It’s Okay To Be Gay
Same-sex relationships are still criminalised in much of the world, however, including in at least 20 countries in Asia. Some countries have enacted protections for the LGBTQ, but these are often limited and the community continues to face discrimination in spite of them.
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Lao Floods Leave Many Schools Closed at Start of New Term
Widespread flooding in Laos in recent weeks has blocked the start of the school year in the Southeast Asian country, with as many as 1,000 schools left unable to open by the Sept. 3 beginning of the new term, Lao sources say.
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UXO – An Added Complication From The Great Attapeu Flood
A UXO Lao team working in Attapeu province hopes to finish clearing explosive devices from land allocated for new housing for flood victims in Sanamxay district next month.
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Laos – The Youngest Population In SEAsia
The Lao PDR has a younger population than any country in Southeast Asia, with nearly 60% below the age of 25 years, and nearly 22% of the population are adolescent girls and boys, aged 10-19 years.
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Laos Continues To Be Target For Money Laundering
Laos continues to face a high risk of money laundering despite the country graduating from the “grey list” of the Financial Action Task Force last year, according to the National Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Risk Assessment (NRA).
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PM Orders Top Officials To Ramp Up Economic Growth
Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith has ordered ministers, the Vientiane mayor and provincial governors to implement eight measures to stimulate economic growth.
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Traffic Police Gear Up For New School Year
The Vientiane Traffic Police Department has rostered 600 police for security detail around the capital in a bid to reduce traffic congestion and accidents during the coming academic year, which begins on September 3.
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Laos Announces Adoption Of New Asean Tariff Code
The Ministry of Finance in Laos has announced it has adopted a new Asean tariff code, giving a signal that Laos is ready to become part of the single regional market of 600 million consumers.
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Laos / Myanmar New Border Agreement Reached
Laos and Myanmar have approved the 12th map of the border between the two countries, which they will use as an annex to the agreement on a permanent borderline dated June 11, 1994.
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Widespread Flooding Leaves 46 Dead, 97 Missing In Laos
Flooding caused by recent storms in Laos has killed at least 46 people while 97 others are missing and four people were injured, according to the latest report from the National Disaster Prevention and Control Committee.
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Thailand – Laos Car Vehicle Standards Agreement
The Thai and Lao pollution control agencies have agreed to work together to reduce air pollution caused by vehicles in the two countries, especially at border checkpoints.
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Govt Seeks To Plug Financial Leaks, Loopholes
All loopholes that could result in financial leaks must be plugged in order to ramp up national revenue, Deputy Prime Minister Somdy Duangdy told finance officials recently.
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The ‘Battery of Asia’ Could Face A Short-Circuit
Shaken by a deadly dam collapse, Laos needs to reconsider its long-term strategy
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Laos’ Main Airport Got Huge Expansion
The international terminal of the airport serving the Laotian capital of Vientiane, Wattay International Airport, can now accommodate as many as 2.3 million foreign travelers a year, roughly nine times the original terminal’s capacity.
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36 Confirmed Dead, 98 Still Missing In Attapeu
Military personnel and a rescue team from Singapore are continuing the search for the 98 people still missing in the wake of the dam burst, with the number of dead confirmed at 36.
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Laos Warns Of Possible Flooding In Luang Prabang And Other Northern Provinces
The Lao government has warned of possible flooding and landslides in parts of the northern and central provinces, as heavy rain is expected.
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Excise Tax On Internet Use A Barrier, Business Insists
Members of the Lao business sector have recently called for the government to abolish a 10 percent excise tax on internet usage, claiming that Laos remains the only country in Asean to impose the charge.
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‘I Think All Those People Are Dead’: Laos Dam Survivors Seek Word of Neighbors
A multibillion-dollar dam, meant to boost Laos’s economy, collapsed and led to the deaths of dozens, with many still missing.
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Lao Fuel Price Double World Market Average
The average fuel price in Laos is more than double than the global price
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‘Not Enough Time To Get Out’: Laos Village Caught In Burst Dam Deluge
The first warning came at 4.00 p.m., one hour later the water started to flow through the village, and by late evening it was a torrent.
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Lao Dam Collapse Caused by Heavy Rains, Faulty Construction: Minister
A high-ranking Lao official suggested Thursday that a dam collapse earlier this week in Attapeu province was the result of faulty construction and said the project’s developer should be held accountable, as the death toll from flooding has reached 30, with more than 20 hospitalized for injuries.
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Laos Registers 570 New Businesses To Half Year
The number of newly registered and expanded businesses in the capital increased almost threefold during the first six months of the year.
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The Great Rail Dilemma Of Laos
Laos having regrets as China’s grand Pan-Asia railway dream sours
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Debt-Ridden Laos Living On Borrowed Money
Public debt is estimated at around 68 percent of GDP and almost half of the money is being borrowed from one source – China.
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Laos’ Tiny Bourse Still Struggles After All These Years
Despite development boom, exchange has listed only 7 companies since 2011 launch.
The Lao Securities Exchange wants to increase the number of listed companies from the current seven to 25 or 35 by 2020, but experts are skeptical.
New Decree Offers Tax Breaks For Investors in Lao SEZs
Domestic and foreign investors will be granted a number of tax breaks under a new amended decree related to specific and special economic zones (SEZs) issued recently by the government.
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Inspection Ordered As Road Toll Bites In Champassak
Champassak provincial authorities will soon order an inspection of Road No. 16 including accurate details on the construction budget as the government contemplates plans to purchase the project rights from the private construction company.
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Billions Allocated To Small, Medium Enterprise Promotion
More than 2,715.8 billion kip will be sourced and allocated for the promotion of small and medium enterprises (SME) to facilitate better access to finance to grow their businesses.
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PM Urges Strengthening Business Sector Through Law Improvement
While giving a guidance talk at the 11th Lao Business Forum on Jul 5, Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith emphasized the importance of strengthening the business sector through the improvement of business-related laws and regulations adding that doing so could help achieve the national socio-economic development goals.
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Illegal Vehicle Import Crackdown Ordered As Tax Avoidance Raises Ire
The Ministry of Finance has warned that it will impose stronger legal actions against any owners of imported vehicles evading taxes and tariff payments to the government.
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Spending Cuts Mulled To Minimise Budgetary Tensions
The government is contemplating a cut in budget expenditure to maintain financial liquidity following a revenue shortfall during the past four months of this year.
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Myanmar, Laos Drop in Rank in Annual US Human Trafficking Report
The U.S. State Department downgraded Myanmar and Laos to Tier 3, its lowest ranking, in an annual report on human trafficking released today, citing the countries’ failure to make significant efforts to combat the trade.
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Central Bank Removes Foreign Currency Borrowing Restrictions
The removal of barriers to bank lending and borrower withdrawals foreign currencies are set to benefit enterprise in Laos after the Bank of the Lao PDR removed restrictions in this regard, according to an announcement from the central bank.
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Amended Law Offers No Exception To VAT Charge
All enterprises that have been registered and have obtained a tax ID will have to comply with the Value Added Tax Law.
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Laos Announces Fourth Mekong Dam Amid Fears Of Ecological Disaster
The Mekong River Commission (MRC) announced yesterday that Laos has formally notified the Commission of its intention to construct the Pak Lay dam on the mainstream of the Mekong River.
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Reminder: Pay Road Tax 2018 Latest By End Of June
The deadline for 2018 road tax payments is June 30 this year.
The finance ministry warned that those failing to pay by the deadline would be fined 40 percent of their obligated road tax rates.
Laos Stresses The Need To Borrow As West Raises Debt Alarm
As the only landlocked country in Southeast Asia and one of the least developed ones in the region, Laos seems to have different priorities on growth that are driving it pile on even more debt.
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Over 19,000 Teachers Needed
A survey conducted recently at 12,744 schools across the country suggests that over 19,700 new teachers need to be recruited for the next twelve months while only 1,850 teachers will be enlisted for public schools this year.
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WHO Awards Laos For Efforts To Curb Smoking
The Ministry of Health will continue to work with international partners to reduce tobacco smoking in Laos even though there has been some success in this field.
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How The Capital Of Laos Is Cleaning Up
Source: govinsider.asia Vilayvone Chanthalaty shares plans for the future of Vientiane In April, Singapore announced plans for the ASEAN Smart
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New Decree To Streamline Govt Administration
The government has issued a new decree to strengthen collaboration between the Prime Minister’s Office and ministries, provinces, the capital and ministry-equivalent organisations.
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Global Warming May Have ‘Devastating’ Effects On Rice: Study
Countries at most risk include those that consume the most rice and have the lowest gross domestic product (GDP), such as Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia
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New Flights To Boost Links Between Laos and China
Laos and China on Monday officially set in motion a new air route between the two countries, aimed not only at boosting tourism but also other areas of cooperation.
The new flight will carry tourists and other travellers between Vientiane and Luang Prabang province in Laos and Hainan province in China.
Petrol Stations In Residential Areas Given One Year To Move
Petrol stations that open for business near an existing facility or are too close to a residential area must move away within one year from now, a senior government official has said.
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Govt Piloting Single-Window Customs Clearance For Vehicles
The government is piloting the Lao National Single Window (LNSW) scheme at international border crossings, seeking to speed up customs clearance for vehicles and link the country to the Asean single window system.
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Higher Fuel Price Driving Inflation In Laos
The rising price of fuel has become the new driving force behind inflation, sending a signal that the government must address this economic risk.
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Govt Urged To Speed Up Privatisation Of Unprofitable Enterprises
Lao economists have urged the government to accelerate the privatisation of state enterprises that have been underperforming, as part of measures to improve its financial position.
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Lao Government Launches New Push Against Corruption
Lao government officials have launched a new push against corruption in the one-party communist state, with state inspection authorities stepping up investigations across the country and reporting in February that they had discovered up to $120,000 missing from state funds, sources in Laos said.
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Vientiane-Vung Ang Railway To Cost More Than US$5 billion
More than US$5 billion is needed to build a railway linking Vientiane to a seaport in Vietnam’s Ha Tinh province, Vietnamese media reported on Friday, citing study results.
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Four-Month Revenue Collection Amounts To Only 20 Percent Of 2018 Target
The collection of revenue throughout the nation over the past four months has reached 5,297 billion kip, equal to only 20.81 percent of the figure targeted for the whole of 2018.
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Laos Needs To Prepare For LDC Graduation: Economists
Lao economists have called on the government to pay more attention to preparations for the country’s expected graduation from the least developed country (LDC) status, to ensure sustainable development.
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Govt Approves Minimum Wage Increase
The government has approved a minimum wage increase from the present 900,000 kip to 1.1 million kip a month, according to the Prime Minister’s Office.
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Laos Loses Millions Of Dollars Due To Overvalued Projects
The construction cost of many projects with State investment have been found to be too expensive and exceeding the realistic value, inspectors have confirmed.
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Laos Set to Graduate From Least Developed Country Status by 2024
For the first time since it was identified by the United Nations as one of the world’s Least Developing Countries (LDC), Laos has fulfilled the eligibility criteria to be removed from the list, and could see its status upgraded as early as 2024
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Laos Maintaining Growth Momentum For 2018, 2019: ADB
The nation’s economic growth is likely to be sustained this year and accelerate next year, while inflation will edge up according to the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
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Vientiane Police Gear Up For Pi Mai Lao Security
The Vientiane Traffic Police Department has rostered almost 600 police for security detail around the capital in a bid to reduce traffic congestion and road accidents during the Pi Mai Lao holiday from April 14-16.
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