Govt Pledges Food Security During Outbreak Fears
There are sufficient imported sources of consumer goods to maintain food security Lao authorities have said.
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Lao Economy
Lao PM Announces Tax Break
Lao Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith just announced the following tax measures to reduce the impact from COVID19 on SME’s
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Vientiane Bus Suspends All Services
Vientiane State Bus Enterprise (VSBE) suspended its services on every route in Vientiane and to other provinces yesterday following the cancellation of international routes on March 23.
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Tax Update: Postponement Of The Filing Due Date of Financial Statements for 2019
The filing due date of the financial statements for 2019 is postponed to 30 April 2020
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Fuel Prices Drop Despite Concerns Over A Shortage Of Supply
Fuel prices fell on Monday morning in line with the trends in the world market even though people are worried about a shortage of supplies
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Vientiane Splashing 74 Billion Kip on Irrigation Improvements
VAFD is spending more than 74 billion kip on four irrigation projects to expand agricultural production for this year’s rainy season and better cope with natural disasters
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Laos Adopts Stimulus Package To Minimise Virus Economic Impact
The Lao government has adopted in principle an economic stimulus package to minimise the impact caused by the ongoing outbreak of the coronavirus (COVID-19)
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Lao Consumers Will Not Face Serious Food Shortages: Senior Economist
Lao consumers will not face serious food shortages as in other countries if the international supply chain is disrupted due to the Covid-19 pandemic, according to a senior economist.
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Thai Economic Outlook Among Asia’s Weakest
Thailand is preparing to restrict some aspects of daily life after the country’s biggest spike in coronavirus cases, further damaging one of Asia’s weakest economic outlooks.
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Northern Laos Province Closes 10 Border Crossings With Vietnam
Authorities in northern Laos’ Huaphan province on Sunday (March 15) called for the temporary closure of 10 traditional border crossings with Vietnam
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Laos Cancels Public Events Including Lao New Year Celebrations on COVID-19 Fears
Authorities in Laos are urging the public to suspend or postpone all “unnecessary” social events including weddings and Lao New Year celebrations in an attempt to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
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Bangkok Airways announces flight suspensions VTE-BKK
Bangkok Airways Public Company Limited has announced a decrease in flight frequency as well as flight termination on certain domestic and international routes to be in line with current passenger demand.
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Laos To Increase Domestic Distribution Of Electricity
Coverage by the national power grid is still limited due to a lack of funding for power grid development
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Idle Factories, Empty Trade Zone Highlight Coronavirus Impact on Southeast Asia
China-dependent countries feel fallout in tourism, manufacturing, and exports.
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Economic Recession Possible In Laos Due To Covid-19
The first sector hit hard by the situation is tourism, followed by investment and trade.
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A Silent Epidemic? Experts Fear the Coronavirus Is Spreading Undetected in Southeast Asia
It’s not that these countries are getting lucky, says Marc Lipsitch, director of Harvard’s Center for Communicable Disease Dynamics, and one of the study’s authors. “They’re missing infections.”
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Chinese Allegedly Run Illegal Car Rental and Taxi Businesses in Laos
Chinese entrepreneurs in Laos’ capital Vientiane are allegedly importing vehicles from China illegally for car rental and taxi businesses, much to the ire of their Lao competitors
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Bananas Remain A Large Slice Of Laos’ Export Pie
Bananas continue to be a top earner among all agricultural products, earning revenue for local development, despite the government banning the creation of more plantations.
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Value Of Imports Dips, Trade Deficit Plummets In Laos
The top five categories of imported goods were construction equipment, fuel and gas, items used in industry, electronic products, vehicle parts, and food.
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Laos Growth Resilient Despite Economic Headwinds
Despite a new set of challenges like the long dry season, Covid-19 outbreak, and US-China trade war, Laos looks set to enjoy stable growth of at least 6 per cent, possibly 6.3-6.4 per cent.
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Lao Airlines To Suspend Flights To South Korea
Source: Vientiane Times Laos’ national airline, the Lao Airlines State Enterprise, will suspend flights to the Republic of Korea beginning
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Road Tax 2020 Reminder
Vehicle owners are urged to pay the 2020 Road Tax or face a penalty. The Ministry of Finance issued a
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Laos Ranked Third In Top Country Awards By UK Wanderlust Magazine
Source: The Star Laos has been named second runner-up in the Top Country rankings in the UK’s Wanderlust Reader Travel
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Work On Vientiane Expressway No. 1 Project Begins
Construction of the mega Vientiane Expressway No. 1 officially began yesterday, with the project aiming to ease traffic congestion and respond to economic growth in the Lao capital.
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Lao Vehicle Imports, Exports To Be Processed Using Single Customs Window
All vehicle imports and exports will have to be recorded under the Lao National Single Window (LNSW) system at the Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge checkpoint starting on March 1.
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State Auditing Body Uncovers More Cases Of Financial Irregularity
The State Audit Organisation (SAO) inspected 104 state-funded projects and government bodies in 2019, exceeding its plan of 99, as financial irregularities continue to be detected.
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Lao Service Sector To Lose US$ Millions From Coronavirus Fallout: Economist
Laos stands to lose US$250 million to US$300 million in first-quarter revenue from the service sector, including tourism, due to fallout from the coronavirus outbreak
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Water Treatment Extension Plant To Boost Supply In Vientiane
The Dongbang water treatment extension plant is to be built in Xaythany district, Vientiane with aid from Hungary
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Laos To Face Drought Conditions In Next Two Months
Laos is likely to face an acute water shortage over the next two months as rivers continue to fall to lower-than-normal levels.
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Vientiane Opens Hotline To Report Fire Emergencies, Smoke Out Firebugs
Vientiane authorities have opened hotline number 1168, so the public can report fire emergencies and the illegal burning of garbage, rice fields and scrubland in and around the city.
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Lao Macroeconomic Growth Projected At 6.3 Percent In 2020
Lao’s macroeconomic growth is projected to improve moderately this year, with growth of 6.3 to 6.4 percent
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Laos Implements New Income Tax Rates
The new law provides better progressive rates for personal income tax and has lowered profit tax rates.
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BOL Launches QR Code Payment Standard
The Bank of the Lao PDR (BOL) makes a soft launch of the Lao QR Code standard for payments
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Private Schools In Laos Close On Fears Of Coronavirus
Several private schools, most in Laos’ capital Vientiane, have closed down as fears over the spread of the Wuhan coronavirus (nCoV)
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PM Demands Faster Business Licence Approval
Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith told his cabinet to take steps to expedite the approval of investment and business operation licences
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Laos To Open Pang Mon Border Checkpoint Feb 1
Laos will open the Pang Mon checkpoint in Sayaboury province opposite Thailand’s Ban Huak checkpoint in Phu Sang district
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Experts Recommend Policy, Technical Standards For Electric Vehicles In Laos
Experts met to make recommendations on policies and technical standards in the transition from internal combustion engine vehicles to electric vehicles (EVs).
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Laos Faces Growing Inflation
Inflation continued to increase in December, sending a strong warning that serious action is needed to rein in the price of goods and services to prevent them rising further
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Laos Dairy Buffalo Challenge
In an extraordinary example of applied capacity building, Australian businesswoman Susie Martin is leading the way in helping one of South East Asia’s poorest countries set about improving its food production systems.
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Laos Urged To Think Beyond Being A Land Bridge Country
The government must employ concrete measures to implement its policy on transformation of the country from landlocked to a land bridge,
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China’s Central Bank Signs Currency Settlement Agreement With Laos
China and Laos have signed an agreement on bilateral monetary cooperation to enhance the use of local currencies in trade and investment,
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Power Usage In Laos Predicted To Soar To 1,800MW In 2020-25
The Ministry of Energy and Mines has predicted that the demand for electricity in Laos will increase to 1,800MW during the period 2020-2025,
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Laos Imposes New Regulations On Growing Vehicle Industry
The government has promulgated a new prime ministerial decree, which aims to more effectively administer the growing number of businesses involved in the import, sale and assembly of vehicles in Laos.
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Energy And Mines To Remain Key Boosters Of Lao Economy In 2020: Economist
The government should persist with its promotional policy for investment in the energy and mines sectors as they are key income earners for Laos’ economic growth
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China’s Jinghong Dam Runs ‘Tests’ Dropping Water Levels in Downstream Laos
Equipment testing at China’s Jinghong Dam in the first week of January will reduce water it releases into the Mekong River by more than 50 percent
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Lao Customs Department Extend Use Of Modern Clearance System
The Customs Department will extend the use of an automated customs management system to other main customs checkpoints
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Drought, Dams Cause Mekong River In Laos To Turn Unhealthy Blue
A section of the Mekong river in Laos has changed color from muddy brown to blue—a warning sign indicating poor health in Southeast Asia’s most important waterway.
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Thailand Keen To Entice High-Income Lao Tourists
The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) will continue to push health and wellness tourism and shopping to draw high-income tourists from Laos.
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Friendship Border To Operate 24 Hours
Two land entry points – Nong Khai (between Thailand and Laos) and Sadao (between Thailand and Malaysia), will be open 24 hours a day for a three-month trial period.
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Lao Banks Partner In Integrated Payment System
The Bank of the Lao PDR (BOL), the country’s central bank, on Monday officially launched the new joint venture Lao National Payment Network Co Ltd (LAPNet) in collaboration with seven major banks.
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Govt Proposes Amendment To Enterprise Bankruptcy Law
Source: Vientiane Times The government has asked the National Assembly to approve an amendment to the Law on Enterprise Bankruptcy,
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S. Korea To Support ‘Logistical Hub’ Campaign Of Laos
South Korean President Moon Jae-in said Tuesday his country will help Laos achieve its goal of becoming a “transportation and logistical hub” in the region.
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Central Bank To Focus On Currency Management Amid Challenges
Laos’ central bank will tackle challenges to ensure the stability of the kip and prevent it weakening further against the Thai baht, and ensure the rate of inflation stays below 5 percent.
Read moreLaos Registers Trade Surplus In Q3
Laos has registered a trade surplus, although money transfers are below target.
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Laos’ PM Calls For Cooperation To Address Business Barriers
Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith has agreed with the concept of establishing a special taskforce committee, to address unresolved issues relating to the improvement of the business climate
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Lao Gov’t Gets Ready For Opening Of China-Laos Railway In 2021
The railway is currently about 70 percent complete and is scheduled for completion at the end of 2021.
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Thai Airways Sell One Pass One Price
Thai Airways International is offering a One Pass One Price Value Card Package for four economy class fares to destinations in the Mekong region
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Govt Plans To Recruit 2,000 New Civil Servants Next Year
The government plans to recruit 2,000 new civil servants in 2020, up from 1,500 new recruits this year.
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Onboarding New Marketing Clients
J&C Marketing is glad to welcome Phanthamit Analytical Lab, The Spirit House, and Davina Furniture as our new clients. We are delighted to work for them and help them strengthen their marketing efforts.
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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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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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Trump Supends 40 Billion Baht Worth of Duty Free Trade For Thailand
U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday reinstated duty-free trade for certain items from Ukraine, but suspended it with Thailand.
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Baht To Further Strengthen, Expert Warns
The baht could further strengthen to Bt29 per dollar, a Kasikornbank analyst warned this week.
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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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FIFA President Infantino Makes First Visit To Laos
The new FIFA President and a delegation visited Laos yesterday with the aim of further developing football in the country in future.
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J&C’s Marketing Over Coffee, October edition
J&C’s “Marketing Over Coffee” is back with its October edition “Brand Health: How is your Brand doing?”
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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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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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Cambodia’s “Reckless” Microfinance Industry Puts Economy At Risk
Cambodia’s $8 billion microfinance industry, touted by Western aid groups and foreign investors as bringing financial opportunities to the country’s poor, is ensnaring families in crushing debt and could threaten the country’s economy
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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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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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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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Asia’s Beaches Go Quiet as Chinese Tourists Stay Home
From quiet beaches in Bali to empty rooms in Hanoi’s hotels, pangs from China’s economic malaise and weakening yuan are being felt across Southeast Asia’s vacation belt.
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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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J&C’s Marketing Over Coffee, September edition
J&C’s “Marketing Over Coffee” is back with its September edition “Using Customer Journey for a Better Marketing Strategy?”
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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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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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Bando Densen of Japan Expands Cable Production To Laos Amid U.S.-China Row
Source: Japan Times Electric wire maker Bando Densen Co. has set up a cable plant in Laos as part of
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Laos’ Economic Prospects Remain Bright: IMF
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is predicting a favourable outlook for Laos’ economic growth in the upcoming years despite the present difficulties.
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World Bank Urges Laos To Let Kip Follow Market
Source: Vientiane Times The World Bank has recommended that Laos let its currency follow the market as other nations cut
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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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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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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.
Read moreInflation 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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Laos Launches eVisa Service
Laos launched its tourist eVisa service, earlier this week, a move that the travel trade says will make it more convenient for visitors.
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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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Ministry To Coordinate Setting Up Of Model Restaurants
The Ministry of Industry and Commerce plans to establish model restaurants in the Lao capital of Vientiane that will serve single dishes at prices set by the authorities.
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Laos Reports First Cases Of African Swine Fever
Laos has reported to the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) a series of seven cases of African swine fever (ASF) in the southern portion of the Southeast Asian country.
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Marketing Over Coffee With J&C
It takes only a cup of coffee to define your marketing solutions
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LDB Partners Everex To Facilitate Blockchain-Based Cross Border Payments
Lao Development Bank (LDB) and Singapore-headquartered blockchain-based fintech Everex have signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the initiative.
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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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Lao Trade Figures Struggle To Reach Target
Laos’ combined exports and imports for this year are struggling to achieve the target
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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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9th Annual Vientiane Career & Education Fair June 22 & 23 at Don Chan Palace
The Annual Vientiane Career & Education Fair is organized by volunteer staff members and students from Lao-American College and AIESEC.
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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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J&C Services Signs Strategic Partnership Agreement With APA Insurance
The agreement was signed by the APA CEO, Mr Dominick Williams, and founder and CEO of J&C, Mr Stephan Aeschbach, on Friday in Vientiane.
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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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Ministry Calls For End To Alcohol Advertising
The Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism issued a notice last week banning the advertising of alcoholic beverages and activities that promote the consumption of alcoholic drinks.
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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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MaxMara Allegedly Stole Designs From A Laotian Community For These Pricey Dresses
A group in Laos says designer MaxMara ripped off designs from a local ethnic group with zero compensation or acknowledgment.
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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.
Read morePoverty 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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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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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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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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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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Lao Vehicle Market Forecast To Grow This Year
The vehicle market in Laos is likely to accelerate in 2019 as the government has improved its trade promotion policy and car manufacturers are offering incentives to boost sales.
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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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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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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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Pakxong Strawberry Farm Has Tasty Treats In Store
Pakxong district in Champassak is one of the few places in Laos that has a temperate climate. The relatively high altitude means the area is suitable for growing a wide range of crops that thrive in cooler weather.
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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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Hairdressing Jobs Earmarked For Lao Citizens Only
The government insists that jobs relating to hair styling for men and women will remain the preserve of Lao nationals as designated by law, despite the many establishments currently being operated by foreign nationals.
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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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Lao Airlines Takes Off For Shanghai
Lao Airlines, the national flag carrier, has launched a weekly flight to Shanghai to serve the expected influx of Chinese tourists and other passengers during Visit Laos-China Year 2019.
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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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Garment Industry In Laos Continues To Face Challenges
Shortage of skilled labour is chronic, resulting in the reduction of garment exports
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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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Govt Announces List Of Controlled Businesses
Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith has approved a list of businesses that are subject to government control, while also stating that types of business not on the list would find it easier to operate.
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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.
Read moreRice 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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Laos’ Garment Industry Faces Severe Labor Shortage
Garment factories in Laos are experiencing labor shortages as workers are looking to Thailand for greener pastures, sources say.
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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.
Read moreLaos 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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Scoot Launches New Laos Route From Perth
Fly from Perth, via Singapore, to Luang Prabang and Vientiane from $189 each way.
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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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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.
Read moreCorruption 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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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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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.
Read moreGovt 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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Lao Companies Enjoy Success At Asean Business Awards
The 12th Asean Business Awards (ABA) Gala Dinner took place on the night of November 12 last week, shining a spotlight on some of the many successful enterprises from a variety of industry sectors from across the region.
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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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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.
Read moreVientiane 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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China Starts Exporting Petroleum To Laos
With over 64 ton diesel, handed over from PetroChina to a Lao company at Laos-China border, the first export of Chinese refined oil to Lao market was made on Wednesday.
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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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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
Read moreInflation 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
Read moreLao 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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Luang Prabang Film Festival Launches Short Film Competition on Lao Tourism Industry
The Technical and Vocational Education Department of the Ministry of Education and Sports and Luang Prabang Film Festival have launched a new short film competition to celebrate the Lao tourism and hospitality sector.
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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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