VIENTIANE (Vientiane Times/ANN) – Work on the Laos-China railway line is progressing ahead of schedule, with the project on track to be completed by 2021, a senior government official has said. Director General of the Planning and Cooperation Department under the Ministry of Public Works and ...

VIENTIANE (Vientiane Times/ANN) – Two major global funds have joined forces to help the Lao government tackle climate change problems.The Global Environment Facility (GEF) and Green Climate Fund (GCF) announced at a meeting with government representatives this week that they would establish a joint mission ...

Tourism officials in northern provinces last week learnt about the evaluation of Asean Community Based Tourism Standards with regard to major tourist sites.The Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism together with staff from Bokeo, Oudomxay and Luang Prabang tourism departments convened three training sessions on ...

VIENTIANE (Vientiane Times/ANN) – The energy and mining sector is trying to cut electricity prices so that power is affordable for local residents and businesses.Many consumers in Laos have been complaining about their escalating electricity bills. The tariff is high when compared to neighbouring countries, ...

The trafficking of Lao nationals to neighboring Thailand as undocumented laborers continues to be a growing problem with brokers arranging for thousands to be taken across the border for job opportunities that too often end up in situations where Laotians are abused by their employers.More ...

VIENTIANE (Vientiane Times/ANN) – A delegation from the Ministry of Home Affairs last week attended an Asean meeting in Thailand on regional cooperation in civil service affairs.Director General of the Performance Appraisal and Civil Service Development Department, Mr Bounchanh Niyavong, led the delegation attending the ...

TOKYO (Vientiane Times/ANN) – The government of Japan has agreed to help Laos develop high quality human resources responsible for strengthening administrative capacity and establishing institutions, including improving the capacity of government officials, according to the website of Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The promise of assistance ...

The World Heritage Committee of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) on Monday presented Laos with a certificate confirming the inscription of the Plain of Jars on the World Heritage List.The certificate was presented to Prof. Dr Bosengkham Vongdara, a special envoy ...

Survivors of a July 2018 dam disaster described as Laos’ worst flooding in decades are still dealing with physical and mental hardship, according to an official of a South Korean-led relief effort.The disaster occurred when a saddle dam at the Xe Pian Xe Namnoy (PNPC) ...

Vehicles regularly carry goods into Laos from the sea port in Thanh Hoa province of Vietnam, about 250 kilometres from Huaphan province. The amount of incoming traffic is not large but the border is heavily congested with trucks ferrying goods into both countries.More ...

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) will continue its support for the Enhancing People’s Participation through Community Radio project until 2021.The cooperation project which began in 2017 will continue until 2021 at a total cost of more than 25 billion kip (US$3 million).More ...

The German government has agreed to give six million euros for the second tranche of the Lao Access to Finance Fund (LAFF) through the German Development Bank (KfW) for micro and small enterprises in Laos.More ...

The Lao government’s failure to strictly enforce foreign investment laws is allowing a growing number of Chinese entrepreneurs to dodge investment rules and avoid paying taxes while operating shops and restaurants in the Southeast Asian country, an official from the Ministry of Planning and Investment ...

VIENTIANE (Vientiane Times/ANN) – The Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LNCCI) has postponed the Made in Laos 2019 Fair until July 20-28 after a fire damaged Lao-ITECC where the event was scheduled to take place from May 10-19.A fire broke out on the ...

Laos will crack down on foreign-owned businesses operating in the country without the proper permit.The Lao government has begun to inspect foreign-owned businesses to see whether they comply with Lao laws and regulations, according to ministerial advice by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, reported ...

The government has been focusing on anti-corruption awareness raising among officials and students as it marks the 15th anniversary of International Anti-Corruption Day (December 9).More ...

(KPL) The Department of Tax has launched a system that ensures land tax payment isbank-based, safe, and fast.More ...

VIENTIANE (Vientiane Times/ANN) – The government has established a new fund designed to strengthen Laos’ capacity to address and cope with climate change threats.According to the Prime Ministerial Decree on Climate Change, which was published in the Lao National Gazette on October 17, the fund ...

VIENTIANE (Vientiane Times/ANN) – The seized timber auction committee of Champassak city has invited furniture associations, timber processing factories, furniture factories and timber businesses across the country to an auction of confiscated timber.The government seized the wood up for sale after it was illicitly cut ...

BEIJING (Vientiane Times/ANN) – President Bounnhang Vorachit has voiced the Lao government’s support for the China-led Belt and Road Initiative, saying the global project will help to transform Laos from being landlocked into a land link.Speaking at a session of the Second Belt and Road ...