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, ...

VIENTIANE (Vientiane Times/ANN) – The Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone has donated 3 billion kip to the government to assist flood victims in the central and southern provinces of Laos.The amount was presented on Tuesday by the Chairman of the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone, ...

VIENTIANE (Vientiane Times/ANN) – Laos remains committed to realising the rights of the child with authorities holding workshops to discuss concluding observations for all sectors at central and provincial level in order to develop their action plans.This was the message at a consultation workshop with development ...

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 ...

Laos plans to put an end to asbestos-related diseases among workers by banning the use of the material to stop exposure, according to a leading official.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) ...

VIENTIANE (Vientiane Times/ANN) – It will now be easier for business operators in Laos, especially in seven provinces, to register their firms following the installation of modern equipment at business registration points.The equipment, worth more than 680 million kip, was handed over to the Enterprise ...

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 ...

VIENTIANE (Vientiane Times/ANN) – The Lao Bankers’ Association (LBA) is working to upgrade the skills of employees of banks that are members of the association by equipping them with broader understanding of risk management and prevention of money laundering and terrorism financing.The LBA’s Chairman, Mr ...

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 export value of wood furniture products sold by Laos to China in 2018 is estimated to have doubled after the government encouraged more productivity and sales.In 2017, Laos earned about US$5 million from the sale of wooden furniture to China, ...

Laos has stressed the need to strengthen newer Asean members’ capacity through the implementation of the regional plan to narrow the development gap. Minister of Foreign Affairs Saleumxay Kommasith emphasised this point when speaking at the 51st Asean Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (AMM) held in Singapore ...

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 ...

VIENTIANE (Vientiane Times/ANN) – The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment has drawn up a master plan for the establishment and utilisation of National Spatial Information and Infrastructure in Laos.A final dissemination workshop on the project took place in Vientiane last Friday, organised by 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 ...