VIENTIANE (Vientiane Times/ANN) – Lao authorities say there will be no alteration of the import policy on motorbikes including tax rates despite some calls for change with motorbike sales on the wane.“The government’s motorcycle import policy is not changing this year. The import tax as ...

VIENTIANE (Vientiane Times/ANN) – The inspection of hydropower projects is at the top of the agenda for the Lao government to ensure the safety of all dams, a senior official has confirmed.Minister of Energy and Mines, Dr Khammany Inthirath, told local media recently the government ...

VIENTIANE (Vientiane Times/ANN) – Power company representatives from Laos and South Korea recently met in Vientiane to discuss the potential of power industry cooperation and development in Laos.The Korea-Laos business meeting was held recently in Vientiane and co-organised by Korea Nuclear Partners Co. (KNP), Korea ...

The cost of freight services in Laos would be much lower if the government allowed foreign firms to provide these services, a new study suggests.The study, sponsored by the World Bank Group and international development partners in Laos, shows that the cost of freight services ...

A shallow magnitude 6.1 earthquake hit northwestern Laos near the Thai border early on Thursday, the United States Geological Survey reported. There were no immediate reports of damage after the earthquake hit at 6:50am local time (23:50 GMT on Wednesday).But shaking could be felt more than 700 kilometres (435 miles) ...

VIENTIANE (Vientiane Times/ANN) – Lao business operators have been learning the latest technology to upgrade their ‘business 4.0’ skills at a recent seminar in Vientiane to ensure they can reach customers effectively.The new skills were explained at a seminar titled ‘Young Business at 4.0 Age’ ...

VIENTIANE (Vientiane Times/ANN) – Laos will continue to promote environmentally friendly and sustainable hydropower projects with renewable wind and solar considered as additional alternatives for electricity production.This was one of the key messages from Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith at a recent meeting of the energy ...

CHAMPASSAK, Laos (Vientiane Times/ANN) – A fisherman who was stranded on a rocky outcrop in the Mekong River in Khong district, Champassak province, on Monday was rescued at 2 am on Wednesday.The fisherman, identified as Mr Pong, 41, from Phiengdy village, was immediately taken to ...

VIENTIANE (Vientiane Times/ANN) – Government officials and members of the private sector met in Vientiane yesterday to discuss the challenges and opportunities for private sector engagement in green growth and climate change in Laos.The meeting, titled Private Sector Engagement in Climate Change and Green Growth, ...

Ministers and deputy ministers who have more cars than stipulated under Prime Ministerial Decree No. 15 issued in 2017 will have to return them to the state, a senior government leader has said.Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Mr Somdy Duangdy, told Vientiane Times ...

Vientiane province: There have been over 5,600 of malaria cases so far this year across the country, but fortunately no deaths as the number of infections continue to drop.The update was reported at the meeting to summarise the work of the Ministry of Health over ...

VIENTIANE (Thomson Reuters Foundation) – A new land law may bring greater transparency in land management and modernization of records in Laos, but it could also curb ownership by women, as well as the customary rights of rural and indigenous people, analysts said.The long-delayed legislation ...

VIENTIANE (Vientiane Times/ANN) – Many people, especially those on low incomes, look set to suffer as food prices continue to spiral.They say that rising food prices are driving up the cost of living, which means they have to eat less or change their lifestyle to ...

VIENTIANE (Vientiane Times/ANN) – While Laos has seen improvements in communicable disease control, the sector needs to train more doctors and nurses in the field in order to maintain the overall health of the population. Training will be an opportunity to introduce the epidemic prevention platform, ...

Three Lao men were arrested in Ha Tinh Province on Monday while transporting synthetic drugs worth VND10 billion ($430,000) from Laos to Vietnam.The three men, who have yet to be identified, were arrested near a border gate in the central province’s Huong Son District by ...

VIENTIANE (Vientiane Times/ANN) – Smokers will not be allowed to light up at Wattay International Airport after it was declared a smoke-free zone on Friday.Deputy Minister of Health Associate Prof. Dr Phouthone Muongpak said the airport was the first in Laos to prohibit smoking.More ...

Products or services the government doesn’t promote, including alcoholic beverages, will be subject to higher taxes if a new law on excise duties comes into force in January 2020. In contrast, lower levies will be imposed on items such as fuel and motorcycles that the government ...

The government is on track to achieve 49 percent of its annual revenue collection plan by the end of this month despite facing a number of economic challenges, according to a new official report.The Minister of Planning and Investment, Dr Souphanh Keomixay, this week unveiled ...

VIENTIANE (Vientiane Times/ANN) – The government of Switzerland has provided a budget of US$8.6 million to assist vocational training and employment support for disadvantaged people in Laos.Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment, Dr Kikeo Chanthaboury and Regional Director for Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), ...

VIENTIANE (Vientiane Times/ANN) – Enterprises headed by women have made significant contributions to socio-economic development in Laos, creating employment opportunities and business leadership.In order to make greater contributions in the economic arena, Lao women entrepreneurs need skill development and lessons in managing and expanding their ...