VIENTIANE (Vientiane Times/ANN) – The World Bank is optimistic about economic growth in Laos, which is projected to rebound to 6.5 per cent in 2019, rising from 6.3 per cent recorded last year.Despite continued fiscal tightening, the pickup is expected to be driven by robust ...

The number of visitors to Phongsaly province is rising steadily, with a significant jump from the more than 82,000 people recorded in 2015 to 103,583 visitors in 2016. The province’s tourism section is confident this trend will continue and is predicting at least 110,000 visitors ...

Twenty Lao companies will be selected as sub-contractors for construction work on the almost-US$6 billion railway that will link Vientiane to the Chinese border. But these companies must be sub-contracted by Chinese companies, who will supervise their work and provide technical assistance to ensure high quality ...

There are 124 mining companies operating 209 projects including exploration and processing of minerals, with 14 companies now constructing new facilities. From 2021 to 2025, Laos is expected to produce mineral products valued at USD 7.832 billion, increasing by four percent from the previous five ...

Historically, a fragmented approach has been in place in responding to violence against women, ad hoc measures and limited understanding by officials due to the absence of clear national guidelines. Establishing SOPs is critical to strengthen systems and create a clear framework for sectors to ...

The relationship between Laos and Japan continues to grow and be fruitful, especially under the strategic partnership which has strengthened political, economic, and socio-cultural cooperation. This success was highlighted during a five-day visit to Japan last week by Deputy Prime Minister Dr Sonexay Siphandone when ...

The Ministry of Post and Telecommunications has developed and expanded information communications technology infrastructure over the past year and have accomplished many successes. The Minister of Post and Telecommunications, Dr Thansamay Khommasith, presented a summary of the past year’s work and the plan for the ...

The compensation to be paid to the owners of parcels of land and buildings that will be used or demolished to make way for the Laos-China railway may not be enough. Ministers addressed this issue at the National Assembly’s ongoing debate session on October 26, ...

Laos and Australia concluded a customs related agreement in Vientiane last week, aiming to promote customs-to-customs ties between the two countries. According to a press rel ease from the Australia Embassy in Vientiane, Australian Border Force Commissioner Roman Quaedvlieg is visiting the region to further ...

Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos have agreed to take concrete action and apply more effective measures against wildlife law offenders, and have committed to treating wildlife offences as serious crimes, although the number of cases referred to court in the three countries remains low. On June 2-3, ...

Service fees and product standards offered by telecommunications companies as well as the import of discarded electronic products were among the concerns raised by National Assembly members during a debate on the newly drafted Law on Information and Communication Technology. The draft law was made ...

The Mekong River Commission Secretariat has received an official notification from the Lao Government that it will undertake the formal process of prior consultation on its Pak Lay hydropower project in the Pak Lay area in the Lao PDR’s northern province of Xayaburi. The run-of-river ...

China Communications Construction Company (CCCC), a major player in China’s “Belt and Road” initiative, said they are looking at rail projects in Asean countries such as Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia, in an effort to expand in trans-Asian rail routes. Keep reading ...

Laos and China have agreed to further enhance cooperation in the field of water resources through a new Data and Information Centre in conjunction with river basin management plans. The centre and the River Basin Master Planning Project are set to formulate planning schemes for ...

A buried bombie exploded on March 21 in Paek district, Xieng Khuang province, killing one child and injuring five adults and seven other children, officials have said. Three people were seriously injured and are undergoing surgery in the provincial hospital to remove the shrapnel. One ...

Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon September 8 inaugurated the Lao PDR’s own national Sustainable Development Goal on unexploded ordnance during the ongoing ASEAN Summits. The SDGs have been drawn up by the United Nations as targets for developing countries. Goal No. 18, which ...

A new study found under-reported debts of at least $385 billion owed by different countries to China in the past two decades, and that one-third of projects under the Belt and Road Initiative have run into major implementation problems. The hidden debts, which slipped through the ...

Both Airbus and Boeing have chosen China to build airplane assembling factories. French Airbus has kicked off construction of a helicopter assembling factory in the eastern port city of Qingdao, Shandong Province which is expected to be completed by the end of 2018. The factory will ...

The government of Luxembourg has granted 23 million euro (205 billion kip) to Laos to carry out local development projects in four target provinces. The programme aims to improve infrastructure and nutrition, ease poverty, and bolster sustainable environmental management as outlined in the 8th national socio-economic ...