Category Archives: Laos News

Laos News

Dao coffee factory opens in Champassak Reply

by • Laos News • Tags: , , ,

Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong, former President of Laos Khamtay Siphandone and President of the Dao Heuang Company Group Ms.Heuang Litdang open the new factory.

Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong, former President of Laos Khamtay Siphandone and President of the Dao Heuang Company Group Ms.Heuang Litdang open the new factory.

Reposted from Vientiane Times
By Khonesavanh Latsaphao

The Dao Instant Coffee Factory opened on Sunday in Champassak province three years after the start of construction, with costs amounting to US$128 million. Attending the grand opening ceremony was former President of Laos Mr.Khamtay Siphandone, Prime Minister Mr Thongsing Thammavong, Governor of Champassak province Mr.Sonesay Siphandone and Spokesperson for the Government Office Ms.Bounpheng Mounphosay. More…

Laos’ Debt Raising Eyebrows Reply

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Lao's economic development scheme is being criticized for its high level of national debt.

Lao’s economic development scheme is being criticized for its high level of national debt.

Reposted from The Diplomat

Laos’ reputation as an economic backwater and relic of the Cold War has been well earned. This year, however, the Lao government has sought to break free from the traditional communist stereotypes.Engaging the private sector and Chinese state-owned enterprises (SOEs), Vientiane sought to emulate a well-established model by focusing on big ticket infrastructure projects. More…

Firms, entrepreneurs and employees in Lao PDR to benefit from improved business environment Reply

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Laos is moving towards a program-based approach for trade and private sector development.

Laos is moving towards a program-based approach for trade and private sector development.

Reposted from The FINANCIAL

The World Bank Board of Executive Directors approved US$ 4 million in grant financing for the Second Trade Development Facility (TDF-2), co-financed with a Multi Donor Trust Fund of US$ 10 million with contributions from Australia, the European Union, Germany, and Ireland. The grant builds on the progress of the original US$ 7.6 million project, which was approved in 2008. More…

IFC helps Lao Commercial Bank improve trade financing for importers and exporters Reply

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Mr.Vankham Voravong, shaking hands with a IFC regional manager for the Mekong region in Vientiane.

Mr.Vankham Voravong, shaking hands with a IFC regional manager for the Mekong region in Vientiane.

Reposted from KPL Lao News Agency

IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, will provide a trade finance line of $5 million to Banque pour le Commerce Exterieur Lao Public, the largest commercial bank in the Lao PDR. This will allow the bank to help smaller Lao private companies increase trade, generate foreign exchange, and create jobs, according to IFC press release yesterday. More…

Nam Ngum 5 dam powers up Reply

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President Choummaly Sayasone cuts a ribbon to open commercial operation of the Nam Ngum 5 hydropower dam.

President Choummaly Sayasone cuts a ribbon to open commercial operation of the Nam Ngum 5 hydropower dam.

Reposted from Vientiane Times

The Nam Ngum 5 dam in Luang Prabang province officially began generating electricity on Sunday after Sinohydro Corporation Ltd began building the plant in 2008. The US$200 million dam has an installed capacity of 120MW, with planned annual power generation of 507GWh. The dam is located on the Ting River, a right bank tributary of the Nam Ngum River, and is about 300km north of Vientiane. More…

Laos: Land of a ‘million opportunities’ Reply

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vientiane_view

Reposted from The New Straits Times

Pristine: I have heard anecdotes of how the court system in Lao PDR can descend into a bidding war where parties to a law suit ‘pay to win’ the case.

Whoever who pays more will be favoured to come out smiling from the court room. However, let that not deter you from investing in Laos. A number of Malaysian companies have already set up shop in Laos long before it was discovered by the international community in recent times. More…

Laos: Steady Growth Charges the ‘Battery of Asia’ Reply

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Sleepy Laos' impressive economic growth is beginning to stir investor's interests

Laos’ impressive economic growth is beginning to pique investor’s interests


By John Enos

Laos – the sleepy, land-locked nation often overlooked in favor of neighboring Thailand or Vietnam – is finally garnering the international attention that it deserves. The “Jewel of the Mekong” posted 8.0% GDP growth in 2011 and has been the fourth steadiest-growing economy in the world over the last nine years. Despite being the smallest economy in Southeast Asia, it is also slated to be the fastest-growing in the region this year, on track to post 8.3% GDP growth according to the IMF. More…

Laos; Part 3 of 3 — Lao Stock Exchang (LSX) 3

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The expansion of the Theun Hinboun Power Plant in Lao PDR

The expansion of the Theun Hinboun Power Plant in Lao PDR


By Brian Langis

Investment Outlook
Laos is getting pampered in the financial media with favorable investment headlines and perspectives filled with rosy economic data and statistics. It is comforting to read especially when you have been exposed to recent US and EU investment disaster stories. It is very common to see the headline: “Laos the not-so-sleepy-country anymore” or “Laos is finally waking up”. Sound like a very familiar story? Cautious radars might be going off being reminded of other investments in the region that have gone awry, most recently in Vietnam. More…

ADB gives grants, loans for three projects Reply

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Deputy Minister of Finance Mr. Santiphab Phomvihane signs an agreement with Country Director of the Asian Development Bank to Laos Mr.Chong Chi Nai.

Deputy Minister of Finance Mr. Santiphab Phomvihane signs an agreement with Country Director of the Asian Development Bank to Laos Mr.Chong Chi Nai.

Reposted from Vientiane Times
By Khonesavanh Latsaphao

The government yesterday signed finance agreements with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) worth almost US$83 million, which will fund three development projects. These projects are one of the key partnership areas between the Lao government and ADB from 2012 and 2016. More…

Laos takes stock of development success Reply

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Members of the diplomatic corps and representatives of international organisations greet President Choummaly Sayasone on National Day.

Members of the diplomatic corps and representatives of international organisations greet President Choummaly Sayasone on National Day.

Reposted from Vientiane Times
By Somsack Pongkhao

The numerous events of political and historic importance for Laos in 2012 were the result of the country’s active engagement in international affairs by pursuing a consistent foreign policy of peace, independence, friendship and cooperation. President Choummaly Sayasone made the observation while addressing members of the diplomatic corps and representatives of international organisations on Saturday. They called on the president to express their cordial friendship and goodwill towards him and other leaders as the country celebrated the 37th anniversary of the founding of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic. More…