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Headlines:
Political Pedigree Beats Private Equity
Five-Year Plans Chart Economic Future
National Election Committee for 2026 Polls
First Digital Census Underway
Better China Border Trade Cooperation Hopes
Legal Eagles Head to Japan
Expressway Feasibility Study in Luang Namtha
New Solar Energy Project for Attapeu
Polio Outbreak Forces Thai Alert
Rare Earth Mining From Laos Now a Problem Too
Political Pedigree Beats Private Equity
The ST Group, founded by a rice whisky peddler who married the president’s daughter, just won a decade-long arbitration battle with Macau-based Sanum Investments over a shuttered casino venture. The tale isn’t exactly unique in Lao’s small economy, where conglomerates like Phongsavanh, Chaleun Sekong, and Phongsubthavy all started as construction subcontractors in the provinces, before riding Communist Party connections to the capital before branching into banking, hydropower, and real estate. With minimal restrictions on banks lending to their own subsidiaries and no meaningful venture capital scene, the politically connected are getting bigger while the middle remains missing. A good read.
Read more: Business Times
Five-Year Plans Chart Economic Future
The Ministries of Industry and Commerce and Finance have published their 2026-2030 development plans. They want to see a GDP contribution of at least 36.2% from industry and trade. The Industry and Trade plan expects annual growth of 12.65% for industry, 14.54% for domestic trade, and 10.62% for foreign trade. It seems like good news that the ministries appear to recognize that the goals won’t be met without reforms to support MSMEs. The smallest companies employ more than 80% of the workforce, but struggle with credit access because of high collateral demands that often are more than 200% of the loan values. The Bank of Laos also shared its own five-year plan that puts an emphasis on financial stability and digital banking development.
Read more: Laotian Times (Development Plans), The Star (Industry Targets), The Star (MSME Support)
National Election Committee for 2026 Polls
The government formed a 21-member National Election Committee to oversee the general election scheduled early next year. Legally, the election is required at least 60 days before the current legislature’s term ends on March 22, which means it needs to be run before January 21. Eligible voters are those at least 18 years old; each member of parliament will represent about 50,000 citizens. The new legislature will hold a first session within 60 days post-election to choose state leaders, approve the government cabinet, and endorse the Five-Year National Socio-Economic Development Plan for 2026-2030.
Read more: Asian News Network (Committee Formation), Laotian Times (Election Details)
First Digital Census Underway
The government launched its first digital Population and Housing Census on November 3. It’s expected to run until December 28. The census will collect and update the government’s understanding of population size, structure, growth, ethnicity, disability, housing, services access, and education from all residents, including foreign nationals who have been living in the country for six months or longer. The results will help to improve the design of government policies, support the next National Socio-Economic Development Plan, and help track progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals.
Read more: Laotian Times
Better China Border Trade Cooperation Hopes
Laos and China sat down to discuss economic cooperation and trade in border areas during a meeting between Lao officials from several northern provinces and the Chamber of Commerce from China’s Xishuangbanning Dai area. The 10th Laos-China Trade Cooperation Exchange Meeting set up a 2026 cooperation plan that includes upcoming projects to promote trade, investment, and other development in northern Laos.
Read more: The Star
Legal Eagles Head to Japan
A delegation of reps from the legal and judicial fields visited Tokyo this week. The visit was a celebration of nearly three decades of work under JICA’s project for promoting the rule of law. The delegation included four deputy-minister-level officials, and was held with Japanese officials, including the Prosecutor General and a Justice of the Supreme Court.
Read more: The Star
Expressway Feasibility Study in Luang Namtha
The Luang Namtha Provincial Administration signed an MoU to run a feasibility study to see if a proposed expressway between Boten International Checkpoint and Nateuy is viable. The agreement gives the contractor up to two years to finish its work. The project would include the upgrade of two national roads: 18 kilometers of National Highway 13 North and 28 kilometers of National Road 13R.
Read more: Laotian Times
New Solar Energy Project for Attapeu
Attapeu Province has approved a new 5-megawatt solar power project over 10 hectares in Sanongmai-Piandong village, Sanamxay district. Attapeu has been a big driver of Lao renewable energy projects as it already has a $1.3 billion, 1,200-megawatt solar project underway (expected completion: 2027), and is part of the 600-megawatt Monsoon Wind Power Project, the largest onshore wind facility in Southeast Asia.
Read more: Laotian Times (Solar Project), Laotian Times (Revenue Growth)
Polio Outbreak Forces Thai Alert
The Department of Disease Control in Thailand is warning visitors about reported cases of poliomyelitis. Two new cases have been linked to vaccine-derived poliovirus type 1 that has come from Lao’s Savannakhet province, following an earlier case in August. Surveillance measures and traveler screening at border crossings are being put in place.
Read more: Bangkok Post
Rare Earth Mining From Laos Now a Problem Too
In addition to all the bad news about the environmental impact of rare earths mining coming out of Myanmar, it looks like the same story is playing out in Laos. At least 27 new rare earth mines have been opened in Laos in the past 3 years, mostly in protected areas within the Mekong River Basin. The Stimson Center says that they are a pollution risk for Vietnam and the wider Mekong system. Mining activities are illegal, but companies can often get away with things by getting local permission and getting around the rules from Vientiane.
Read more: Reccessary
That’s all for this week, thanks for reading.
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