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Headlines:
Party Finalizes Blueprint for Development
Central Bank Cuts Rate
Household Electric Subsidy Rolls Out
Digital Partnership with Vietnam
Post Teams Up for Cross-Border e-Commerce
Railway Cargo Volumes Hit Record High
Yunnan Investments Get New Priority List
Renewables Expansion Targets Net Zero
COMAC Gets Stake in Lao Airlines
Infrastructure Projects Move Forward
Regional Bigwigs Jawbone on Crime
Unregulated Mining Pours Poison Into Rivers
Party Finalizes Blueprint for Development
The Lao People’s Revolutionary Party is wrapping up the 10th five-year National Socio-Economic Development Plan (2026-2030), setting targets for growth, poverty, and infrastructure. The Central Committee’s Plenary Session, led by Secretary General Thongloun Sisoulith, is meeting through tomorrow to review documents for national development to try and gain consensus on the nation’s direction as everyone prepares for the upcoming 12th National Party Congress.
Read more: The Star (Plenary Session), The Star (High-Level Meeting)
Central Bank Cuts Rate
The Bank of the Lao PDR announced a reduction of the 7-day base interest rate from 9% to 8.5% p.a. The decision was made during the Monetary Policy Committee Meeting IV for 2025, where the MPC also said that the biggest risks on the horizon were slower global growth and the continuing burden of high foreign debt repayments. They did say that they expect inflation to remain tempered at about 5% for the final quarter of 2025. The committee says it plans to maintain a mixed monetary policy approach through next year.
Read more: Laotian Times
Household Electric Subsidy Rolls Out
The government introduced an electricity subsidy worth up to $10 million, effective immediately, for households using up to 300 kWh a month. Minister of Industry and Commerce Malaythong Kommasith announced the subsidy, which will bring the transmission fee down from 1.2 US cents per kWh to half a cent, and thereby support the reduction of overall tariffs to between 2.4 and 4.9 US cents per kWh. The subsidy is planned to run through December. The ministry also said that any future (presumably ‘upward’) adjustments to tariffs will be gradual to avoid additional pressure on families. Plans are also underway to introduce separate power price schedules for agriculture, industry, and households over the next four years.
Read more: The Star (Subsidy Details), Asian News Network (Policy Background)
Digital Partnership with Vietnam
Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son of Vietnam met with Lao Deputy Minister of Technology and Communications, Saysana Sitthiphone, yesterday in Ho Chi Minh City during the 2025 Autumn Economic Forum. Son talked about the importance of digital infrastructure between the two countries and asked for closer collaboration to implement existing agreements. The Lao side showed an appreciation for Vietnam’s support in developing infrastructure and shared ideas for future cooperation, including data center infrastructure buildouts and knowledge sharing on digital governance.
Read more: Nhan Dan (Forum Meeting), Voice of Vietnam (Experience Sharing)
Post Teams Up for Cross-Border e-Commerce
Thailand Post and Lao Post signed an MoU this week to improve e-commerce and smooth cross-border trade between Thailand, Laos, and China. President Dhanant Subhadrabandhu of Thailand Post wants improved transport networks and payment systems to promote growth. Shared initiatives include the use of mailbag exchange systems and an Electronic Data Interchange system for customs efficiency. Both agencies are expected to develop e-wallet and electronic payment channels in addition to the renewal of a partnership with Western Union for cross-border money transfers.
Read more: Post and Parcel
Railway Cargo Volumes Hit Record High
Cargo volumes via the China-Laos Railway are up 12.8% year-on-year; total cargo value hit $3.10 billion, a 45+% rise. Since operations began nearly four years ago, the railway has shifted close to 16 million tonnes of goods.
Read more: Vietnam Plus (Cargo Volumes), Global Times (Trade Details)
Yunnan Investments Get New Priority List
Saengdeuane Sayasone, Laos-China Cooperation Committee official, said that Monday’s 15th Meeting of the Joint Coordination Committee in Vientiane was necessary to both present Lao investment priorities and to understand Chinese needs as Laos tries to bring new money from China’s Yunnan. A new “investment calling” list was presented, listing potential projects in agriculture and renewable energy. The Laos-China Economic Corridor continues to be a priority focus, improving infrastructure with railways and expressways that support trade and tourism. The government continues support foreigners navigate the investment processes through the One Stop Service system.
Read more: Laotian Times (Investment Priorities), Bernama (Investment Seeking)
Renewables Expansion Targets Net Zero
Électricité du Laos Generation Public Company partnered with South Korean firm CS Tech to install floating solar systems on hydropower reservoirs, and a 5-megawatt solar project in Attapeu province (backed by South Korean investment) has been blessed with approval. The National Power Development Strategy for 2021–2030 targets a rising use of solar and wind power to 11% by 2030, with an expected target mix of 75% hydropower, 14% coal, and 11% solar/wind. By 2030, the country wants electric vehicles to make up almost a third of 30% of cars and two-wheelers. Analysts from the ASEAN Centre for Energy expect that getting to ‘net zero’ by 2050 will require restructuring the power sector, focusing more on solar and biomass while phasing out coal.
Read more: Eco-Business
COMAC Gets Stake in Lao Airlines
As previously reported in the Mekong Memo, COMAC has been able to secure a 49% stake in Lao Airlines, with the government keeping the remaining 51% ownership. Discussions about COMAC’s ownership stake began in 2024, with the manufacturer initially proposing a minimum 51% ownership in June 2025, contingent on an audit of the carrier’s assets. Lao lawmakers didn’t want to cede majority ownership, leading to negotiations and the revised deal announced on November 10. The asset audit is still pending, with plans for a business development proposal for Lao Airlines to be submitted to the government once finalized.
Read more: Centre for Aviation
Infrastructure Projects Move Forward
ANDRITZ secured a contract with Nam Theun 1 Power Co. Ltd. to restore components at the Nam Theun-I hydropower plant (2×260MW) in Bolikhamxay Province after flood damage from Typhoon Bualoi in September. Construction of four bridges along Route 20 in Salavan Province is 49% complete as of mid-November, part of a broader plan to get 12 bridges built in Champasack and Salavan provinces, funded by loans and grants from the Government of the Netherlands. Physical construction began in June 2025 and is expected to wrap up in April next year. Vientiane saw five traffic accidents involving the Bus Rapid Transit system in November 2025, shortly after its launch with a two-month free trial. Public outcry on social media focused on design flaws of the BRT system and the need for stricter enforcement of traffic rules.
Read more: Water Power Magazine (Hydropower Restoration), Laotian Times (Bridge Construction), Laotian Times (BRT)
Regional Bigwigs Jawbone on Crime
Senior officials from six Lancang-Mekong countries came together in Vientiane from November 13-15 to talk telecom fraud. Vice Foreign Ministers Park Yoon-joo (Korea) and Phongsamouth Anlavan held talks in Seoul on November 24, as well as to iron out the details of cooperation against online scams. Laos has made progress in narcotic trafficking control, resolving 7,115 drug-related cases from 2024 to October 2025, resulting in 10,856 arrests and the seizure of ~280 million methamphetamine pills.
Read more: Asian News Network (Telecom Fraud), Korea Times (Korea Cooperation), The Star (Drug Cases), Laotian Times(Fugitive Transfer)
Unregulated Mining Pours Poison Into Rivers
The Stimson Center has identified nearly 2,500 unregulated mining sites across Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos using satellite imagery, with contaminants including cyanide, mercury, arsenic, and other heavy metals released into river systems. The boom is mostly being driven by growth in demand for rare earth elements and high gold prices. Water testing along the Mekong and Salween Rivers showed arsenic levels way higher than safe limits. The Stimson Center is trying to inspire action from regional governments to prioritize water quality testing to protect communities and ecosystems.
Read more: The Diplomat (Regional Report), Stimson Center (Dashboard Details)
That’s all for this week, thanks for reading.
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