Laos 20240214

Mekong Memo Laos Weekly: Business, politics, finance, trade & legal news.

Feb 14, 2024

∙ Paid

Get the latest Southeast Asian business news delivered to your inbox every weekday with the Mekong Memo.

Choose to receive our free daily editions covering Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam, and Thailand individually or together: account settings.

The Memo is published each weekday for the country of your choice. Paid subscriptions receive full editions while free subscribers get top headlines and an abbreviated selection of stories.

Support us and unlock unlimited access by becoming a paid subscriber today to stay informed on emerging opportunities in Southeast Asia.

The Mekong Memo is proudly presented by:

Horton International offers reliable, effective solutions to recruiting and resourcing challenges for a diverse range of organizations, from small, privately held start-ups to leading Global corporations. With offices and experience throughout Southeast Asia, Horton International is your first choice for executive search in the region.

Click here to learn more.

Here is your Mekong Memo Laos for the week of February 14, 2024. Click on the link of our sponsor above, pay for a subscription, share with a friend or hit that reply button and tell us what you think.

Headlines:

Battle Against Opium Cultivation Sees Mixed Success

Agricultural Exports Surge with Limited Local Benefit

Chinese Fever Sweeps Lao Students

Laos Boosts Ambitious Tourism Goal

Luang Prabang Grapples with Tourism Boom Pains

January Inflation Edges Up

Lao Airlines with New Routes

ASEAN's United Front on Energy Security

Setting Sights on a 2025 Digital Census

Luxembourg and Laos Commit to Collaboration

Laos and Türkiye Mark 60 Years

Cambodia Backs Lao Entry Into Ottawa Treaty

Kimi Takesue's Cinematic Journey Through Laos

Battle Against Opium Cultivation Sees Mixed Success

Laos is making headway in ridding the country of opium cultivation, with efforts in northern provinces showing promising results. Authorities have destroyed thousands of square meters of opium fields, trying desperately to get farmers to switch to alternative crops, but remote Hmong communities continue traditional opium cultivation for medicine as traditions collide with the crackdown. Despite the push, Laos remains a hotspot for opium production, with poverty a primary driver of growth.

Read more: Laotian Times (Eradication Efforts), Radio Free Asia (Cultural Continuation)

Agricultural Exports Surge with Limited Local Benefit

Laos saw agricultural exports top $1.4 billion in 2023, growth fueled by Chinese investments. This growth aligns with Laos' economic aims but the complexity lies in who reaps the rewards. Data shows the majority of financial gains are going back to Chinese investors through taxes and fees, leaving Laos with thinner margins. While the uptick marks trade progress, Laos needs to use this moment to improve local production and quality to capture larger benefits from exports while addressing imbalances. The opportunity is there to enrich Laos' long-term position if thoughtful measures are taken within the currents of Chinese influence.

Read more: The Star (Export Growth), Radio Free Asia (Investment Impact)

Chinese Fever Sweeps Lao Students

Chinese investments flooding Laos have sparked a gold rush fever among Lao youth to learn Mandarin. They see the language as the golden ticket to jobs as China's regional influence grows. Enrollments in Chinese classes at the National University of Laos nearly tripled since 2021, with Chinese language becoming the most popular major this academic year. This rush to acquire lingual keys to the Middle Kingdom comes as students become more pragmatic about how to succeed in a future featuring a swelling Chinese presence in the country.

Keep reading with a 7-day free trial

Subscribe to The Mekong Memo to keep reading this post and get 7 days of free access to the full post archives.