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Headlines:
Strengthening Bilateral Ties
Tourism on the Upswing
Economic Improvements and Investments
Environmental Initiatives and Challenges
Infrastructure and Transportation
Social Programs and Empowerment
Governance and Anti-Corruption Efforts
Blue Economy and Sustainable Innovations
Road Safety Worries Mount
Power Supply to Scam Centers Denied
British Council Hunts For Study Consultants
Beef Value Chain Examined
Strengthening Bilateral Ties
Laos recently signed an audit cooperation pact with Mongolia to improve financial management and share expertise. Celebrating 30 years of development ties, Laos and Korea continue to work together, focusing on infrastructure and social sectors. Cambodia and Laos have agreed to new cooperation frameworks covering trade, investment, and youth exchanges.
Read more: Asian News Network (Mongolia), Khmer Times (Foreign Liaison), Khmer Times (Youth Ties), Khmer Times (Bilateral Cooperation), The Star (Korea)
Tourism on the Upswing
Laos welcomed more than 4 million international visitors in 2024. The good showing was driven by visa waiver extensions for Chinese tourists and the new high-speed rail linking Laos with Thailand and China, making destinations like Vang Vieng and Luang Prabang far more accessible than they have historically been. The grand opening of Amari Vientiane is a new addition to the hospitality sector, offering luxury accommodations and amenities. Separately, community-based trekking initiatives targeting female hikers have recently been launched, promoting sustainable tourism and empowering local women.
Read more: Laotian Times (Visa Waivers), Travel and Tour World (Tourism Growth), Travel and Tour World (Community Trek), Laotian Times (Amari Opening)
Economic Improvements and Investments
Laos saw its out-of-control inflation rate drop to 15.5% in January 2025, thanks to stable agricultural supplies and a steady exchange rate. The government is trying to beat rising prices by promoting local production and reducing imports. Lanexang Airways has secured $15 million in funding from the Lao Development Bank to expand its fleet and develop new flight routes to improve connectivity within Southeast Asia. The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) is also partnering with Laos to improve rural livelihoods through better irrigation and market access, in support of more than 350 villages.
Read more: The Star (Inflation), ch-aviation (Airline Funding), The Star Malaysia (IFAD Partnership)
Environmental Initiatives and Challenges
Laos is taking steps to monitor and improve air quality in schools, with UNICEF installing AI-powered sensors in 150 schools to provide real-time air pollutant data. Despite the efforts, the country still needs to deal with other environmental challenges including heatwaves that threaten agriculture and public health. More than one million people are facing food insecurity because extreme temperatures are impacting crop yields.
Read more: UNICEF Laos (Air Monitoring), The Star (Climate Crisis)
Infrastructure and Transportation
New infrastructure is being built out with the approval of Phase 2 of the high-speed rail project connecting Laos to China via Thailand. This project is part of China’s famed Belt and Road Initiative. A new irrigation reservoir in Champasack is expected to benefit 1,760 families by providing reliable water for farming throughout the year.
Read more: Pattaya Mail (High-Speed Rail), Laotian Times (Irrigation Reservoir)
Social Programs and Empowerment
Laos is promoting social development through initiatives like ChildSafe training by Asian Trails, which is giving staff skills to protect children in tourism settings. The ASEAN-UK SAGE Women in STEM Scholarships are open, preparing women to lead in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
Read more: TTR Weekly (ChildSafe Training), Laotian Times (Women in STEM)
Governance and Anti-Corruption Efforts
The fight against corruption grinds on, with the State Inspection Authority uncovering financial misconduct resulting in some hefty recoveries and several prosecutions. The authority’s efforts cut across several sectors, including land, minerals, and natural resources, as regulators work to improve financial oversight and governance. The Trump administration's freeze on USAID projects in Laos has disrupted critical health and environmental programs, challenging Laos' development programs and reminding everyone of the importance of planning for the unexpected.
Read more: The Star (Anti-Corruption), Laotian Times (USAID Freeze)
Blue Economy and Sustainable Innovations
The ASEAN Blue Economy Innovation Project is set to host the ASEAN Blue Innovation Expo and Business Matching a week from today, on February 19, 2025. This event will show off 60 innovations for fisheries, pollution, climate issues, and tourism. With the blue economy expected to reach as much as $3 trillion by 2030, the event is intended to get ahead of important challenges like food security and overfishing through digital and AI solutions. Funded by Japan, the expo hopes to lead change that will drive economic growth and create millions of jobs across ASEAN.
Read more: Laotian Times
Road Safety Worries Mount
Laos tallied a total of more than 6,700 road accidents in 2024, resulting in 10,312 injuries and 929 deaths. Major cities like Vientiane and Champasak saw the highest number of incidents, with the main contributing factors being reported to be unlicensed driving, underage drivers, and alcohol use. The government is demanding (again?) better road safety measures and stricter enforcement of traffic laws to reduce accidents and improve road safety.
Read more: Laotian Times
Power Supply to Scam Centers Denied
Laos says that it has choked off electricity supply to Myanmar’s Tachileik region in order to disrupt scam centers, following on the heels of similar actions by Thailand. The idea is to disrupt telecommunications fraud operations by cutting off power to areas used by criminal syndicates. The Lao Minister of Energy and Mines said that coordination with Myanmar authorities to investigate and prevent misuse of power, is underway, but a big problem is to make sure that innocent members of the public are not denied electricity as a result of the cuts.
Read more: The Star (Power Restrictions), Laotian Times (Electricity Denial)
British Council Hunts For Study Consultants
The British Council is inviting proposals for consultancy services to assess the status of Science, Research, and Innovation (SRI) in Cambodia and Lao PDR. The studies, under the International Science Partnerships Fund (ISPF), will evaluate human resource capacity, government policies, and gaps in skills development. Two consultants with expertise in research translation, policy analysis, and baseline assessments are sought. The findings will inform strategies to strengthen scientific and innovation capacity in both countries. If you have an interest in those areas, be sure to check out the post.
Read more: British Council
Beef Value Chain Examined
A CGIAR study has put the transformation of the beef value chain in Northern Laos into the spotlight, showing the region's shift from subsistence to commercial production. The cattle sector is crucial for economic development, with strong market connections to China and Vietnam. Challenges include meeting international trade requirements, but there is also some big potential for integrating livestock into expanding regional markets, supporting broader agricultural modernization efforts in Southeast Asia.
Read more: CGIAR, Alliance, Alliance (original document)
That’s all for this week, thanks for reading.
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