23 Jan, 2026

Laos Exceeds 2025 Tax Revenue Target

Laos’ tax sector collected LAK 22.85 billion (USD 1.06 million) in revenue in 2025, exceeding its annual target, according to the Ministry of Finance.The collection surpassed the assigned 2025 target of LAK 18.5 billion, achieving 123.53 percent of the annual plan. Officials said the strong performance reflected improved oversight, closer coordination, and continued efforts to strengthen tax administration.The results were reviewed on 15 January, when the Customs Department under the Ministry of Finance held a meeting to assess 2025 performance and outline priorities, plans, and measures for the 2026 tax sector.Director General of the Lao Customs Department Phoukhaokham Vanavongxay said the revenue gains resulted from close guidance and monitoring by Ministry of Finance leadership, along with more effective coordination across customs operations.Looking ahead, authorities have set a 2026 revenue target of LAK 25.72 billion (USD 1.19 million). Officials said the higher goal follows a review of existing laws and regulations, with plans to update the legal framework to better reflect current economic and social conditions.The ministry said it will pursue the target through stronger management of civil servants, reforms to reinforce the role of the Tax Department, and wider use of modern systems to improve collection efficiency and reduce revenue leakage.While noting the strong 2025 performance, officials said sustaining growth in 2026 will depend on continued legal reform, stricter enforcement, and improved taxpayer compliance.

19 Jan, 2026

Laos to Export Electricity to Singapore Under Regional Power Agreement

Laos has taken another step toward expanding regional electricity exports after a new agreement cleared the way for Lao-generated power to be transmitted to Singapore through neighbouring countries.On 14 January, Malaysia’s Tenaga Nasional Berhad, Electricité du Laos, and the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand signed the Phase 2 Energy Wheeling Agreement under the Lao PDR–Thailand–Malaysia–Singapore Power Integration Project. The first phase was signed in 2022 with a two year period that ended on June 22, 2024.The agreement, which takes effect immediately and will run for two years, allows electricity produced in Laos to be sold and delivered to Singapore using existing transmission networks in Thailand and Malaysia.Under the arrangement, Laos can export between 30 and 100 megawatts of electricity, with Electricité du Laos paying wheeling fees for the use of Malaysia’s transmission infrastructure.Officials said the deal completes the operational framework for the project’s second phase, reinforcing Laos’ role as a regional power supplier and advancing cross-border electricity trade within ASEAN.The agreement comes as Laos continues to expand its clean energy sector. In recent years, the country has signed major investment deals to develop large-scale renewable power projects and strengthen regional grid connectivity.Among them is a USD 1.45 billion agreement with Chinese and Singapore-based partners to develop an 1,800-megawatt clean energy project in Xekong Province, scheduled for completion by early 2030.Laos is also progressing with the Lao–China 500-kilovolt interconnection project, due for completion in 2026, which will enable the exchange of up to 1,500 megawatts of electricity and the transmission of around 3 billion kilowatt-hours of clean energy annually.Authorities say these agreements and infrastructure projects support Laos’ long-term strategy to position itself as a regional clean energy hub while deepening power integration across the Mekong subregion and ASEAN.