The Lao government has pledged to complete its Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and carry the nation out of the Least Developed Country (LDC) status by 2026, with efforts focusing on human resources development, economic regulation, and poverty reduction.
Lao Minister of Planning and Investment Khamjane Vongphosy made the vow on 14 February during a press conference following the 2023 Round Table Implementation Meeting, where the focus was on accelerating the implementation of the 9th Five-Year National Socio-economic Development Plan.
The Five-Year plan focuses on economic growth, with aims to improve human resources by ensuring improved quality of the educational system from early childhood, prioritizing green development, boosting productive sectors, such as crops, livestock, forest and fisheries and improving living standards. The plan also prepares for Laos’ graduation from Least Developed Country status.
The Lao government is also pushing to reduce urban-rural development disparities, eliminate violence against women and children, reduce poverty, and enhance domestic business competitiveness by improving the business environment.
To support these initiatives, the government will implement appropriate financial strategies and strengthen disaster prevention and control operations. This includes improving early warning systems, conducting risk studies, and supporting high-risk communities to enhance preparedness for extreme weather events.
Minister Khamjane also emphasized the importance of collaboration, stating that the Ministry of Planning and Investment will coordinate with other authorities to follow up on suggested guidelines for successful implementation. This collaborative approach is seen as essential for achieving the SDGs and LDC graduation..
While factors such as an economic slump and high inflation project a downward trend for the country, the Lao government is continuing to implement the 9th Five-Year Socio-Economic plan, as part of the broader goal to achieve the SDGs and graduate from the LDC status.
https://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Laos-Vows-to-Graduate-from-Least-Developed-Country-by-2026.jpg6271200Sylivanla Vongphachanhhttps://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Lao-Simply-Beautiful-.webpSylivanla Vongphachanh2024-03-14 11:20:082024-03-13 11:21:48Laos Vows to Graduate from Least Developed Country by 2026
The Ministry of Finance announced a new regulation on mandatory tax payments for all digital shopping platforms in its latest notice, released on 14 February.
The notice classifies digital platform shopping websites into three groups: registered enterprises in the Value-Added Tax (VAT) system, micro-enterprises, and revenue-generating individuals, legal entities, and organizations.
Under the new regulations, enterprises registered with the VAT system must include their taxpayer identification number and VAT certificate in their advertisements for selling goods and services through e-commerce channels. They must also inform users whenever VAT is collected.
Microenterprises, however, are not required to inform users when collecting tax but must display their taxpayer identification number in their advertising.
VAT-registered enterprises, microenterprises, as well as revenue-generating individuals, legal entities, and organizations must provide information on the purchase of digital products, services, and every electronic commerce activity. Only VAT-registered enterprises are required to connect their electronic information to the Tax Revenue Information Management System (TaxRIS).
The TaxRIS system is a government investment aimed at modernizing revenue collection. It aligns with the strategic plan to make tax payments easier for taxpayers, ensure all taxes are accounted for in the state budget, and enhance transparency.
Furthermore, all three e-commerce groups must manually submit their revenue tax, VAT, profit tax, salary tax, and other taxes through the government’s website. Additionally, they must maintain accounting according to the system prescribed by the Law on Accounting Management and submit proper documentation to receive an annual tax payment certificate.
The notice also instructs the Tax Department nationwide to streamline procedures for the three groups. This includes facilitating the issuance of taxpayer identification numbers to individuals, legal entities, or organizations that conduct electronic commerce to access the TaxRIS system fully.
Failure to comply with the new regulations may result in warnings, fines, legal action, or even the platform’s shutdown.
The Ministry’s new regulations aim to enhance tax compliance among digital shopping platforms in Laos. These measures, including the integration of taxpayer identification numbers and VAT certificates in advertisements, reflect the government’s commitment to modernizing revenue collection and ensuring transparency in e-commerce transactions.
https://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/e-com.jpg6271200Sylivanla Vongphachanhhttps://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Lao-Simply-Beautiful-.webpSylivanla Vongphachanh2024-03-13 11:29:492024-03-13 11:29:52Lao Government Rolls Out New Tax Regulations on E-Commerce
The Japanese government joined various partners to launch a project aimed at empowering coffee farmers in two districts of Luang Prabang Province on 15 February. This initiative will bolster farmer’s production and marketing efforts while promoting access to and understanding of essential nutrition.
The Cocreation of Food Security for Farmers with Economic Empowerment with Japan (COFFEE-JAPAN) is a project funded by the Government of Japan with approximately USD 1 million, which will be undertaken in collaboration between the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, the United Nations World Food Programme, Saka no Tochu, a Japanese private company active in Laos, and Saffron Coffee, a Lao fair-trade coffee company.
The project targets eight villages in Luang Prabang’s Phonxai and Vieng Kham districts. Over a duration of 30 months, 300 smallholder producers and their families will benefit directly from knowledge and resources to improve and increase their production while enhancing their nutrition awareness. The coffee produced will be exported to the Japanese market. The partners aim to create a replicable model of incorporating nutrition into the coffee value chain.
“Coffee, as a cash crop, has a high potential to create economic opportunities for people. However, there is a dearth in high-quality internationally marketable coffee, as farmers in northern areas of the country have limited skills to cultivate it for the demands of international markets. We are thankful for support from Japan and the collaboration between a broad range of actors to create more income for coffee farmers, while ensuring they learn about nutrition and have access to healthy food,” said Siriphone Souphanthong, Vice-Governor of Luang Prabang Province.
“Over several decades, Japan has been continuously supporting the development of the agriculture and forestry sectors in Laos, including the partnership with WFP. Taking the great opportunities of the 50th year of Japan-ASEAN Friendship and Cooperation last year, Laos’ ASEAN chairmanship this year, and the upcoming celebration of 70 years of diplomatic relations between Japan and Laos next year, we are delighted to support this initiative, hoping to contribute to stabilizing and improving rural incomes, while ensuring food security and improving nutrition,” said Kenichi Kobayashi, Ambassador of Japan to Laos.
“At Saka no Tochu, we believe that in the production of coffee, numerous social issues exist, and addressing them rather than turning away is crucial for the future of a 21st-century business. We aim to provide training and infrastructure to farmers, which will benefit their whole village, with the ultimate goal of a better life for all in the community. Through our activities, we plan to increase the volume of coffee that will be available for export, to target specifically the market of small and medium roasters in Japan,” said Mr. Kunihiko Ono, Founder and CEO of Saka no Tochu.
“Our primary goal at WFP is to allow families to access a diversified diet that meets their needs. Nutrition education will create awareness in the communities about the needs at different stages in life, while the increased income from coffee production will allow farmers buy the food they don’t already produce. COFFEE-JAPAN is an innovative public-private partnership with a sustainable people-centred approach, integrating export-grade coffee production, capacity building and nutrition awareness to empower communities and drive positive change,” said Marc-André Prost, WFP Representative and Country Director.
https://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/COFFEE.jpg6271031Sylivanla Vongphachanhhttps://www.tourismlaos.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Lao-Simply-Beautiful-.webpSylivanla Vongphachanh2024-03-13 11:19:162024-03-13 11:19:19Laos, Japan Join Forces to Boost Coffee Production
Laos Vows to Graduate from Least Developed Country by 2026
The Lao government has pledged to complete its Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and carry the nation out of the Least Developed Country (LDC) status by 2026, with efforts focusing on human resources development, economic regulation, and poverty reduction.
Lao Minister of Planning and Investment Khamjane Vongphosy made the vow on 14 February during a press conference following the 2023 Round Table Implementation Meeting, where the focus was on accelerating the implementation of the 9th Five-Year National Socio-economic Development Plan.
The Five-Year plan focuses on economic growth, with aims to improve human resources by ensuring improved quality of the educational system from early childhood, prioritizing green development, boosting productive sectors, such as crops, livestock, forest and fisheries and improving living standards. The plan also prepares for Laos’ graduation from Least Developed Country status.
The Lao government is also pushing to reduce urban-rural development disparities, eliminate violence against women and children, reduce poverty, and enhance domestic business competitiveness by improving the business environment.
To support these initiatives, the government will implement appropriate financial strategies and strengthen disaster prevention and control operations. This includes improving early warning systems, conducting risk studies, and supporting high-risk communities to enhance preparedness for extreme weather events.
Minister Khamjane also emphasized the importance of collaboration, stating that the Ministry of Planning and Investment will coordinate with other authorities to follow up on suggested guidelines for successful implementation. This collaborative approach is seen as essential for achieving the SDGs and LDC graduation..
While factors such as an economic slump and high inflation project a downward trend for the country, the Lao government is continuing to implement the 9th Five-Year Socio-Economic plan, as part of the broader goal to achieve the SDGs and graduate from the LDC status.
Source: https://laotiantimes.com/2024/02/16/laos-vows-to-graduate-from-least-developed-country-by-2026/
Lao Government Rolls Out New Tax Regulations on E-Commerce
The Ministry of Finance announced a new regulation on mandatory tax payments for all digital shopping platforms in its latest notice, released on 14 February.
The notice classifies digital platform shopping websites into three groups: registered enterprises in the Value-Added Tax (VAT) system, micro-enterprises, and revenue-generating individuals, legal entities, and organizations.
Under the new regulations, enterprises registered with the VAT system must include their taxpayer identification number and VAT certificate in their advertisements for selling goods and services through e-commerce channels. They must also inform users whenever VAT is collected.
Microenterprises, however, are not required to inform users when collecting tax but must display their taxpayer identification number in their advertising.
VAT-registered enterprises, microenterprises, as well as revenue-generating individuals, legal entities, and organizations must provide information on the purchase of digital products, services, and every electronic commerce activity. Only VAT-registered enterprises are required to connect their electronic information to the Tax Revenue Information Management System (TaxRIS).
The TaxRIS system is a government investment aimed at modernizing revenue collection. It aligns with the strategic plan to make tax payments easier for taxpayers, ensure all taxes are accounted for in the state budget, and enhance transparency.
Furthermore, all three e-commerce groups must manually submit their revenue tax, VAT, profit tax, salary tax, and other taxes through the government’s website. Additionally, they must maintain accounting according to the system prescribed by the Law on Accounting Management and submit proper documentation to receive an annual tax payment certificate.
The notice also instructs the Tax Department nationwide to streamline procedures for the three groups. This includes facilitating the issuance of taxpayer identification numbers to individuals, legal entities, or organizations that conduct electronic commerce to access the TaxRIS system fully.
Failure to comply with the new regulations may result in warnings, fines, legal action, or even the platform’s shutdown.
The Ministry’s new regulations aim to enhance tax compliance among digital shopping platforms in Laos. These measures, including the integration of taxpayer identification numbers and VAT certificates in advertisements, reflect the government’s commitment to modernizing revenue collection and ensuring transparency in e-commerce transactions.
Source: https://laotiantimes.com/2024/02/20/lao-government-rolls-out-new-tax-regulations-on-e-commerce/
Laos, Japan Join Forces to Boost Coffee Production
The Japanese government joined various partners to launch a project aimed at empowering coffee farmers in two districts of Luang Prabang Province on 15 February. This initiative will bolster farmer’s production and marketing efforts while promoting access to and understanding of essential nutrition.
The Cocreation of Food Security for Farmers with Economic Empowerment with Japan (COFFEE-JAPAN) is a project funded by the Government of Japan with approximately USD 1 million, which will be undertaken in collaboration between the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, the United Nations World Food Programme, Saka no Tochu, a Japanese private company active in Laos, and Saffron Coffee, a Lao fair-trade coffee company.
The project targets eight villages in Luang Prabang’s Phonxai and Vieng Kham districts. Over a duration of 30 months, 300 smallholder producers and their families will benefit directly from knowledge and resources to improve and increase their production while enhancing their nutrition awareness. The coffee produced will be exported to the Japanese market. The partners aim to create a replicable model of incorporating nutrition into the coffee value chain.
“Coffee, as a cash crop, has a high potential to create economic opportunities for people. However, there is a dearth in high-quality internationally marketable coffee, as farmers in northern areas of the country have limited skills to cultivate it for the demands of international markets. We are thankful for support from Japan and the collaboration between a broad range of actors to create more income for coffee farmers, while ensuring they learn about nutrition and have access to healthy food,” said Siriphone Souphanthong, Vice-Governor of Luang Prabang Province.
“Over several decades, Japan has been continuously supporting the development of the agriculture and forestry sectors in Laos, including the partnership with WFP. Taking the great opportunities of the 50th year of Japan-ASEAN Friendship and Cooperation last year, Laos’ ASEAN chairmanship this year, and the upcoming celebration of 70 years of diplomatic relations between Japan and Laos next year, we are delighted to support this initiative, hoping to contribute to stabilizing and improving rural incomes, while ensuring food security and improving nutrition,” said Kenichi Kobayashi, Ambassador of Japan to Laos.
“At Saka no Tochu, we believe that in the production of coffee, numerous social issues exist, and addressing them rather than turning away is crucial for the future of a 21st-century business. We aim to provide training and infrastructure to farmers, which will benefit their whole village, with the ultimate goal of a better life for all in the community. Through our activities, we plan to increase the volume of coffee that will be available for export, to target specifically the market of small and medium roasters in Japan,” said Mr. Kunihiko Ono, Founder and CEO of Saka no Tochu.
“Our primary goal at WFP is to allow families to access a diversified diet that meets their needs. Nutrition education will create awareness in the communities about the needs at different stages in life, while the increased income from coffee production will allow farmers buy the food they don’t already produce. COFFEE-JAPAN is an innovative public-private partnership with a sustainable people-centred approach, integrating export-grade coffee production, capacity building and nutrition awareness to empower communities and drive positive change,” said Marc-André Prost, WFP Representative and Country Director.
Source: https://laotiantimes.com/2024/02/16/laos-japan-join-forces-to-boost-coffee-production/