Lao People’s Democratic Republic
Capital: Vientiane HDI: 0575 (141st)
Language: Lao
GDP (PPP): $34.400 billion
Currency: Kip
Population: 6,803,699
The Lao People’s Democratic Republic or commonly referred to its colloquial name of Muang Lao is a landlocked country in the heart of the Indochinese peninsula of Mainland Southeast Asia, bordered by Myanmar (Burma) and China to the northwest, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the south, and Thailand to the west. Laos is a one-party socialist republic. It espouses Marxism and is governed by a single party communist politburo dominated by military generals. The Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the Vietnam People’s Army continue to have significant influence in Laos. The capital city is Vientiane. Other large cities include Luang Prabang, Savannakhet, and Pakse. The official language is Lao. Laos is a multi-ethnic country with the politically and culturally dominant Lao people making up approximately 60 percent of the population, mostly in the lowlands. Mon-Khmer groups, the Hmong, and other indigenous hill tribes, accounting for 40 percent of the population, live in the foothills and mountains.
Laos’ ambitious strategies for development are based on generating electricity from its rivers and selling the power to its neighbors, namely Thailand, China, and Vietnam, as well as its initiative to become a ‘land-linked’ nation, shown by the planning of four new railways connecting Laos to those same countries. This, along with growth of the mining sector, Laos has been referred to as one of East Asia and Pacific’s fastest growing economies by the World Bank, with annual GDP growth averaging 7% for the past decade.
RESEARCH
Economic Overview
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Laos Economy – overview – Economy
http://www.indexmundi.com/laos/economy_overview.html
Economic history and forecast for Laos
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Laos Economy – GDP, Inflation, CPI and Interest Rate
http://www.focus-economics.com/countries/laos
Laos’s economy lost some steam in 2015 due to weak global demand for commodities, which is still keeping rubber prices down and affecting farmers’ incomes. Commodity exports, especially mineral ores and rubber, are one of the main drivers of growth for Laos.
Industry Trends & Business Climate
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Focus on Business Climate and Private Investment
http://search.aol.com/aol/search?enabled_terms=&s_it=client97_searchbox&q=Laos+-+industry+and+business+climate
The growing Lao economy needs to diversify beyond its natural resource base to create more jobs and improve the business environment for foreign and domestic investors, according to two new World Bank Group reports released today.
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Laos Economy: Population, GDP, Inflation, Business
http://www.heritage.org/index/country/laos
Laos is one of the Asia–Pacific region’s fastest-growing economies, albeit from a low base. The country has attempted to reform its trade and investment regimes, but non-tariff barriers exacerbated by regulatory inefficiency continue to constrain dynamic flows of goods and services.
Establishing a Presence
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How do I start my own business in Laos?
http://jclao.com/what-do-i-need-to-know-about-operating-a-company-in-laos/
This site provides a description of the various business types avaialble in Laos
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Starting a Business in Lao PDR – Scribd
https://www.scribd.com/doc/12392477/Starting-a-Business-in-Lao-PDR
Detailed registration and incorporation information for a new company
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Starting a Business in Lao PDR
http://www.doingbusiness.org/data/exploreeconomies/lao-pdr/starting-a-business
This site provides a detailed summary of the bureaucratic and legal hurdles faced by entrepreneurs wishing to incorporate and register a new firm in Lao PDR.
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Starting a Business in Lao PDR
http://www.doingbusiness.org/data/exploreeconomies/lao-pdr/starting-a-business
This site provides a detailed summary of the bureaucratic and legal hurdles faced by entrepreneurs wishing to incorporate and register a new firm in Lao PDR.
Taxes
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Laos Personal Income Tax Rate | 2009-2016
http://www.tradingeconomics.com/laos/personal-income-tax-rate
The Personal Income Tax Rate in Laos stands at 24 percent. Personal Income Tax Rate in Laos averaged 25.67 percent from 2009 until 2014, reaching an all time high of 28 percent in 2011 and a record low of 24 percent in 2013. Personal Income Tax Rate in Laos is reported by the Ministry of Finance.
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Lao PDR – Taxes on personal income
http://taxsummaries.pwc.com/uk/taxsummaries/wwts.nsf/ID/Lao-PDR-Individual-Taxes-on-personal-income
This site provides a personal income tax table
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Laos Sales Tax Rate | VAT | 2014-2016
http://www.tradingeconomics.com/laos/sales-tax-rate
The Sales Tax Rate in Laos stands at 10 percent.
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Laos Sales Tax Rate | VAT Forecast 2016-2020
http://www.tradingeconomics.com/laos/sales-tax-rate/forecast
In the long-term, the Laos Sales Tax Rate | VAT is projected to trend around 10.00 percent in 2020, according to our econometric models.
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Laos Corporate Tax Rate | 2009-2016
http://www.tradingeconomics.com/laos/corporate-tax-rate
The Corporate Tax Rate in Laos stands at 24 percent. Corporate Tax Rate in Laos averaged 29.29 percent from 2009 until 2015, reaching an all time high of 35 percent in 2010 and a record low of 24 percent in 2013. Corporate Tax Rate in Laos is reported by the Ministry of Finance.
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Lao PDR Corporate – Taxes
http://taxsummaries.pwc.com/uk/taxsummaries/wwts.nsf/ID/Lao-PDR-Corporate-Taxes-on-corporate-income
The standard rate of PT for companies in Lao PDR is 24% of net profit after adjustments for non-deductible expenses and others according to Lao Tax Law 2011. The 24% rate applies to both domestic and foreign investors.
Visas
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Laos – State
https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/country/laos.html
See “Entry, Exit & Visa Requirements” on this page
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Entry requirements | About Laos
http://www.roughguides.com/destinations/asia/laos/entry-requirements/#ixzz4IAUkdYoi
Unless you hold a passport from Japan or one of the ASEAN member states, you’ll need a visa to enter Laos. The good news is that you probably won’t need to arrange it in advance; thirty-day visas are now available on arrival at most international borders.
Infrastructure
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Laos Transportation – Taxi, Train, Bus & Airport Tips
https://www.virtualtourist.com/travel/Asia/Laos/Transportation-Laos-TG-C-1.html
303 tips on getting to and getting around Laos from real travelers and locals.
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Transport in Vientiane, Laos – Lonely Planet
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/laos/vientiane/transport
21 transport options in Vientiane, Laos – including Avis, Northern Bus Station, and LaoAirlines.
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Telecommunications in Laos – Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telecommunications_in_Laos
Telecommunications in Laos are based on a network of telephone lines and radiotelephone communications in remote areas, as well as mobile phone infrastructure.
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Internet in Laos – 3G, 4G, mobile, phones, telecoms
http://www.retire-asia.com/lao-communications.shtml
Although Lao PDR Internet services improved after 2010, by 2016 they still suffer from bandwidth limitations and congestion – as in many other countries.
Employer Obligations
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Labour Law of Lao PDR
http://www.apirnet.ilo.org/resources/labour-law-of-lao-pdr
The official English translation of the Labour Law (amended 2006) in two parts.
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Lao PDR Labor Law: important update
http://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=e52003ee-4636-42de-b1d8-aace1f01f4fe
This site list ammendments (as of 2014) to the labor law in Laos
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Update on new and existing Lao PDR laws
http://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=2ea82600-296b-48ef-9eee-9e32c385e81e
This site provides an update on unemployment bemefits
Culture/Living
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What is the Cost of Living in Laos? – 2016
http://www.bankerinthesun.com/2014/02/cost-living-laos/
Despite the growing influx of tourism, the cost of living in Laos still makes it one of the most attractive and affordable countries in Asia.
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Laos – Culture, Customs & Etiquette
http://guide.culturecrossing.net/basics_business_student.php?id=113
Guide to travel, doing business, and studying in Laos – culture, greetings, gestures,etiquette, protocol, negotiations, gift-giving, and more.
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Etiquette in Laos | Frommer’s
http://www.frommers.com/destinations/laos/538145
Laos is a very conservative place on a tight social leash. Education is low and generally people are not very worldly and are easily shocked.
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Weather in Laos – Lonely Planet
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/laos/weather
This site discusses the seasonal weather patterns in Laos plus the weekly forecast
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Laos – Climate
http://countrystudies.us/laos/45.htm
Laos has a tropical monsoon climate, with a pronounced rainy season from May through October, a cool dry season from November through February, and a hot dry season in March and April.
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Cost of Living in Laos
http://www.numbeo.com/cost-of-living/country_result.jsp?country=Laos
Average prices of more than 40 products and services in Laos. Prices of restaurants, food, transportation, utilities and housing are included.
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Demographics of Laos – Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_Laos
This site discusses the demographic features of the population of Laos, includingpopulation density, ethnicity, education level, health of the populace, economic status, religious affiliations and other aspects of the population.
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Laos – 2016, CIA World Factbook
http://www.theodora.com/wfbcurrent/laos/index.html
See “People and Society” on this site
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Laos travel advice – GOVUK
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/laos/safety-and-security
Latest travel advice for Laos including safety and security, entry requirements, travel warnings and health
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Laos – Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
https://www.dfa.ie/travel/travel-advice/a-z-list-of-countries/laos/
Travel advice from the Laos Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
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Laos Education System
http://www.classbase.com/Countries/Laos/Education-System
The Laotian government has universal education in mind for all its citizens, and has embarked on a national program for building primary schools
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International Schools in Laos
http://www.expat-quotes.com/guides/laos/education/international-schools-in-laos.htm
This site provides a list of the most popular international and bilingual schools for expats in Laos with fee information. The list includes nursery schools, primary and secondary (high) schools
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Laos Public Holidays 2016
http://holidayyear.com/holidays/Laos
Laos holidays 2016, bank holidays, national holidays, officialholiday calendar, religious festivals and celebrations for the year 2016
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Public Holidays Laos in the year 2016 and 2017
http://www.holiday-times.com/public-holidays-laos/
List of National and Public Holidays in Laos for the year 2016 and 2017 from January till December with weekday and date.
Trade
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Laos Customs Regulations
https://laos.visahq.com/customs/
Customs regulations and procedures for importing and exporting goods at border.
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Guide to Import and Export – Lao PDR Trade Portal
http://www.laotradeportal.gov.la/kcfinder/upload/files/Import-Export%20Guide%20(EN)%20v1.0.pdf
Comprehensive guide to all import export issues for Laos
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Laos – Trade – European Commission
http://ec.europa.eu/trade/policy/countries-and-regions/countries/laos/
Details on the Laos trade agreement with the EC
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Lao People’s Democratic Republic – World Trade Organization
https://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/countries_e/lao_e.htm
This site provides key information on Lao People’s Democratic Republic’s participation in the WTO. Lao People’s Democratic Republic has been a member of WTO since 2 February 2013.
Housing and Rentals
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Laos Accommodations
https://www.tripadvisor.com/SmartDeals-g293949-Laos-Hotel-Deals.html
Hotel options in Laos
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Laos Hotels & Travel Guide
http://www.visit-laos.com/
Recommendations for hotels and attractions in Laos
Travel
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Laos – Lonely Planet
https://www.lonelyplanet.com/laos
Laos, long a forgotten backwater, combines some of the best elements of Southeast Asia in one bite-sized destination.
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Laos Travel | Places to visit in Laos
http://www.roughguides.com/destinations/asia/laos/
Often overlooked in favour of its better-known neighbours, landlocked Laos remains one of Southeast Asia’s most beguiling destinations.
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