The Ministry of Industry and Commerce (“MOIC”) has strengthened the requirements and enforcement relating to registered capital contributions in Lao PDR. 1. Key Requirements Under MOIC’s Decision No. 2025 dated 9 September 2025, effective from 23 October 2025: 2. What Companies Should Do Companies should review their current registered capital position and take the appropriate […]

On 23 October 2026, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce (“MOIC”) issued Notice No. 4091 (the “Notice”), clarifying how MOIC’s Instruction No. 2406 on enterprise registration (“2406 Instruction”) applies to branches of foreign entities in the Lao PDR. Foreign commercial banks may establish new branches, while existing registered branches may continue operating under the transitional […]

On 30 October 2026, the Enterprise Registry Official of the Enterprise Management Department of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce issued Notice No. 188 (the “Notice”), requiring 110 enterprises to address outstanding registered capital contribution notification requirements. The Notice refers to the Decision on Enterprise Registered Capital Contributions No. 2025 dated 9 September 2025 and […]

On 13 October 2026, the Enterprise Management Department of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce issued the Supplementary Notice No. 2250, urging enterprises to notify their registered capital contributions to the relevant enterprise registration official. Key deadlines Enterprises registered before the effective date of the Decision on Enterprise Registered Capital Contributions No. 2025 dated 9 […]

On 16 July 2026, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce (“MOIC”) officially launched a consumer complaint app, providing consumers with a new digital channel for submitting complaints. The app is called “SIENG”, which translates to “Voice of the Consumer” and also stands for five consumer protection principle—Safety, Information, Empowerment, Non-Discrimination, and Good Governance. Working alongside […]

On 8 June 2026, the Enterprise Management Department of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce (“MOIC”) issued the Notice No. 1243/EMD (the “Notice”), instructing and establishing a new framework on the monitoring of registered capital contributions, notification of registered capital contribution obligations, handling of violations, and reporting of registered capital contributions. The framework aims to […]

Overview On 13 May 2026, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce (“MOIC”) issued Decision No. 1338 (the “Decision”) to strengthen enforcement of the Enterprise Law by introducing clear fines and administrative measures for non-compliance. The Decision enters into force on 27 June 2026. The Decision covers 17 categories of violations across: In addition to fines, […]

On 9 September 2025, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce (“MOIC”) issued Decision No. 2025/IC on Enterprise Capital Contributions, providing detailed guidelines for implementation of provisions regarding investors’ capital contributions under the Enterprise Law. The key highlights are summarized below. Capital contribution deadline Registered capital (in cash or in kind) must be fully contributed within […]

On 30 May 2025, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce issued Decision on Trademarks No. 0874 (the “Trademark Decision 2025”), replacing its previous decision on trademarks issued in 2023. The Trademark Decision 2025 does not significantly overhaul the previous 2023 decision; rather it provides further guidelines on the trademark-related provisions of the Law on Intellectual […]

On 22 April 2025, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce of the Lao PDR (“MOIC”) issued the Decision on Gold Trading Businesses Conducted on Electronic Platforms No. 0666/MOIC, to regulate the operation of gold trading businesses conducted via electronic platforms, including licensing to operate such a business. It provides key definitions as follows: The decision […]

The Ministry of Industry and Commerce (“MOIC”) issued a decision in May 2023 to require goods import-export businesses to register with the MOIC to obtain a goods import-export operator registration certificate (“Goods Import-Export Registration Certificate”) in the Lao PDR (which is in addition to an import-export license or other business operation license) by 31 August […]