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 […]

Cross-border funding into and out of the Lao PDR now follows a more prescriptive approval and compliance regime. On 5 August 2026, the Bank of the Lao PDR (“BOL”) issued Decision No. 707/BOL on the Management of Cross-Border Borrowing (the “Decision”). The Decision took effect on the date of signing. The Decision does not apply […]

On 9 April 2026, the Bank of the Lao PDR (“BOL”) issued Decision No. 310 on Syndicated Loans (the “Decision”), which regulates syndicated loan facility lending arrangements. The use of syndicated loan facilities is not new in the Lao PDR; in fact, the BOL’s Decision on the Scope of Lending by Commercial Banks No. 1062 […]

On 24 March 2026, the Bank of the Lao PDR (“BOL”) issued Decision No. 251/BOL on the Management of Offshore Bank Account Openings (the “Decision”), which applies to Lao residents who wish to open bank accounts overseas, but not to commercial banks and financial institutions. Who can open an offshore bank account? An offshore bank […]

On 10 March 2026, the Decision on the Management of Lao PDR Cash Inflows and Outflows No. 140/BOL dated 18 February 2026, which was issued by the Bank of the Lao PDR (“BOL”), was published in the Lao Official Gazette. This decision replaces the provisions on cash transactions into and out of the Lao PDR […]

On 18 August 2025, the Non-Bank Financial Institution Supervision Department of the Bank of the Lao PDR (“BOL”) issued Notice No. 1509, announcing a suspension of registration and a temporary halt on accepting applications for the establishment of branches and service units of non-bank financial institutions. This suspension is imposed as the BOL is considering […]

The Lao kip has shown signs of stabilization in its exchange rate against the US dollar and Thai baht in recent months. These two foreign currencies remain the most widely used foreign currencies in the Lao PDR, playing a crucial role in trade and economic transactions. To strengthen the management and stability of foreign currency […]

On 3 January 2025, the Bank of the Lao PDR (“BOL”) issued Decision on the Use of Foreign Currency No. 11/BOL (the “FCU Decision 2025”) to implement and provide further guidelines on the utilization of foreign currency as regulated under the Law on Foreign Currency Management No. 15/NA dated 7 July 2022 and the Order […]

On 7 March 2024, the Bank of the Lao PDR (“BOL”) issued Decision on the Management of Foreign Currency Revenue from Goods and Services Exports No. 333/BOL (“Decision 333”) to manage foreign currency revenue from export activities and build foreign currency flexibility into the banking system. Export operators are required to import the payments (in […]