Doing Business With Laos

Doing Business With Laos

The government of Laos began the transition from a communist economy to a market economy in the late 1980s, opening opportunities for foreign trade and investment. Results were striking, with the Lao economy averaging 6% growth per annum from 1988-2007, except for a short dip during the Asian financial crisis in 1997.

Exploitation of natural resources, including hydropower production and coal mining, and ecotourism have been identified by the Lao government as representing areas of growth potential. The Lao government has recently established some new incentive schemes, such as tax holidays, to help facilitate foreign investment. The Committee for Planning and Cooperation is the central body for coordinating investor interests.

Major exports from Laos are garments, wood products, coffee, electricity, copper, gold and tin. New Zealand's main imports from Laos are clothing, wood products, beer and electrical apparatus for line telephony. Our main export to Laos is electrical machinery.

The UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific publishes a Traders' Manual for Least Developed Countries on Laos.

While there is no Laos-specific information available on NZTE's Doing Business with South East Asia website, it may be useful to read information on doing business in other countries in the region, as cultural and practical factors influencing business practice are common to many Southeast Asian countries.

You can also make direct contact with New Zealand Trade and Enterprise for further information, either through the website or on 0800 555 888.

If you are considering doing business in Laos, an excellent starting point would also be to contact the following:

• ASEAN-New Zealand Combined Business Council
  Director - David Catty
  14 Kempthorne Crescent, Mission Bay, Auckland
  Ph: 09 578 1312/021 279 6545
  Fax: 09 578 1326
  Email: david.catty@clear.net.nz 

•  New Zealand Embassy in Bangkok, accredited to Laos
  Ph: +66 2 254 2530
  Fax: +66 2 253 9045
  Email: nzembbkk@loxinfo.co.th

• Embassy of Lao People's Democratic Republic in Canberra, accredited to New Zealand
  1 Dalman Crescent
  O'Malley
  Canberra
  ACT 2606
  Ph: + 61 6 286 4595
  Fax: +61 6 290 1910