Abstract

This paper aims to examine foreign investment laws and regulations of Lao Peoples Democratic Republic (Lao PDR or Laos), which can provide information for better-informed decision-making by potential investors who wish to invest in Laos. The first regulatory reform in Laos aimed at shifting the country’s foreign economic relations was the enactment of the foreign investment laws. The laws and regulations have been revised recently to create a more favourable investment climate. The Lao government has provided a wide range of tax and non-tax incentives for investment projects within the Special Economic Zones (SEZs), reduction on import taxes and tax on foreign corporate profit that is lower than for domestic enterprises.  Foreign direct investment (FDI) laws are relatively liberal, allowing 100 per cent foreign ownership across a wide range of sectors.

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