October 2016

The regulations on foreign investments in wholesale and retail businesses in the Lao PDR have been changed. Previously, the operation of wholesale and retail businesses in the Lao PDR by foreign investors was strictly controlled. Foreign investors were not permitted to engage in retail businesses while certain strict conditions were applied when investing in wholesale businesses. However, after 22 May 2015, these conditions were amended by the Decision on Wholesale and Retail Business No. 1005/MOIC with the intention to allow foreign investors to operate in both retail and wholesale business in the Lao PDR under certain conditions.