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 […]

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, […]

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 […]