Lao and foreign guests visit booth of the Vientiane Times. --Photo Thounthongchay

The media needs to broaden the scope of news delivery, business executives say

As the media celebrates the 75th anniversary of Mass Media and Publishing Day (75th Mass Media and Publishing Day), leading business executives have called on the industry to provide more in-depth, relevant, and broad-ranging information to serve both the business community and wider society.
A prominent business leader has suggested that news outlets should provide more insightful information and statistics to meet growing public demand, and said state authorities need to be more supportive by providing sufficient information in a timely manner.

Mr Daovone Phachanthavong.

Mr Langkone Xaignavong.

"Compared to the news published in neighbouring countries, the information provided in Laos is far from comprehensive, especially with regard to statistics," the Vice President of the Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr Daovone Phachanthavong, said.
He stressed that the media alone cannot fulfill this need without cooperation from the relevant state bodies. 
"The state sector needs to do more to provide more information," he said.
Critical information gaps
Mr Daovone said trade-related information and data, along with investment promotion policies and incentives, are critical for traders and investors but are inadequately covered.
He also observed that media coverage does not fully reflect what is happening on the ground within the business community, particularly regarding wage levels. Many employers pay significantly higher wages than is widely believed, often more than the monthly minimum wage of 2.6 million kip.
This information gap has contributed to the exodus of Lao workers to other countries, where they believe they will earn higher wages, thus worsening the labour shortage in Laos.
Numerous Lao nationals have migrated to Thailand, a popular destination for Lao unskilled workers where the daily minimum wage ranges from 300-400 Thai baht (224,000-266,000 kip).
"I pay the workers on my farm up to 250,000 kip a day," Mr Daovone said.
The demand for workers in Laos is high and the wages paid are higher than generally believed, but people continue to migrate due to the absence of accurate information, he added.
"More information about this should be provided to the general public," he said.
Media's pivotal role
Beyond delivering insightful content, reporters also need to respond more swiftly when an emergency occurs, Mr Daovone said. He added that the conditions and factors enabling efficient media operations must also be improved.
He described the media as being pivotal for the business community, serving as a bridge between entrepreneurs and state authorities, partners, buyers, sellers, and the workforce – all significant factors for business success.

Mr Daovone Phachanthavong signs the guest book at the Vientiane Times booth during the exhibition, which opened on Monday at the National Culture Hall to mark the 75th Anniversary of Mass Media and Publishing Day, in the presence of Mrs Phonsavanh Thikeo, Editor-in-Chief of the Lao Press in Foreign Languages (publisher of the Vientiane Times)

President and co-founder of the Xaignavong Group, whose businesses engage in water and wastewater treatment equipment and petrochemical products, Mr Langkone Xaignavong, echoed support for the way in which the media has made an important contribution to his business success. 
"From the very beginning until now, my business has used media services because the media can be very helpful in promoting and recommending our products through various channels," he said.
 "This helps consumers to understand product quality, which boosts sales."
The path forward
The business leaders' comments highlight the need for greater collaboration between media outlets and government agencies to ensure that broad-ranging, accurate, and timely information reaches the public. 
As Laos continues to develop economically, the demand for reliable business information and statistics will only grow, making this partnership increasingly crucial for the country's continued progress.

By Times Reporters
(Latest Update August 12 , 2025)