High rises reflect Laos’ steady economic growth amid a building boom.

Finance ministry steps up ‘Three Builds’ drive to support self-reliant economy

The Ministry of Finance is intensifying rollout of the Party’s “Three Builds” (Sam Sang) directive across the finance sector, aiming to build a self-reliant economy and improve financial management from central to local levels of government.
To ensure effective execution of the directive, the Office of the Ministry of Finance and the Department of Fiscal and Economic Policy convened a meeting on January 20 to discuss ways to implement the “Three Builds” directive within the finance sector, as well as to review key fiscal policies.
The meeting was co-chaired by the Head of Office of the Ministry of Finance, Mr Somchit Khammoungkhoun, and Director General of the Department of Fiscal and Economic Policy, Mr Sitthiroth Rasphone, with deputy heads and technical officials from both offices in attendance.
Discussions centred on establishing mechanisms to ensure that central departments, provincial finance offices, the Vientiane finance office, and district and municipal finance offices develop a consistent and comprehensive understanding of the core principles of the “Three Builds” directive.
Under the directive, provinces are designated as strategic units, districts as comprehensively strong units, and villages as development units, in alignment with the government’s aim to create a self-reliant economy.
The meeting agreed to identify target provinces to pilot implementation of the finance sector’s “Three Builds” initiatives, develop specific evaluation indicators, establish frameworks for summarisation and reporting, and define coordination mechanisms and responsibilities between central and local finance authorities.
Participants also reviewed assessments of the impact of fiscal policy, Special Economic Zone policies, and related measures, as part of efforts to improve financial and economic management.
In addition, standards and key performance indicators were deliberated for evaluating work in areas such as planning and statistics, revenue and expenditure management, fiscal and economic policy and legislation, modernisation and digitalisation, organisational affairs, inspection, evaluation, and procurement.
The meeting further addressed the management of small and medium-sized enterprise fund expenditures, reflecting the finance ministry’s goal to strengthen financial governance and support nationwide business development.
The “Three Builds” directive continues to be a cornerstone of the government’s strategy to enhance economic self-reliance by bolstering institutional capacity and financial management at all levels.

By Times Reporters
(Latest Update January 23, 2026)