Mr Saleumxay Kommasith addresses the 1st Congress of the Party Committee of the Investment Promotion and Management Committee in Vientiane on Monday. --Photo Ketsana

Govt pushes higher-quality investment to drive sustainable growth

The government is seeking to attract higher-quality investment, calling for projects that generate tangible economic and social benefits, strengthen domestic production, and deliver lasting value.
The call was made by Standing Deputy Prime Minister and Chair of the Investment Promotion and Management Committee, Mr Saleumxay Kommasith, while attending the 1st Congress of the Party Committee of the Investment Promotion and Management Committee (IPMC) in Vientiane on Monday.
Mr Saleumxay urged the IPMC Party Committee to strengthen its role as a key government support body in the macro-level management of investment.
The government is looking to shift towards higher-value investment as it works to diversify the economy and reduce reliance on development pro-jects based mainly on natural resources.
The investment plan for 2026-2030 identifies digital and technology industries, data centres, artificial intelligence (AI), information technology and financial technology (FinTech) as areas with strong investment potential.
The new direction is intended to encourage investment that reduces imports, increases foreign exchange earnings, strengthens links between foreign investors and Lao businesses, and creates opportunities for skills development.
It comes as investment activity gathers pace. In the first seven months of 2026, the government approved 34 projects in concession and controlled activities worth US$8.5 billion, an increase of 68 percent from the same period in 2025. Actual capital inflows reached US$1.06 billion.
The government needs an estimated 636,178 billion kip in total investment to support the rollout of its 2026-2030 development plan. Domestic and foreign private investment is expected to provide 409,470 billion kip, or 64.4 percent of the total.
Mr Saleumxay said investment should be more realistic and scientifically based, with a greater emphasis on responsibility and ownership among Party members and officials in translating national development plans in-to concrete results.
He said priority should be given to initiatives that benefit society, are economically effective and can generate results quickly.
Mr Saleumxay also called for stronger cooperation with the international community, particularly through Laos-Vietnam and Laos-China cooperation, as well as bilateral, multilateral and other cooperation frameworks, to support investment and development.
He stressed the need for more stringent evaluation of investment projects, together with systematic monitoring, adding that corrective measures should be taken where necessary.
Investment should increasingly support a green and sustainable development path, he said.
The 1st Congress of the IPMC Party Committee was chaired by Deputy Minister, Vice Chair and Standing Member of the Investment Promotion and Management Committee, Mrs Phonevanh Outhavong, who also serves as Secretary of the IPMC Party Committee.
The congress was attended by full and alternate members of the Party Central Committee, senior ministry officials and Party members from various units under the IPMC Party Organisation.
Mrs Phonevanh presented the draft political report of the IPMC Party Committee, while Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee Mr Vanthana Nolintha presented the draft five-year development plan for the investment promotion and management sector.
Following discussions, the congress adopted the political report and the five-year investment development plan as the basis for the IPMC Party Organisation’s specialised work over the next five years.

By Times Reporters
 (Latest Update September 1, 2026)