Trade and Investment Division
United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP)


 
Traders' Manual for Least Developed Countries
LAO PEOPLE'S DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC (ST/ESCAP/2390)



CONTENTS Page
 
Preface
Abbreviations
iii
vii




I. 
II. 





I. 
II. 
III. 
IV. 
V. 
VI. 

VII. 





I. 
II. 
III. 
IV. 
V. 
VI. 





I. 
II. 
III. 

IV. 
V. 
VI. 
VII. 
VIII. 




I. 
II. 
III. 
IV. 
V. 
VI. 
VII. 

Part One
GLOBAL COUNTRY PRESENTATION

BASIC COUNTRY DATA
MACROECONOMIC CLIMATE

Part Two
SELLING TO THE LAO PEOPLE'S
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC

IMPORT POLICY, REGULATIONS AND PROCEDURES
TARIFF SCHEDULE - CUSTOMS
FOREIGN EXCHANGE REGIME
DOCUMENTS
MARKETING AND DISTRIBUTION
GOVERNMENT PROCUREMENT AND STATE-OWNED
ENTERPRISES
PRINCIPAL IMPORT ITEMS

Part Three
BUYING FROM THE LAO PEOPLE'S
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC

EXPORT POLICY, REGULATIONS AND PROCEDURES
EXPORT CHARGES
SETTLEMENTS OF BILLS, LETTER OF CREDIT
DOCUMENTS
STATE MONOPOLY FOR EXPORT ITEMS
PRINCIPAL EXPORT ITEMS

Part Four
INVESTING IN THE LAO PEOPLE'S
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC

FOREIGN INVESTMENT POLICY AND REGULATIONS
INVESTMENT PROCEDURES
INVESTMENT INCENTIVES AND SPECIAL PROMOTION
ZONES
TAXATION
FOREIGN EXCHANGE
LABOUR ISSUES
DISPUTE SETTLEMENT
PROTECTION OF PROPERTY RIGHTS

Part Five
TIPS FOR VISITORS

GETTING THERE
VISA AND PASSPORT
HEALTH
CURRENCY
HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS
PLACES OF INTEREST
EMBASSIES AND CONSULATES

Annex I.
Annex II.
Annex III.




1
5





10
15
17
19
21

22
25





27
33
33
33
33
34





36
37

39
42
45
45
47
48




53
54
54
54
55
55
56

59
61
65



Last updated: 12 December 2005