Foreign Direct Investment Statistics
The Government of the Lao PDR (GOL) has approved nearly US$18 billion worth of foreign investment projects since 1988. Hydropower schemes account for more than 65 percent of that amount, including the $1.2 billion Nam Theun-2 hydro-electric dam, which the government hopes will receive financing from the World Bank. The value of approvals for new investment licenses declined by more than 90 percent from 1996 to 1998, while foreign direct investment fell by nearly 75 percent over the same period. Foreign direct investment figures provided by the Bank of Lao PDR are given below:
Foreign Direct Investment in Laos in Millions of US Dollars
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
2001 |
2002-03 |
122 |
86.6 |
21.7 |
1154.3 |
277.7 |
Foreign Investment Licenses Granted in Laos in Millions of US Dollars
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
2001 |
2002 |
68 |
53 |
36 |
68 |
43 |
The following table reflects the countrywise figures on foreign investment. These figures state only the value of investment licenses granted -- not the actual foreign direct investment inflows.
| Sl. No. |
Country |
No. of Licences |
Value in US$ (Millions) |
| 1 |
Thailand |
38 |
560.5 |
| 2 |
USA |
12 |
12.3 |
| 3 |
South Korea |
32 |
22.5 |
| 4 |
Malaysia |
9 |
9.5 |
| 5 |
Taiwan |
8 |
2.6 |
| 6 |
China |
35 |
65.2 |
| 7 |
Australia |
10 |
4.1 |
| 8 |
France |
34 |
396.9 |
| 9 |
UK |
6 |
1.4 |
| 10 |
Singapore |
11 |
3.8 |
|
Germany |
7 |
1.4 |
|
Canada |
1 |
0.7 |
|
India |
2 |
0.4 |
Foreign investment licensed in Lao PDR by country of origin, from December 1988 through February 1999, in US Dollars. (Source: Foreign Investment Management Committee)
Foreign investment licensed in Lao PDR by sector, from December 1988 through February 1999, in US Dollars.
(Source: Foreign Investment Management Cabinet)
| Sector |
No. of Projects |
Amount ($) |
Elec. Power |
7 |
4,500,820,000 |
Telecom, Transport |
16 |
637,655,997 |
Hotel/Tourism |
34 |
605,288,232 |
Handicrafts |
126 |
463,875,048 |
Wood industry |
37 |
168,022,632 |
Mining, Oil |
30 |
130,992,764 |
Garments |
78 |
75,753,130 |
Banking, Insurance |
11 |
73,800,000 |
Agribusiness |
76 |
68,679,221 |
Trading |
106 |
4,766,611 |
Construction |
37 |
61,733,566 |
Services |
129 |
58,263,054 |
Consultancy |
31 |
5,998,540 |
Total |
718 |
6,915,648,795 |
Please also consult the offical web site of Foreign Investment Management Committee of the Lao Government |
