VIENTIANE, Aug. 3 (Xinhua) -- The Lao government is advancing comprehensive reforms of the mineral sector, introducing new policy measures to combat illegal mining, strengthen governance, and expand domestic mineral processing to support sustainable economic growth.
According to Lao Economic Daily on Monday, a scientific seminar was held to review a draft order aimed at improving policies and strengthening the management of mineral development in the new period.
The seminar, held in Lao capital Vientiane on July 31, was chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Saleumxay Kommasith. It was attended by senior government officials, representatives from relevant ministries, and private sector stakeholders.
In his speech, Saleumxay described mineral resources as a strategic national asset and a key driver of economic development. He noted that the sector has long relied on the extraction and export of raw minerals, while value-added processing and downstream industrial development have remained limited.
He also highlighted several long-standing challenges facing the sector, including environmental and social impacts, unsystematic mining practices, widespread legal violations and illegal mining, overlapping responsibilities between central and local authorities, weak enforcement of environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards, land-use conflicts, overburden management, and transportation issues.
To address these challenges, the government has adopted a new development strategy that shifts the focus from simply mining and exporting to expanding domestic processing, creating higher-value mineral products, developing downstream industries, and strengthening the domestic value chain. The strategy aims to generate greater national revenue, create jobs, support industrialization, and promote long-term sustainable development.
Saleumxay also stressed the need to strengthen investor selection by prioritizing transparency, accountability, technical expertise, financial capacity, and compliance with ESG standards. He said future mining projects must deliver long-term economic benefits while ensuring environmental protection and social responsibility.
He emphasized that the proposed order represents more than an administrative reform, calling it a new foundation for building a modern, transparent, and internationally aligned mineral governance system. The reforms are intended to prevent the loss of national resources, enhance investor confidence, and safeguard the country's long-term interests. ■
