Surrounded by economic powerhouses and other growing economies, Laos is often overlooked by foreign direct investors in ASEAN. However, Laos’ geographical location, situated comfortably between Cambodia, China, Myanmar, Vietnam, and China, paves the way for its strong potential to be a massive trading center, bridging China to the rest of the ASEAN countries.

While a large majority of foreign investors have been expending their efforts on surrounding countries, Laos has been quietly but effectively flourishing. Recent gross domestic product (GDP) figures provide evidence of Laos’ growth, expecting a significant 6.8 percent GDP increase in 2018. This increase can largely be attributed to the influx of infrastructure and real estate projects in the country’s largest cities. With continued efforts to its anti-corruption framework, and the consistent growth in GDP, Laos is shaping up to be an attractive destination for foreign investors.

Dino Santaniello, a consultant in Tilleke & Gibbins’ Vientiane office, addresses these trends and more in the Laos chapter of The Asia-Pacific Investigations Review 2019 , a guide to the important issues in internal and government investigations across the Asia-Pacific, published by Global Investigations Review.

In particular, the Laos chapter covers the influx of foreign direct investment, the government’s anti-corruption plan, economic sectors on the rise, and possible infringements of the UK Bribery Act and the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. The chapter is available to download in full below.