With neighboring economic powerhouses such as Thailand, Vietnam, and Myanmar, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Laos) is often overlooked as a burgeoning economy in the ASEAN region. Laos is situated in a unique geographical location. It shares borders with Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia, and China, meaning that the country has great potential to become a vibrant hub, linking China to other ASEAN countries.

Laos has quietly been flourishing, and it has continued making strides with a gradual overhaul of its anti-corruption framework in a bid to attract more foreign investment by instilling confidence in its legal system.

Dino Santaniello, a consultant in Tilleke & Gibbins’ Vientiane office, addresses these trends and more in the Laos chapter of The Asia-Pacific Investigations Review 2017 (2nd Edition), 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.