Economy of Laos

The economy of Laos is rapidly growing, as it began to decentralise control and encouraged private enterprise in 1986.^[1] It opened a stock exchange in 2011, and has become an arising regional player in its role as a hydroelectric power supplier to neighbors such as China, Vietnam and Thailand.^[2] Although the country remains one of the poorest countries in South-East Asia. A landlocked country, it has inadequate infrastructure and a largely unskilled work force. The country's per capita income in 2009 was estimated to be $2,300 on a purchasing power parity-basis.