Trade registration procedures

Lao government encourages domestic, and foreign persons, either individuals or legal entities to do business or to invest capital in all fields of lawful economic activities such as agriculture and forestry, industries, energy, mineral extraction, handicrafts, communications and transport, construction, tourism, trade, services and others.
Before commencing its operations, all enterprises (domestic, foreign, state, private, joint venture, etc.) must be registered in conformity with the Lao law on business operations in the ministry of commerce, Trade Registration Department; at provincial level, in trade registration service; at district level, in trade registration office for the enterprises situated in provinces and districts with small size investment.
Upon receipt of completed application and supporting documentation, the concerned authority shall screen them and register in short time. One supporting documentation is that if investment is in the field of agriculture, there should be notification approval from ministry of agriculture; if in manufacturing or industries there should be approval notification from ministry of industry, etc.
For foreign investment enterprises, before applying for trade registration, these enterprises must have received foreign investment license from foreign investment and management committee ( FIMC) in accordance with the law on the promotion and management of foreign investment of Lao P.D.R.