VIENTIANE: The Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Public Works and Transport are working to streamline the payment of transit cargo service fees and tolls to improve revenue management and ensure greater consistency, transparency and legal compliance.
The move comes as the government continues efforts to earn more revenue for the state and improve public finance management.
According to a recent report from the Ministry of Finance, state budget revenue reached 44,956 billion kip in the first six months of 2026, equivalent to 54 percent of the annual target and 19 percent higher than in the same period last year. Domestic revenue accounted for 43,970 billion kip, or 56 percent of the annual target.
The two ministries held a meeting on August 26 to address inconsistencies in the management and collection of transit cargo service fees in the Thanaleng Dry Port development zone, including toll collection at the Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge.
The meeting was co-chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Mr Santiphab Phomvihane and Minister of Public Works and Transport Mr Leklai Sivilay.
Deputy ministers, department heads, the heads of the Office of the Laos-China Joint Committee and the Office of the Investment Management and Promotion Committee, as well as relevant officials from both ministries, attended the meeting.
Participants discussed inconsistencies in the management of transit cargo service fees and the fee payment system at the Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge over the Mekong River.
They also discussed the collection of transit cargo service fees at the Thanaleng Dry Port development zone and heard a progress report on the results of the open bidding process to hire a company to develop a system and install equipment to support the management and payment of tolls on National Highway No. 9.
Participants offered candid comments and recommendations aimed at resolving outstanding issues and improving the effectiveness of fee collection.
In closing, the chairs of the consultation meeting provided detailed guidance on each area of work, stressing that all relevant parties must carry out their duties with a high sense of responsibility and ensure that revenue collection is managed consistently, transparently and in strict compliance with the relevant laws and regulations. - Vientiane Times/ANN
