The Bank of the Lao convened an annual review meeting on savings and credit cooperatives, taking stock of 2024 results and discussing the supervisory and operational agenda for 2025. The review positioned cooperatives as part of the non-bank financial sector supporting wider access to formal financial services and helping to reduce reliance on informal, high-interest lending. Held with the Lao Credit and Savings Cooperative Association and Germany’s DGRV, the meeting reported 35 cooperatives nationwide operating across 13 provinces, 27 districts and 35 branches. Lending was concentrated in agriculture and forestry (37.25%), followed by trade and commerce (19.93%), services (17.50%) and other categories (25.33%). Outstanding issues included slow progress in developing and updating the legal framework, linked to the need to gather information and draw on international experience, alongside other supervisory challenges raised by regional units and cooperative representatives. Participants exchanged views on sector challenges and agreed directions for the 2025 work plan, with the Bank’s leadership emphasising stronger accountability and compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

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