Laos stresses the need to borrow as West raises debt alarm

Prime minister admits missing target for graduating world's poorest countries

20180612 Laos PM interview

Financing is crucial for Laos' development, even if it means borrowing more, Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith told the Nikkei Asian Review. (Photo by Yoichi Iwata)

KENJI KAWASE, Nikkei Asian Review chief business news correspondent

TOKYO -- As the only landlocked country in Southeast Asia and one of the least developed ones in the region, Laos seems to have different priorities on growth that are driving it pile on even more debt.

Prime Minister Thongloun Sisoulith believes adding debt beyond a warning level is necessary for the country to grow and compete internationally as an economy, despite growing wariness among Western donor nations and multinational financial institutions.

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