In brief
The ruling Lao People's Revolutionary Party will retain power in the one-party state despite the holding of a token election in April 2016. A new leadership may come to power. Efforts will continue to ease down the fiscal deficit. GDP growth will average 7.9% a year in 2015-16, supported by investment in hydropower. Imports to supply these investment projects will keep the current-account deficit at just over 10% of GDP throughout the forecast period.