Richest in terms of at least per capita GDP and if the country can play their cards right.  What do y'all think?

Let’s go over the facts/concerns and answers:

Because of Laos is geographically situated in the center of ASEAN nations, Laos is the most optimal location to set up manufacturing centers.   In Laos, manufacturing centers can be created in three metropolitan areas: Vientiane (central), Luang Prabang (north) and Savannakhet (south).  This of course, major trade routes are established through these 3 cities.

(1)What can Laos manufacture? 

The answer is what does ASEAN nations and people needed to have to enjoy better life?  Products: Houses and house sub-products, technologies in health industries, automobiles, motorbikes, computers and so on….

(2)What materials are needed to make these products?
 
Laos is rich in natural resources: Aluminum, Silver, Copper, Iron, Gold, Nickel, highly important and most valuable Rare Earth Metals and rubbers.  Products that people around the world use, touch and feel everyday are made from these materials.  Yes, Laos has all materials that can be extracted, refined, assembled, exported and sold to ASEAN people. 

(3)Does Laos know how to manufacture these products?
(Knowledge/Enough workforce/Technology needed)? 

Maybe and if not, Laos can purchase/invest in proper technologies to make the products.  Workforce of Laos is relatively young and hard working.  In addition, these young Lao citizens are highly motivated and eager to make ASEAN lives better.

(4)Laos is considered to be the poorest nation in this part of the world due to the fact that Laos is entirely land-locked.   This is a major problem or concern when you think about exporting/importing products to the world.  With that being said, do you think Laos is the right location for manufacturing products?

Very true that Laos is disadvantagely situated, meaning Laos does not have direct access to sea to import/export products globally.  Laos is a land-linked to folks in Thailand (70 million), Cambodia (15 million), Vietnam (90 million) and southern China (at least 100 million).  Seven million Lao men and women visualize this as a blessing to take materials from our back and front yards and turn them into products that can be used for roughly 300 million or more neighbors to the north, south, east and west. 

(5)Laos can be the ‘battery’ of ASEAN people.   Is that a fair generalization?

Even before ASEAN, Laos has always been the ‘battery’ of Asian people from this part of the world.   Lao people and culture are influenced by surrounding neighbors. Laos is multi-ethnically diverse and this diversity is directly and indirectly arrived from surrounding neighbors.   In general, Lao folks are very humble, friendly and try to enjoy the fruits of planet Earth just like other folks around the world. 

Too much of anything into your system is bad for you.  Proper planning and practicing moderation will do you fine.

Damned Capitalism, long live socialism! 

Having enough is better than having too much.

Right now it's the 2nd poorest country in SE Asia behind East Timor which is #1, and the 23rd poorest country in the world. I don't think it's going to be the richest anytime soon, and it will probably become even poorer because people keep exploiting the environment.

It's a bit sad that this Karl Marx guy had to think up an idea that would ruin a lot of nice countries.

China was once a great kingdom that had superior technological advancement and many great things. Now? Ruined because of communists and their development projects polluting the land.

It would sadden me if Laos followed suit, but it looks like that is the way its going because they are basically becoming an economic vassal of China

Lao should form an alliance with Cambodia and reclaim their empire and ancestral lands. The Lao should also declare war on China and rebuild the Nanchao Empire for the honor and glory of the Tai peoples.

I'm not proposing that the Lao go to war with China right now. First they need to form an alliance with Cambodia and take back their lands being occupied by the Siamese. This will be a prolonged struggle which will last many decades. But in the end,  the restoration of the lands of Lan Xang under the auspices, benevolence, and good will of the Lao PDR will justify the sacrifice.