The history of the State Printing Company dates back to 1950, when it was set up by the French colonial authorities within the State Cartographical Department. After 1953 it became the State Printing Office under the overall management of the Ministry of Commerce, and in 1983 it became a branch of the Publishing and Book Distribution Department (forerunner of the State Publishing and Book Distribution House) under the Ministry of Information and Culture. Since separating from the State Publishing and Book Distribution House in 1987, it has operated as a state enterprise under the control of the Ministry's Department of Publishing, Printing, Distribution and Libraries. It operates currently with a staffing complement of 102 (59 men, 43 women), including two graduates.

The State Printing Company is one of the largest printing companies in Laos. It prints mainly newspapers, including Pasaxon (People) Newspaper, Van Athit Weekly, Vannasin Magazine, Vientiane Times and Le Rénovateur, plus books, cultural documents, calendars and stationery.

Unfortunately the equipment used by the company is old and outdated, and although most small jobs are now typeset by computer, letterpress is still occasionally used.

Paper produced in Laos is of very poor quality and only suitable for the production of newspapers and low quality goods, so that most paper - like ink and film - must be imported from Thailand.