TOKYO: The Japanese government will provide 378 million yen (more than US$3.2 million) as grant assistance through the Japanese Grant Aid for Human Resource Development Scholarship (JDS) programme to support human resource development in Laos.
The grant was formalised through a document exchange ceremony at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Vientiane on Monday (June 22). The agreement was signed by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Anouparb Vongnorkeo, and the Ambassador of Japan to Laos, Koizumi Tsutomu. The event was witnessed by senior officials from both sides.
Anouparb expressed sincere appreciation to the government and people of Japan for their longstanding support and cooperation, which he said has contributed significantly to improving the livelihoods of the Lao people and advancing national development.
The scholarship assistance will be effectively used to strengthen Laos’s human resources and enhance the capacity of government officials, he said.
Anouparb expressed hope that Laos will continue receiving support from Japan in the years ahead, while the two sides further deepen their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, which was finalised in 2025.
The strengthened partnership reflects the close and friendly relations between the two countries and will help expand cooperation in areas of mutual interest for the benefit of both sides, he said.
Koizumi reaffirmed Japan’s commitment to work closely with the Lao government to promote friendly relations, strengthen bilateral cooperation and advance the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
He expressed confidence that continued cooperation will contribute to sustainable development and bring tangible benefits to the peoples of Japan and Laos.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the JDS programme has played an important role in developing skilled human resources in Laos. Since its introduction, the programme has enabled more than 500 young Lao civil servants to pursue master’s and doctoral degrees at leading universities in Japan.
The scholarships cover a wide range of fields, including public administration, economics, international relations, agriculture and environmental management. Graduates of the programme have applied the knowledge, expertise and experience gained in Japan to their professional responsibilities and to national socio-economic development efforts.
Japan’s support for human resource development in Laos has extended beyond higher education. Assistance has included the construction and renovation of schools in remote areas, improvement of provincial teacher training centres, enhancement of learning environments, and provision of educational equipment and scholarship opportunities for students.
Over the years, Japan has been one of Laos’ key development partners, providing support in infrastructure development, public health, agriculture and forestry, human resource development, and disaster response. Japan has also contributed significantly to unexploded ordnance (UXO) clearance efforts and aid for communities affected by natural disasters.
The latest grant assistance reflects Japan’s continued commitment to support Laos’ development priorities while strengthening the longstanding friendship and cooperation between the two countries. - Vientiane Times/ANN
