Prime Minister Saleumxay Kommasith (centre, front row) poses for a group photo with Japanese diplomats, JICA representatives and Japanese volunteers.

PM praises Japanese volunteers’ contribution to Laos’ development

Prime Minister Saleumxay Kommasith has praised the contribution of Japanese volunteers to Laos’ socioeconomic development, highlighting their role in transferring knowledge and skills and strengthening cooperation between the two countries.
The Prime Minister made the remarks when receiving a delegation from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers (JOCVs) at the Prime Minister’s Office in Vientiane on November 11.
The meeting highlighted more than six decades of cooperation under the Japanese volunteer programme, which has supported development efforts in Laos since 1965.

A Japanese volunteer reports on activities and experiences working with local communities in Laos.

During this period, JICA has dispatched 1,133 volunteers to Laos to work alongside Lao counterparts in various fields.
About 40 Japanese volunteers are currently working in education, health, agriculture, community development and sports in Vientiane and more than 10 provinces.
Prime Minister Saleumxay expressed appreciation for the volunteers’ efforts in working closely with Lao officials and local communities, helping to improve skills and support development activities.
He also thanked the Government of Japan and JICA for their longstanding assistance to Laos, particularly their contributions to the country’s development priorities.
The Prime Minister stressed the importance of continued people-to-people cooperation, saying that exchanges of knowledge, skills and cultural understanding through the volunteer programme have helped strengthen friendship and the strategic partnership between Laos and Japan.
The Japanese delegation was led by Ambassador of Japan to Laos, Mr Koizumi Tsutomu, together with JICA Senior Vice President Mr Hayakawa Yuho and Chief Representative of the JICA Laos Office, Ms Kobayashi Miyako.
The visit marked the 24th annual courtesy call by Japanese volunteers on the Lao Prime Minister, a tradition that began in 2002.
The annual meeting provides an opportunity for volunteers to report on their work, share experiences and discuss their contributions to local development.
During the meeting, two Japanese volunteers delivered reports in the Lao language, describing their activities and experiences working with local communities.
Their presentations reflected the close working relationships developed between Japanese volunteers and their Lao counterparts.
Speaking on behalf of JICA, Mr Hayakawa thanked the Lao Government and people for their continued support of the volunteer programme.
He reaffirmed JICA’s commitment to strengthening cooperation with Laos and promoting closer relations between the two countries.
The meeting concluded with both sides expressing their commitment to continued cooperation and greater mutual understanding, recognising the volunteer programme’s role in strengthening ties between the Lao and Japanese people.

By Times Reporters
 (Latest Update November 13, 2026)