Australia pledges to support human resource development in Laos

Australia has announced that it will support a second phase of BEQUAL, the Basic Education programme, with an estimated budget of AU$28 million over the next four years.
The announcement was made during an official visit to Laos by Australia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister for Women, Ms Marise Payne on February 24-25 in response to an invitation from Lao Minister of Foreign Affairs Saleumxay Kommasith.
The two-day visit took place to celebrate the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Laos and Australia.
In a speech to mark 70 years of diplomatic relations with Laos, Minister Payne said BEQUAL Phase 2 will continue the significant progress made under the first phase of the scheme since 2015.

“It helps the Ministry of Education and Sports to complete a national roll-out of the curriculum for the full five grades of primary education,” she said.
“A stronger basic education system will contribute to a more skilled and productive workforce, which in turn will help make Laos more resistant to shocks, lift incomes and contribute to stable economic growth. That benefits not only your country, but our entire region.”
 Minister Payne also announced that Australia will extend funding for the Laos-Australia Institute which has been working since 2014 to support economic and social development. The first two phases of the Institute delivered a range of Australia Awards scholarships, Laos Australia National Scholarships and training and technical assistance for a number of people in Laos.
 “The next phase will invest AU$16 million through to 2025, aimed at continuing to deliver highly skilled professionals to the Lao labour market,” she said.
 During their talks, Ms Payne and Mr Saleumxay said they highly valued the longstanding relations and cooperation between Laos and Australia since the two countries established diplomatic ties in 1952.
 The two sides reviewed their past cooperation and discussed plans for the future, particularly Australia’s support for Laos’ response to the Covid pandemic, human resource development, trade, investment, infrastructure and agriculture, according to the Lao Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Australia is committed to supporting Laos’ preparations for its 2024 Asean Chair year. Australia will support 24 emerging diplomats and officials to spend four months attached to Laos’ Permanent Mission to Asean in Jakarta, providing them with invaluable experience and skills working at the regional level.
 “While in Jakarta, these emerging diplomats and officials will have the opportunity to interact with counterparts from recent Asean chairs, and meet with Australian diplomats in Jakarta, including our Ambassador to Asean, Will Nankervis,” Minister Payne said. Australia has been an important development partner of Laos for many decades, since the earliest days of the Colombo Plan which saw the first students from Laos begin studies in Australian universities.
 The first Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge, which opened in 1994 to ease travel across the Mekong River, was funded and built by Australia.

By Somsack Pongkhao
 (Latest Update February 28, 2022)