PM Sonexay Siphandone, Japanese Ambassador to Laos, Mr Koizumi Tsutomu; JICA President Dr Tanaka Akihiko; Japanese volunteers and relevant officials gather for a group photo.

PM thanks Japanese volunteers, JICA President for services to Laos

Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone expressed his appreciation for Japanese volunteers’ six decades of active contribution to Laos’ socio-economic development when he received a courtesy call from a delegation on October 16.
The delegation, consisting of 49 Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers (JOCV) dispatched by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), was led by the Ambassador of Japan to Laos, Mr Koizumi Tsutomu; JICA President Dr Tanaka Akihiko; and JICA Laos Office Chief Representative, Ms Kobayashi Miyako.
Prime Minister Sonexay welcomed the group together with representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Finance at the National Convention Centre in Vientiane.
This was the 23rd courtesy call made to the Prime Minister by JICA volunteers, during which volunteers’ activities, achievements, and challenges in their respective areas of work have been reported on annually.
The Prime Minister conveyed his gratitude and appreciation to the volunteers for their generosity in working alongside local staff on a voluntary basis.
He also thanked the Government of Japan, one of Laos’ top donor partners, for providing assistance to Laos and for offering support in line with the Lao government’s priority policies on sustainable development.
To reinforce the strategic partnership between Japan and Laos, he requested the Government of Japan to continue providing JICA volunteers to assist organisations that request them, and to facilitate the sharing of cultural insights and technical expertise between the Japanese and Lao peoples.
The volunteers’ contribution to disseminating Lao culture to the Japanese people is one of several strategies that can be implemented upon their return home to help encourage more investors and tourists to come to Laos, the Prime Minister said.
Two JOCV representatives reported on the activities they had undertaken along with their local Lao counterparts. They gave their reports in the Lao language, impressing attendees and drawing praise from Lao officials.
The Prime Minister welcomed the sharing of insights and experiences offered by the volunteers as well as the assistance provided by the Government of Japan. He noted that, through the JOCV programme, JICA has been continually making a significant contribution to strengthening cooperation between Japan and Laos.
In expressing gratitude to JICA and the volunteers, the PM encouraged JOCV and the JICA Laos Office to continue supporting such cooperation efforts.
Speaking on behalf of the JICA delegation, Dr Tanaka expressed gratitude to the Prime Minister and the Lao government for granting the JICA volunteers courtesy calls and for the long-term dedication and commitment to supporting the JICA volunteer programme in Laos.
This year, Japan and Laos celebrate the 70th anniversary of their diplomatic ties and the 60th anniversary of the first dispatch of JICA volunteers to Laos.
JICA has arranged for some 1,110 volunteers to come to Laos, including the current 49 JOCVs working in the country, to support the implementation of cooperation activities since 1965.
These volunteers have contributed to development in education and sports, health, agriculture and forestry, community development, and other fields.

By Times Reporters
(Latest Update October 17, 2025)