Laos, France celebrate 30 years of development cooperation

Cooperation between Laos and France has led to 90 development projects worth over 300 million euros, according to a report from the French Development Agency (AFD) presented at a meeting on Wednesday.
The bilateral portfolio review meeting offered participants a chance to look back on 30 years of cooperation between Laos and France supported by

Mrs Siv-Leng Chhuor (left) and Mrs Phonevanh Outhavong (right), speaks at a bilateral portfolio review meeting between Laos and France on Wednesday.

AFD and carried out by Lao authorities, different French actors and technical partners in areas such as rural development, agriculture, heritage preservation and sustainable tourism development.
The occasion was chaired by Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment, Mrs Phonevanh Outhavong, and Ambassador of France to Laos, Mrs Siv-Leng Chhuor, and follows a recent meeting of the Lao and French Presidents held during the 19th Francophonie Summit.
 Representing the Lao government included those joining from the Ministry of Planning and Investment, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, and the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism.
 On the French side, key cooperation partners such as the French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD), the French School of Asian Studies (EFEO), the French National Research Institute for Sustainable Development (IRD) were present, as well as the Wildlife Conservation Society.
 During the discussions, participants exchanged views on the successes and challenges of ongoing projects and learnt about projects in the pipeline for 2025 and 2026.
 Mrs Phonevanh Outhavong noted the strong coordination between the Lao government, AFD, and the Embassy of France in Laos in delivering on projects as well as assisting Laos in the implementation of its 9th five-year National Socio-Economic Development Plan (2021-2025) and supporting its formulation of the plan for 2026-2030.
 At the gathering, Mrs Siv-Leng Chhuor noted that 2024 was a record year for signing new financing agreements between Laos and France, totalling over 19.6 million euros.
 The new agreements raised include 6 million euros committed to heritage preservation and development in Champasak and Savannakhet provinces, 9 million euros of co-financing from the European Union to support the tea and coffee sectors for farmers in northern Laos and 5 million euros to extend rural development activities and irrigation infrastructure in Khammouane province. 
 AFD’s Regional Director in South-East Asia, Mr Jean-Pierre Marcelli, presented the key sectors on which AFD Group will be focusing over the next two years, namely water resource management and support for the hydroelectric sector, innovative financing for biodiversity protection and adaptation to climate change.
 Several new AFD projects are now being reviewed, including a project to support the establishment of a coordination centre for water flows from hydropower dams and a project to support the Ministry of Industry and Trade with a view to improve women’s economic empowerment and promote gender equality.

By Times Reporters
 (Latest Update October 25, 2024)