25m euro skills programme launched to boost tourism, agriculture, forestry

More than 20,000 young Lao workers are set to directly benefit from a new skills development initiative launched in Vientiane on September 26 by the Lao government in collaboration with development partners. 
The five-year Skills for Tourism, Agriculture and Forestry (STAF) programme is jointly supported by the governments of Laos, Luxembourg, Switzerland and the European Union with a total budget of 25 million euros.

(From left) Ms Aurélie Righetti, Mr Thomas Lammar, Associate Professor Dr Phout Simmalavong, and Ms Ina Marčiulionytė co-chair the meeting on Tuesday in Vientiane.

The launch coincided with the first Programme Steering Committee meeting and was co-chaired by the Minister of Education and Sports, Associate Professor Dr Phout Simmalavong; Chargé d’Affaires at the Luxembourg Embassy to Laos, Mr Thomas Lammar; Ambassador of the European Union to Laos, Ms Ina Marčiulionytė; and Deputy Director of Cooperation for the Mekong Region, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), Ms Aurélie Righetti.
Associate Professor Dr Phout said “The STAF programme is a key support to the government of Laos in its commitment to sustainable development as set out in the 9th National Socio-Economic Development Plan for 2021-2025.”
“In order for Laos to stay competitive in a regional context, we must equip our incoming workforce with the right skill set sought by employers in the private sector.”
The programme aims to improve the skills and employability of young women and men in the tourism, agriculture and forestry sectors by providing technical and financial assistance to improve the relevance and quality of training, increase the availability and accessibility of courses including through the provision of scholarships for students from disadvantaged backgrounds, and support learners in the transition from training to jobs or self-employment.
Ms Marčiulionytė said “This ‘Team Europe approach’ means joining forces so that our joint external action becomes more than the sum of its parts. By working together and pooling our resources and expertise, we can deliver more effectiveness and greater impact.”
Mr Lammar said the programme is expected to directly benefit over 20,000 young women and men, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds, by improving their skills in these three key sectors.
It will help to increase employability and create jobs, and thereby boost economic growth and reduce poverty.
Its interventions - mainly in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Sports, Department of Technical and Vocational Education - in the tourism sector will cover Vientiane and the provinces of Vientiane, Khammuan, Borikhamxay, Bokeo, Luang Prabang, Savannakhet and Champassak.
In agriculture and forestry, the partner provinces are Vientiane, Khammuan, Borikhamxay, Bokeo and Luang Prabang.
Mr Jean-Gabriel Duss said “Inclusive economic development is one of Switzerland’s key priorities in the Mekong region. With this important programme, we want to ensure that young people can have better employment and income opportunities and are more resilient to economic crises.”
The Skills for Tourism, Agriculture and Forestry Programme is co-financed by the governments of Laos, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, Switzerland and the European Union, and implemented by Laos’ Ministry of Education and Sports and LuxDev, the Luxembourg Development Cooperation Agency.

By Times Reporters
 (Latest Update September 27, 2023)