II. Cooperation with the main partner countries

Laos

Hospital in Paksane province, Bolikhamxay

Mushroom production as an income source

Laos

Population 6,8 million
Surface area 236 800 km2
GNP per inhabitant (PPP in $) 5 341
Classification in HDI 138/188

A new Indicative Cooperation Programme – the fourth for Laos – was signed in September 2015 in Luxembourg by Minister Romain Schneider and Laotian Minister for Planning and Investment Somdy Douangdy. The programme, which covers the period 2016-2020, is aligned with the priorities and objectives of the 8th Laotian National Socioeconomic Development Programme and is an integral part of the joint European programme, which covers the same period. 

There will be continuity between the 3rd and 4th ICP: the priority sectors will remain the same, i.e. health, rural development, vocational training in tourism and hospitality, as well as good governance/rule of law, which also entails a certain consolidation of the interventions carried out in these areas. Under ICP IV, special emphasis will be placed on good governance, which will be a cross-cutting issue, alongside gender equality, the environment and climate change.

With a view to enhancing aid effectiveness, ICP IV also enhances geographical concentration as well as increased cooperation and coordination between the bilateral and multilateral projects.

In the health sector, a project to develop sanitation systems and a reproductive, maternal and child health programme will be implemented jointly by three UN agencies. With regard to vocational training, a project to develop capacities in tourism and hospitality, funded half and half with Switzerland’s development cooperation, started in 2016.

To complement the formulation of a new project in the legal sector, a cooperation agreement was signed between the universities – more specifically, between the law faculties of Luxembourg and Laos.

In the rural development sector, several projects are underway and a single consolidated programme involving all the activities in four provinces – Bolikhamxay, Khammouane, Vientiane and Bokeo – has been established.

In addition to the work in these main sectors, there has been collaboration with several Luxembourg organisations – STATEC, the Luxembourg Institute of Health and BBI Luxembourg – and their respective partners in Laos.

 

Laos

Figure(s)

Laos