About

The Laos Australia Institute (LAI) supports human resource development in Laos. It is the Australian Government’s leading program for scholarships and training, as well as a source of technical advice and support to the public and private sectors.

Australia’s investment in Laos is guided by its Aid Investment Plan (2015-16 to 2019-20) which includes the objective of “improving Laos’ human resources through scholarships, training and organisational capacity building”. The Aid Investment Plan recognises that gaps in workforce capacity and qualifications are an obstacle to development, employment and investment in Laos, particularly in the context of Laos entering the ASEAN Economic Community. Stronger human resources are essential for economic growth and competitiveness in Laos, and to its ability to provide its citizens with the social services required for equitable development.

Human resource development is also a priority for Laos, with the Eighth National Socio-Economic Development Plan 2016-2020 identifying the constraints that skills gaps place on economic development. Further, the Human Resource Development Strategy to 2025, finalised in April 2016, provides national direction for investments in human resources. In particular, the HRD Strategy identifies the importance of building up and managing civil servants to be more efficient and effective, and developing the workforce and increasing labour productivity to meet labour market demand.