Japan Funds Human Resource Development for Lao Officials with US$2.3 Million Scholarship Program

Japan has provided US$2.3 million in funding for a scholarship program aimed at human resource development for Lao government officials. This initiative is part of the Japanese Development Scholarship (JDS) program implemented by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The grant agreement was signed on July 15 by Mr. Vongkhamhaeng Vongthachack, Director General of the Department of International Cooperation and Finance at the Ministry of Finance, and Ms. Kobayashi Miyako, Chief Representative of the JICA Laos Office. Under the program, 21 Lao government officials will receive scholarships each year to pursue postgraduate studies at leading universities in Japan. The JDS Program has been implemented in Laos since 2000, and to date, 551 Lao government officials have been awarded scholarships to undertake advanced studies at Japanese universities and higher education institutions. This year, 21 JDS fellows are scheduled to depart for Japan in August to commence their studies. The program aims to strengthen the capacity of Lao government officials by equipping them with advanced knowledge and professional skills that will contribute to the country's long-term socio-economic development and public sector reform. JICA Laos encouraged prospective applicants to follow the official JICA Laos and JDS Laos social media channels for updates on the next scholarship application period.