Bridging borders, building futures: TICA, LuxDev and Lao PDR deepen regional cooperation

Partnership, shared knowledge and regional cooperation took centre stage as representatives from Thailand, Luxembourg and Lao PDR came together to explore new opportunities for sustainable and inclusive development. Last week, the LuxDev Asia Office welcomed a high-level delegation from the Thailand International Cooperation Agency (TICA) for a mission to Lao PDR aimed at strengthening regional development cooperation and exploring future partnership opportunities.

The mission began with the first annual TICA – LuxDev meeting in the presence of Lao counterparts. The meeting took place within the framework of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between TICA and LuxDev in Bangkok in November 2025, marking an important milestone in the growing partnership between the two agencies.

The annual meeting provided an opportunity for participants to review progress and discuss future directions for collaboration. Key objectives included presenting the goals and areas of cooperation between TICA and LuxDev, exchanging views on the continuation and potential scaling-up of cooperation between TICA, LuxDev, and Lao PDR, and identifying pilot projects that could serve as a model for future joint initiatives.

The meeting brought together representatives from the Royal Thai Embassy in Vientiane, the Thailand International Cooperation Agency, the Embassy of Luxembourg in Laos, Lao counterparts, and LuxDev programme teams, highlighting the strong commitment of all partners to fostering sustainable development through regional cooperation.

Following the annual meeting, the delegation participated in a field visit to Vientiane Province to gain first-hand insight into programmes funded by the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and implemented by LuxDev, and identify opportunities for future collaboration.

The field visit began in Vang Vieng, Vientiane Province, where the delegation visited the Technical College of Vientiane Province and The Academy Vang Vieng Training Hotel and Restaurant, supported under the Skills for tourism, agriculture and forestry programme. The visit provided valuable insights into efforts to strengthen technical and vocational education and training, which equips young people with the skills needed to meet labour market demands in the tourism and hospitality sectors.

The following day, the delegation travelled to Naway Village to meet with village representatives and learn about the work of the Legal Mobile Clinic under the Rule of law, access to justice and good governance programme. Discussions focused on improving access to legal information and services for rural communities.

The delegation also visited several community infrastructure projects supported through the Local development programme, including a water supply system, a bridge and a local school. These investments are helping to improve living conditions and access to essential services for local communities while contributing to inclusive local development.

The programme further included a visit to Maria Teresa Hospital, supported under the Health and nutrition programme. The visit offered participants an opportunity to better understand ongoing efforts to strengthen healthcare services and improve access to quality care for communities in the province.

Throughout the mission, the delegation engaged in productive exchanges with staff, Lao counterparts and local stakeholders, while witnessing tangible development results achieved through partnership and community engagement. The field visits also provided a valuable opportunity for participants to deepen their mutual understanding and strengthen relationships, thereby facilitating discussions on future collaborative activities.

As a symbol of the strong and growing partnership between the two agencies, it was announced that TICA will host the next annual meeting in Thailand in 2027, continuing the dialogue and cooperation established under the TICA–LuxDev Memorandum of Understanding.

The mission concluded with a renewed commitment from all partners to deepen collaboration, promote knowledge exchange and explore innovative approaches to addressing development challenges through regional cooperation. Through this strengthened partnership, TICA, LuxDev and their Lao counterparts aim to build on existing achievements and create new opportunities for sustainable development across the region.