Luxembourg Ambassador’s first official visit to Champasak Province strengthens bilateral cooperation

Champasak Province recently welcomed H.E. Ambassador Patrick HEMMER of Luxembourg on his first official visit, marking a significant milestone in the enduring partnership between Luxembourg and the Lao PDR. The visit, accompanied by Mr Thomas LAMMAR, chargé d’affaires at the Embassy of Luxembourg in the Lao PDR, Mr Robert DE WAHA, regional representative of the LuxDev Asia Office, and representatives of LuxDev, the Luxembourg Development Cooperation Agency, underscored Luxembourg’s commitment to fostering sustainable development and inclusive growth in Champasak Province.

The Luxembourg delegation paid a courtesy visit to Mr Alounxay SOUNNALATH, governor of Champasak Province. The meeting reaffirmed the depth and continuity of the bilateral partnership between Luxembourg and the Lao PDR, while creating space for broader future cooperation, particularly in areas aligned with sustainable development and inclusive growth for southern Laos. Discussions emphasised key collaborative domains including technical and vocational education, capacity-building, local development interventions, and long-term support for institutional strengthening.

Ambassador HEMMER reiterated Luxembourg’s unwavering commitment to creating meaningful opportunities for Lao communities, while Governor Alounxay SOUNNALATH acknowledged the positive and tangible results of Luxembourg-supported programmes in the province’s socio-economic progress.

The visit reflects the close friendship and trust between the two countries and strengthens cooperation with local authorities to reinforce programme sustainability, ownership, and development impact at the provincial level. 

H.E. Ambassador Patrick HEMMER then undertook his first official visit to Champasak Technical and Vocational College, underscoring the strategic significance of vocational education and international collaboration in strengthening human capital development in the Lao PDR.

The delegation led by Ambassador HEMMER and accompanied by representatives from LuxDev was warmly received by the Director General of the Ministry of Education and Sports’ Technical and Vocational Education and Training Department and the College’s leadership team. The programme included a delicious luncheon prepared by the students and teachers of the College, showcasing their high level of practical training and skills application.

The central focus of the visit was the forthcoming construction of a new practical training hotel at the College, supported by the Skills for tourism, agriculture and forestry programme. This initiative is implemented by the Ministry of Education and Sports with LuxDev's support and jointly funded by the governments of Luxembourg, Switzerland, the European Union, and the Lao PDR.

The ten-room training hotel – equipped with meeting facilities, a restaurant, and a coffee shop – will provide industry-standard training environments for students to gain hands-on experience while also generating income for the College as it moves towards becoming a self-financing institution.

Particular emphasis was placed on positioning Champasak Technical and Vocational College as a leading centre of excellence and inspiration in tourism and hospitality vocational training in southern Laos. Its strategic location in Pakse offers an ideal setting for industry engagement and the advancement of vocational training aligned with labour market needs.

This inaugural visit underscores Luxembourg’s longstanding commitment to advancing inclusive and sustainable socio-economic progress through vocational education and reinforces its dedication to supporting Lao youth with market-relevant skills that contribute directly to national and regional development priorities.

The Luxembourg delegation also visited the Faculty of Law and Administration (FLA) at Champasak University, further deepening cooperation in higher education, legal capacity development and institutional strengthening.

The delegation was welcomed by Dr Phonesavanh THEPPHASOULITHONE, president of Champasak University, the Dean of FLA, academic staff and student representatives. A formal handover ceremony was held for the newly renovated classrooms and wash facility. The renovation was undertaken within the framework of the Rule of law, access to justice and good governance programme, financed by the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg and jointly implemented by the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Education and Sports, LuxDev, ILSTA and the University of Luxembourg. This intervention reflects Luxembourg’s continued support for improving teaching and learning environments, academic access and professional training conditions in southern Laos.

Following the ceremony, the delegation toured the faculty grounds, observing the library supported by Luxembourg since 2018. This resource centre has become vital for faculty and students, supporting academic growth and research. The visit also provided an opportunity to assess and observe the functioning of academic spaces, student learning resources, and institutional improvements implemented after the renovation.

One of the most engaging segments of the mission was an interactive open forum with students, where Ambassador HEMMER discussed education pathways, career perspectives and the role of legal and governance institutions in shaping sustainable and people-centred development.

The visit reflects Luxembourg’s dedication to enabling quality legal education, nurturing future legal professionals in Laos, and supporting institutions that play a critical role in advancing the rule of law, accountability and good governance at national and sub-national levels.