(KPL) On 18 December 2024, eleven Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers (JOCVs) arrived in Laos, where a welcome ceremony was held at the Embassy of Japan in Vientiane.

The Japanese volunteers were warmly welcomed by Mr Koizumi Tsutomu, Ambassador of Japan to the Lao P.D.R.; Mr Kouthong Sommala, Deputy Director General of the Department of International Cooperation, Ministry of Planning and Investment; Ms Yoshimura Yuki, JICA Senior Representative; along with representatives from line ministries, organisations, and the JICA Laos Office.

Ambassador Koizumi stated that the 11 volunteers will be dispatched to provinces selected by JICA. Last week, the volunteers also paid a courtesy call to Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone, who highly valued the contributions of Japanese volunteers to Laos' socio-economic development.

Mr Kouthong Sommala noted that the Government of Japan sent its first five volunteers to Laos in 1995. Since then, more than 1,000 Japanese volunteers have been dispatched to the country.

The 11 volunteers will work at the Ministries of Planning and Investment, Agriculture and Forestry, Education and Sports, and Health, as well as at Setthathilath Hospital and the Lao Youth Union.

Nine of the volunteers have been familiarising themselves with their supervisors and colleagues at their future workplaces. One will remain in Vientiane, while the others will be dispatched to Champassak, Borikhamxay, Xieng Khuang, Saravan, and Savannakhet provinces in the coming weeks.

KPL