(KPL) The Laos-Japan Human Resource Development Institute (LJI), with support from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), successfully hosted the LJI SUSU Scale-Up (Batch 3) Business Plan Competition, a dynamic platform aimed at boosting Lao entrepreneurship and fostering cross-border collaboration.
Held in partnership with the Department of MSME Promotion (DOSMEP) under the Ministry of Industry and Commerce (MOIC) and the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) Vientiane, the competition showcased the entrepreneurial talent of Lao businesses and their potential to scale regionally and globally.
Launched in July 2021, the LJI SUSU Scale-Up initiative is a business development program that nurtures high-potential Lao enterprises through training, mentoring, and international exposure—especially with business players from Japan.
The competition was attended by Mr. Tsutomu Koizumi, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Japan to the Lao PDR, Mr. Nobuyuki Kobe, Senior Representative, JICA Laos Office, Ms. Malaykham Philaphone, Deputy Director General, DOSMEP, Mr. Phonekeo Chanthamaly, Director of LJI.
Their speeches underscored the importance of entrepreneurship in driving innovation, creating jobs, and deepening Laos-Japan economic ties. 

After a rigorous selection process and 1.5 months of mentorship from seasoned experts from Laos, Japan, and Thailand, 14 standout companies were chosen to pitch their refined business models to a panel of judges, investors, and potential business partners.
The event, conducted in a hybrid format (online and in-person), attracted over 150 business participants from Laos and Japan, including 15+ potential investors and collaborators.
The competition concluded with the announcement of the top 5 awardees, who were recognized for their innovation, scalability, and social impact: Taleaw Craft and Sustainable Design Center by Herworks Individual Enterprise – US$16,000, Sa-ard D Self-Service Car Wash by Saduak Dee Automation Group Co., Ltd – US$11,000, Sensorclouds by Sensornode IoT Technology Sole Co., Ltd – US$11,000, Print Squares by Print Squares Sole Co., Ltd – US$11,000 and the Green Mushroom by Viyada Industrial Plantation Export-Import Sole Co., Ltd – US$11,000.
The LJI SUSU Scale-Up program, supported this year by Maruhan Japan Bank Lao and Techsauce, aims not only to fund startups but to foster long-term business linkages and capacity-building.
“We are excited to see how these startups evolve after the program. LJI is committed to working closely with SUSU participants to scale their impact and bring even more value to Lao society,” said Mr. Phonekeo Chanthamaly, Director of LJI.
As Laos continues to push forward with its SME development and digital transformation agenda, initiatives like LJI SUSU Scale-Up are playing a vital role in bridging the gap between local entrepreneurs and global opportunities.