The meeting was chaired by Mr. Thongsalith Mangnomek, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education and Sports, who also serves as President of the National Committee for Human Resource Development. Participants included representatives from key ministries, the Central Organization Committee, the National Institute of Politics and Public Administration, the Central Party Theoretical Committee, and other relevant agencies, both in person and online.
Mr. Thongsalith said Laos has made significant progress in human resource development over the past three decades under the Party's leadership. He noted that the Human Assets Index (HAI) increased from 46.4 in 2003 to 75.30 in 2025, while the Human Development Index (HDI) rose from 0.405 in 1990 to 0.617 in 2023, laying an important foundation for the country's graduation from Least Developed Country (LDC) status.
Despite these gains, he acknowledged persistent challenges, including the slow implementation of policy, the need for deeper education reform, outdated curricula, limited financial resources, inadequate incentives for teachers in remote areas, and health and workforce skills that have not kept pace with technological change and labor market demands.
He stressed the need to update the human resource development resolution to align with the Party's Third Political Program (2026 Edition), the Resolution of the 12th Party Congress, and the 10-Year National Socio-Economic Development Strategy (2026–2035). The revised framework aims to strengthen national competitiveness, support regional and global integration, and promote the development of a self-reliant, digital, green, and sustainable economy.
Looking ahead, the government envisions that by 2055 the Lao workforce will possess strong political commitment, highly qualified scientists and specialists, and living standards approaching those of high-income economies, with the Human Capital Index (HCI) reaching 0.61 or higher.
Officials noted that the draft resolution has been developed through extensive consultations by the National Committee for Human Resource Development in cooperation with relevant ministries and agencies. The document has now reached Draft No. 24, dated July 12, 2026, and includes implementation measures such as nationwide dissemination, clearer decentralization of responsibilities, broader stakeholder participation, legal reforms, and the establishment of dedicated funding mechanisms to ensure effective implementation.