The visit covered Savannakhet and Champasak provinces and marked her first official visit to Salavan and Sekong provinces. She was accompanied by Minister of Finance Santiphab Phomvihane during parts of the trip.

In Savannakhet Province, Ambassador Jones visited the Kaysone Phomvihane Memorial Museum and paid a courtesy call on the Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, H.E. Bounchom Ubonpaseuth, where discussions highlighted Australia’s economic engagement and ongoing support for provincial development.

Ambassador Jones and Minister Santiphab also visited Na Deua Primary School in Outhoumphone District to showcase Australia’s support for improving education quality and access through the Basic Education Quality and Access in Lao PDR (BEQUAL) program. Under BEQUAL, teachers receive continuous professional development to strengthen inclusive teaching practices. Studies show that students taught by teachers who have completed in-service training, including Spoken Lao and inclusive education strategies, achieve stronger literacy outcomes.

In Champasak Province, a highlight of the program was a visit to Costa Blueberry Farm, underscoring Australia’s commitment to agricultural modernization and rural development. Costa Group, Australia’s largest horticultural company, plans to invest AUD 100 million in the berry farming initiative over the next five years, creating around 2,000 jobs for local residents. The visit demonstrated how Australian private sector investment can contribute to export competitiveness and socio-economic growth in the Lao PDR.

During the Champasak visit, Ambassador Jones and Minister Santiphab met provincial leaders before visiting three villages to observe and monitor the implementation of the Fifth Population and Housing Census. Australia has provided AUD 5.45 million to support the successful conduct of the census.

In her remarks, Ambassador Jones stressed the importance of the census, saying, “The census is one of the most important exercises any country undertakes. It provides the foundation for informed policy decisions, effective resource allocation, and evidence-based planning. Australia is proud to support this work under the Laos–Australia Comprehensive Partnership, which emphasizes inclusive development, good governance, and strengthening national systems.”

The Ambassador also met with the leadership of Sekong and Salavan provinces to discuss local challenges and development opportunities.

In Sekong Province, Ambassador Jones marked the 35th anniversary of the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) in Laos by visiting an ACIAR-supported cassava disease-resistant research station in Thateng District, where she engaged with researchers, farmers, and industry representatives. She also handed over essential medical equipment to Sekong Provincial Hospital provided under Australia’s Small Grants Program.

In Salavan Province, the Ambassador visited a Community-Based School Readiness Program to observe the impact of Australia’s partnership with the Ministry of Education and Sports and UNICEF in strengthening early childhood education.

The visit reflects Australia’s continued commitment to supporting inclusive growth, human capital development, and strong partnerships with the Lao PDR, particularly in the southern regions of the country.

KPL