The launch ceremony brought together representatives from the Ministries of Finance, Justice, Education and Sports, and Foreign Affairs, as well as the Bank of the Lao PDR, the Anti-Money Laundering Intelligence Office, the Embassy of Luxembourg, LuxDev, and the Institute for Legal Support and Technical Assistance (ILSTA).
Speaking on behalf of the Embassy of Luxembourg, Mr. Thomas Lammar, Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg in the Lao PDR, emphasized the importance of financial integrity and strong legal frameworks in promoting economic stability, investor confidence, and resilience.
He noted that Luxembourg’s Institute for Legal Support and Technical Assistance has contributed to strengthening legal capacity and supporting improvements to Lao legal frameworks in line with international standards.
The additional contribution comes as Laos continues addressing deficiencies identified in the 2023 mutual evaluation by the Asia/Pacific Group on Money Laundering (APG). Since February 2025, Laos has been subject to increased monitoring by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and is working to strengthen its AML/CFT framework and demonstrate effective implementation of international standards.

The reform process requires tangible results, including cases, statistics, supervisory outcomes, investigations, prosecutions, and confiscations. The Joint Group action plan, covering September 2025 to January 2027, provides a framework for technical assistance and coordinated support.
The Lao-Luxembourg programme will support reforms beyond the current action plan. With the next mutual evaluation expected in 2029 or 2030, the reforms, procedures, training and information systems supported through the programme extension are intended to contribute to sustainable improvements in Laos’ AML/CFT system.
The EUR 2.4 million contribution will finance specific measures under the Joint Group action plan, with each activity linked to a designated action-plan measure, deadline, and evidence required to demonstrate implementation.
Mr. Lammar said the FATF increased-monitoring process could also provide an opportunity for Laos to implement reforms and strengthen its position within the global financial system. He stressed that legal certainty and a robust AML/CFT framework are important factors in attracting sustainable investment.
The cooperation demonstrates the continued commitment of Laos and Luxembourg to strengthening the rule of law, good governance, and financial integrity, while supporting Laos’ efforts to meet international AML/CFT standards.