On April 28, 2026, a ceremony was held at the Lao Japan Center (LJI) in Vientiane to celebrate the 25th anniversary of its establishment.
25 years of continuous evolution in step with change
Since its establishment in 2001, the Lao-Japan Center (LJI) has been evolving its human resource development over the past 25 years by responding to changes in Laotian society and the voices of its people, while placing importance on the perspective of “Japanese-style management”. The starting point of our industrial human resource development was an evening MBA course for working people that began in 2008. At the time, it was a groundbreaking environment that allowed students to study while working, and to date, approximately 500 students have completed the course and are active in a wide range of fields, from private companies to public institutions. Later, in response to the demand for more practical learning, the “Management School” for managers was added in 2017, and in 2021, the “LJI SUSU” to support small and medium enterprises and start-ups with the goal of nurturing entrepreneurs who will represent Laos. The system that supports students from the learning stage to business growth encourages diverse challenges, with a cumulative total of over 20,000 participants, dispatching a total of over 200 experts, and accepting a total of over 250 trainees.
Since 2012, with the cooperation of the Japan Foundation, Japanese language courses have been offered to meet the growing demand for Japanese language education in Laos, and efforts have been made to provide higher quality Japanese language education.
(Ceremony scene) Mr. Ponkeo Chanthamary, Director of the Laos-Japan Center, spoke about the 25-year history of LJI.
Challenges and Expanding Possibilities for Graduates
LJI’s human resource development has always emphasized how learning can be applied in each workplace, rather than the completion of training or acquisition of qualifications as the goal. One of the graduates of the Management School reviewed organizational management by adopting the Japanese-style management approach, and achieved an increase in sales of approximately 300%. The alumni association of Management School graduates currently has about 130 companies as members, and the number of women in particular has been increasing in recent years, further expanding the base of business human resources in Laos. The women who are putting their learning into practice in fields deeply related to society, such as education and healthcare, are creating a positive cycle in Laotian society.
(Ceremony scene) Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education and Sports Tongsarit Mannomek spoke of his expectations for the development of industrial human resources.
Networking with Japanese companies
In recent years, Japanese companies looking to expand overseas are increasingly seeking a reliable partner who is familiar with the local market. Under these circumstances, LJI course graduates are expected to serve as a bridge between Japanese companies and Japanese companies, as human resources who understand both local conditions and Japanese-style management. LJI also promotes investment through networking with Japan and neighboring countries, and a business exchange meeting with Japanese companies is scheduled to be held in Tokyo in May 2026 (for details, please see the related URL).
(Ceremony scene) Prayers for LJI’s future development at the traditional event, Bercy Sukhwan
(Ceremony scene) Performance by Yosakoi team
A “Bridge of Trust” between Laos and Japan
The ceremony included the planting of a Champa tree, the national flower of Laos, to commemorate the 25th anniversary, and a traditional Lao ceremony called “Vaasi Sukhwan” to pray for the future of LJI. The Lao-Japan Center has nurtured people, connected people, and supported industrial development in Laos. Just as a sapling eventually takes root in the earth and spreads its branches and leaves, over the next 25 years we will continue to work together with the people of Laos to nurture new possibilities as a “bridge of trust” between Laos and Japan.
(Ceremony Scene) Tree Planting Event
© Source JICA