On May 14, Deputy Administrator Coleman completed her trip to Laos to deepen development cooperation with the Government of Laos and discuss shared priorities under the U.S.-Laos Comprehensive Partnership, an agreement launched by President Obama in 2016.
After arriving in Vientiane, the Deputy Administrator met with Dr. Manothong Vongsay, Deputy Minister of Industry and Commerce; Vice Minister Ting Souksanh, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs; and Khamjane Vongphosy, Minister of Planning and Investment, to build momentum on five years of cooperation and discuss a path forward on shared priorities including health, energy, rule of law, economic recovery, education, and inclusive development.
Deputy Administrator Coleman announced two new grants, with a combined total of $5.6 million in additional USAID support, to help Laos strengthen its business enabling environment and rebuild its economy, and improve basic education among children in grades 1 and 2 amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, including non-Lao speaking children and children with disabilities.
She also announced that the United States will continue its global COVID-19 vaccine assistance efforts in Laos by donating pediatric vaccines requested by the Government of Laos to help protect children as young as five years old. Since the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. government has donated more than 2.7 million COVID-19 vaccines to the Government of Laos.
Deputy Administrator Coleman visited a Pfizer vaccination site at Mittapharp Hospital, where she met with health experts on the frontline of the country’s COVID-19 response. She thanked them for their commitment, hard work and support to help Laos achieve its goal to vaccinate half of the country’s population in 2021, including hard-to-reach communities and Lao youth.
Deputy Administrator Coleman also participated in a scholarship ceremony hosted by the Lao National Institute of Justice, during which 12 future lawyers, including women and persons with disabilities, were awarded scholarships to complete required training to pursue their careers as lawyers, and advance the country's rule of law. She also met with Lao women leaders to hear their recommendations on how USAID can improve gender equality for underserved women and marginalized people in Laos.
Additionally, Deputy Administrator Coleman sat down with local journalists to discuss 10 years of USAID support to the people of Laos, including economic reforms, strengthening the rule of law, empowering the youth population, and improving health and education outcomes for the Lao people––all of which help build the resilience and prosperity of Laos.