Youth skills expo highlights role of young people in Laos’ LDC graduation

Young people’s skills, creativity and leadership were showcased at the Youth Skills Expo in Vientiane on Monday, as Laos prepares to graduate from Least Developed Country (LDC) status in November.
Held under the theme “Investing in Us”, the event was organised by the Central Committee of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Youth Union, with support from UNICEF, to highlight the contributions of young people to national development and the importance of investing in their skills and potential.
The expo was opened by the Secretary General of the Central Committee of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Youth Union, Thongly Sisoulith, and UNICEF Country Representative to Laos, Bilal Aurang Zeb Durrani.
Representatives of government ministries, embassies, international organisations, civil society, the private sector and academia attended, alongside young people from across the country.
“More than half of the Lao population are young people,” Thongly said, stressing that developing knowledgeable, skilled and confident citizens capable of critical thinking was a shared responsibility across society.
He said young people should be equipped to become a driving force in the development and building of Laos.
The exhibition featured achievements under Project Sinxay, implemented by the Lao Youth Union with UNICEF support. The initiative has reached more than 7,000 young people in Vientiane, Savannakhet, Xaysomboun, Xiengkhouang, Huaphan, Luang Prabang and Oudomxay provinces.
The project has supported youth-led advocacy and innovation initiatives, including the development of products from rice straw in Savannakhet, as well as campaigns promoting digital safety and preventing child marriage.
For young participants, the initiative demonstrates how opportunities to develop skills and take leadership roles can help them contribute to their communities and the country’s future.
“Investing in us starts with listening to us. When our voices and ideas are heard, we grow in confidence, and we are ready to create positive change and help build a better future for our country,” said Chanphone Xongchaiyua, 21, a Project Sinxay Youth Advocate from Huaphan province.
Bilal said the project demonstrated what young people could achieve when given opportunities to lead.
“As Laos enters a new stage of development, the skills and ideas of its young people will be among its greatest assets,” he said.
UNICEF was proud to support the government and the Lao Youth Union in this work, he added, while encouraging other partners to join efforts to invest in the country’s young people.
The expo followed the International Day of the Girl on October 11, highlighting the importance of ensuring that adolescent girls can continue their education, develop skills and reach their full potential.
Supporting adolescent girls is also a priority under the new Country Programme of Cooperation between the Government of the Laos and UNICEF for 2027-2031.

By Times Reporters
 (Latest Update October 13, 2026)