Young professionals from the Lao People's Democratic Republic have showcased their talents alongside peers from across South-East Asia at the WorldSkills ASEAN Competition 2025, held in Manila, Philippines, from 21 to 31 August 2025.
Supported by the ILO/China Partnership Programme on Skill Development, ten Lao contestants, including two women, competed across five disciplines: Web Technology, Graphic Design, Electrical Installation, Cabinet Making, and Cooking.
These talented individuals earned their place through the 4th National Skills Competition, held from 28 to 30 April 2025. Since then, they have undergone rigorous training with expert instructors from 12 May to 14 August to sharpen their skills and prepare for the regional stage.
A send-off ceremony was hosted on 15 August by the Skills Development Institute of the Lao People's Democratic Republic to honour the delegation. During the event, Phongsaysack Intharath, Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Welfare, encouraged the participants to learn from their peers across ASEAN and share their experiences and knowledge with fellow Lao youth to help advance national skills development.
Also in attendance were Vilay Vongkhaseum, Vice President of the Lao Federation of Trade Unions, and Xaybandith Rasaphone, Vice President of the Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
"Looking ahead, the ILO/China Partnership Programme will continue supporting the Lao PDR's delegations and provide guidance to the Skills Development Institute," said Tian Feng, Project Manager and Coordinator of the ILO/China Partnership Programme. "Future cooperation under the South-South cooperation includes teacher training, curriculum development and international skills competitions."
Funded by the Government of China, the ILO/China Partnership Programme on Skill Development aims to strengthen regional collaboration among skills providers at technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institutions, promote mutual recognition of skills and empower young workers to meet ASEAN standards.
