Austcham Lao PDR

09/10/2026

[𝐌𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐬] – 𝐖𝐞𝐥𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐀𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐦 𝐋𝐚𝐨, 𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐲 𝐂𝐨., 𝐋𝐭𝐝.! 🎉👥

We're delighted to welcome our newest member, Synergy Co.,Ltd, a Lao HR solutions company founded by Mr. Sounivong Panya, a seasoned HR leader with more than 8 years as an HR consultant.
Built in partnership with HAL Group, Synergy combines HR expertise with modern technology to help organisations build stronger people systems, from HR consultancy and HRMS software to corporate training.

Welcome to the AustCham family! 🤝

08/10/2026

[𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐲 & 𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐬] – 𝐆𝐥𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐥 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐆𝐚𝐩 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔: 𝐋𝐚𝐨𝐬 𝐂𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐛𝐬 𝟕 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐬, 𝐀𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐚 𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐨𝐩 𝟏𝟎 🌏

The World Economic Forum has released the 20th edition of its Global Gender Gap Report, and it carries good news for both Australia and Laos.

Laos ranks 89th out of 145 economies, up seven places from 96th last year, with a score of 70.3%. The improvement is led by Economic Participation and Opportunity, where Laos moved from 56th to 44th. Laos also ranks 7th globally for wage equality for similar work and 38th for women's labour-force participation. In Political Empowerment, Laos moved up from 108th to 95th.
This year, Australia makes its top 10 debut at 8th, with a score of 81.9%. It is the second-best performer in Eastern Asia and the Pacific after New Zealand. Australia's score rose 2.7 percentage points from last year, helped by full gender parity at ministerial level.

Globally, the gap stands at 69.2% closed, and the report estimates that parity is still 120 years away at the current pace. The report also shows where the work remains. In Laos, women hold a small share of legislator, senior official and manager roles (107th), and tertiary education enrolment is another area for improvement (126th).

These numbers are more than social indicators. Women already take part in Laos's workforce at high rates and are paid comparably for similar work, so the next step is leadership. Companies that build clear pathways from entry-level roles into management can strengthen their talent pipeline, retention and decision-making.

Australian businesses have been through a similar shift, with growth over the last few years, and can share practical experience on flexible work, parental leave, mentoring and inclusive recruitment. AustCham Lao is happy to help members connect on this and to share what's working.

📊 Read the full report: https://www.weforum.org/publications/global-gender-gap-report-2026/

08/10/2026

[𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭] – 𝐌𝐀𝐃𝐄 𝐈𝐍 𝐋𝐀𝐎𝐒 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔: 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐋𝐚𝐨 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝 🇱🇦

The Made in Laos 2026 trade fair opened last Saturday, under the theme "Promoting Lao Products, Stepping onto the International Stage." It brings together quality products from 18 provinces across the country, and the public, business owners and entrepreneurs are all invited.

We're happy to see AustCham members AIF Group, CITS, Beerlao and BFL BRED Group, supporting the event, backing Lao producers and entrepreneurs as they grow their brands and reach new markets. 👏
Highlights include:

🛍️ Exhibition of Lao products, handicrafts, food, beverages and processed goods
🤝 Business Matching sessions
🎤 Trade promotion activities and seminars
🌟 Activities from entrepreneurs who are LNCCI members

𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐃𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐬
📅 3 – 11 October 2026
🕘 9:00 AM – 9:00 PM
📍 Lao-ITECC Exhibition Centre, Vientiane.

AustCham Lao PDR, Executive Director, Samantha Pike, joined the opening ceremony on Monday 5 October with the Deputy Prime Mininster and Minister for Finance, as well as the Minister for Industry and Commerce, LNCCI Vice President and other foreign Chamber representatives. Pin the dates and come along! 🧡
Growing Lao brands into export markets is an opportunity for the whole business community.

Made in Laos brings producers from across the provinces into one place, and the Business Matching sessions give buyers, distributors and partners a direct way to meet them. With sponsors like AIF behind the event, it shows how development partners and the private sector are working together to strengthen Lao businesses.
For AustCham members, that means access to local suppliers, potential distribution partners and new products, and a look at how quality standards, packaging, branding and logistics for Lao goods are developing.

Australian expertise in food safety, supply chains, export readiness and marketing is directly relevant to producers who want to reach international customers. It's also a good week to bring your team or clients along, and to buy local while you're there.

07/10/2026

[𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐨𝐫 𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐬] – 𝐕𝐈𝐒 𝐏𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐑𝐢𝐛𝐛𝐨𝐧 𝐖𝐞𝐞𝐤: 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐓𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 💗🎀

Small actions, big heart. Our sponsor Vientiane International School (VIS) brought its community together for Pink Ribbon Week, raising awareness and funds to support breast cancer patients at Setthathirath Hospital.

The week began with a student Handprint Art Activity and a Cupcake Sale, and built up to the Pink Ribbon Fundraiser on 26 September. Families and friends joined the Pink Ribbon Run, pickleball with MITS Laos, Zumba and more. The whole week was organised by the VIS Parents & Friends group, with parents donating their time, effort and baking talents. 👏

It's a great example of what happens when a school community, local partners and families work towards one cause. For AustCham members, it shows how schools and businesses can partner on community initiatives, whether through sponsorship, in-kind support, sports and wellness activities, or CSR programs that give back to Laos.

Congratulations to the VIS team, the Parents & Friends group and all who took part! 💕

07/10/2026

𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬' 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥 𝐌𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐬! 🍎💛

Today, AustCham Laos says thank you to every teacher, educator and school leader who shapes the next generation in Laos. 🙏
We're proud to have a strong education community in our network:
🏫 Vientiane College
🏫 Panyathip British International School
🏫Vientiane International School (VIS)
🏫 Lab Langban International School - ໂຮງຮຽນນານາຊາດແລັບຫຼັງບ້ານ
🏫 International School of Laos-Nongbone Campus
🏫 LS Education
🏫 Westbridge Institute of Business and Technology
🏫 Western Australian International School - WAIS - Laos
🏫 AIS International School Laos

Great teachers do more than teach lessons. They build confidence, curiosity and character, and they prepare young people for the workforce, for business and for leadership in Laos. Every business in our network benefits from the skilled, capable graduates these schools produce.

For AustCham members, our school community is also a great partner: for corporate training, graduate hiring, internships, career fairs, CSR programs and family support for your expat teams. We encourage members to connect with them and explore how you can work together. 🤝

To all the teachers and educators in Laos: thank you for everything you do.

Happy Teachers' Day!

07/10/2026

[𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐨𝐫 𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐬] – 𝐋𝐚𝐨𝐬 𝐏𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐌𝐚𝐣𝐨𝐫 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔, 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐁𝐞𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐚𝐨 🏓🔥

The countdown is on! Vientiane is about to host some serious pickleball action this Saturday, with players from Laos and across the region competing in the men's and women's singles categories.
📅 10 October 2026 (Saturday)
📍 Rio Sport Club, Vientiane
🏆 Organised by PDL - Pickleball Development Laos x Laos Pickleball Federation
Proud to see our Gold Sponsor ບໍລິສັດ ເບຍລາວ ຈຳກັດ - Lao Brewery Co., Ltd. backing this event and supporting the growth of sport and community in Laos! 🍻 It's another great example of AustCham sponsors investing in the local community beyond business.

You don't need to be a player to join the fun! Bring your friends, your team or your clients, and cheer on the athletes. For AustCham members, it's a relaxed, high-energy way to network outside the boardroom and connect with the growing sports and lifestyle community in Vientiane, which can open doors for sponsorship, team-building and wellness partnerships. 🤝

Keep an eye out for an AustCham Pickleball friendly very soon! See you courtside! 🎾

[English in comment]
🔥 ເຫຼືອອີກ 5 ມື້! 🔥
ການນັບຖອຍຫຼັງເລີ່ມຂຶ້ນແລ້ວ! ⏳
ອີກພຽງ 5 ມື້ ນະຄອນວຽງຈັນຈະເຕັມໄປດ້ວຍເກມການແຂ່ງຂັນ Pickleball ທີ່ເຂັ້ມຂົ້ນ, ການໂຕ້ບານອັນດຸເດືອດ ແລະຊ່ວງເວລາສຸດແສນຈະຕື່ນເຕັ້ນ! 🔥

🏆 LAOS PICKLEBALL MAJOR 2026
📅 ວັນທີ 10 ຕຸລາ 2026 (ວັນເສົາ)
📍 Rio Sport Club, ວຽງຈັນ
🎾 ປະເພດຊາຍດ່ຽວ | ປະເພດຍິງດ່ຽວ
🤝 ຈັດໂດຍ PDL - Pickleball Development Laos X Laos Pickleball Federation

ແລະທ່ານຮູ້ບໍ່? 👀
👉 ທ່ານບໍ່ຈຳເປັນຕ້ອງເປັນນັກກິລາ ກໍ່ສາມາດມາຮ່ວມຄວາມມ່ວນໄດ້ເດີ້! ມາທີ່ສະໜາມ, ຊວນໝູ່ມານຳກັນ, ມາເຊຍນັກກີລາ, ມາຮູ້ຈັກວ່າ Pickleball ແມ່ນຫຍັງ ແລະ ມາສຳຜັດບັນຍາກາດອັນເຕັມໄປດ້ວຍພະລັງຂອງການແຂ່ງຂັນຈິງ! 🧡

ບໍ່ວ່າທ່ານຈະເປັນແຟນ Pickleball ຢູ່ແລ້ວ ຫຼື ບໍ່ເຄີຍຈັບໄມ້ Pickleball ມາກ່ອນ — ມາເບີ່ງ, ມາເຊຍ ແລະ ມາຮັບແຮງບັນດານໃຈໄປນຳກັນ! 🔥

🌏 ນັກກີລາຈາກລາວ ແລະ ຈາກຫຼາຍປະເທດຈະມາຮ່ວມແຂ່ງຂັນນຳພວກເຮົາ!

ແລ້ວພົບກັນທີ່ສະໜາມ ວັນເສົານີ້ເດີ້! 🔥

06/10/2026

[𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐨𝐫 𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐬] – 𝐖𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐠𝐞 𝐱 𝐃𝐃𝐃 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐋𝐚𝐨𝐬 𝐒𝐢𝐠𝐧 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐌𝐎𝐔 🤝✨

Two of our members, Westbridge Institute of Business and Technology and DDD Career Connect Laos, have officially signed their first MOU together.

Congratulations to both teams on this milestone! 🎉

This is what "Connect for Growth" looks like in action. Neither companies knew of each other previously, but at the August Sundowner, they were introduced!

A partnership that started right here within the AustCham network - showing that when members and sponsors meet, talk and collaborate, real agreements and real opportunities follow.

Whether you're hiring, building your team, or looking for a partner in recruitment, career development or professional services, the people you need may already be in our community. A conversation at a Sundowner or an event can turn into your next MOU or deal. 💼

Have a partnership story or a collaboration to share? Let us know, and we'll help spotlight it to the wider AustCham network! 🌏

06/10/2026

[𝐀𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐦 𝐋𝐚𝐨 & 𝐋𝐒 𝐄𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧] – 𝐄𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 & 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐅𝐚𝐢𝐫 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 🎓💛

The Education & Career Fair 2026 has just wrapped up, and we would like to thank everyone who took part! 🙏

The event brought together many students from different schools, backgrounds, universities and colleges. They came to learn more to help them make decisions about their career paths, what to study, and their future.

A special thank you to our members and sponsors who supported the event and sent industry experts to represent their organisations: Westbridge Institute of Business and Technology , RMA Lao, Phu Bia Mining Co. Ltd, Costa Group Laos , Vientiane International School, XM Technovator, Inthira Group and Toyota Laos. You showed students what your company looks like today and what it could be like to work with you in your sector in the future.

We would also like to thank BeDev Consulting and ມະຫາວິທະຍາໄລແຫ່ງຊາດ National University of Laos for joining us and showcasing Virtual Reality (VR) innovation to the students. 💡 Seeing new ideas and technology up close helps young people imagine the kinds of careers that will exist in Laos tomorrow.

Presenting your company to the next generation is a meaningful contribution. These students are the future workforce of Laos, and meeting employers early helps them see real opportunities at home in Laos.

Thank you to our co-organisers and Bronze Sponsors LS Education for a great collaboration, and to Gold Member Crowne Plaza Vientiane for taking care of the venue and all our members’ needs on the day.

We hope everyone stays in touch, follows up on the connections made during the event, and keeps supporting each other's growth. 🤝

05/10/2026

[𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐨𝐫 𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐬] – 𝐋𝐂𝐂𝐁 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐅𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐝-𝐀𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬

Our thoughts are with the communities in southern Laos affected by the recent floods.

Our Silver Sponsor Lao Coca-Cola Bottling (LCCB) has donated beverages to the Provincial People's Assembly of Champasak and the Provincial People's Assembly of Savannakhet, to support people affected by the flooding. LCCB has said it stands with everyone impacted and is ready to share resources and support recovery.

When disaster strikes, businesses that act early and work with local authorities help relief reach people faster. Working through provincial bodies means support goes where it is needed.

Community support like this also shows the role the private sector plays in Laos's resilience, and it is a reminder that responsible business is measured by how companies respond in difficult moments as well as in good times. We thank LCCB for stepping forward.

04/10/2026

[𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭] – 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐀𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐕𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬 𝐚𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝐋𝐚𝐨𝐬 🇦🇺🇱🇦
The Australian Volunteers Program has welcomed three new Australian Volunteers Program to assignments with partner organisations in Laos, sharing skills and strengthening the Australia–Laos partnership. 🤝

Kim White is supporting Free the Bears in Luang Prabang, helping wildlife sanctuary staff strengthen their English, workplace communication and digital skills.

Grace McCabe is working with the Institute of Foreign Affairs in Vientiane, delivering English language training and supporting curriculum development for Lao Government officials.

Dr Anna Dall has joined Luang Prabang Technical Vocational College, helping to improve English teaching, curriculum development and teacher capacity to support Laos's growing tourism sector.

Each assignment builds a capability that Laos's economy needs: language and communication skills, digital literacy, and better-trained teachers and public officials.

Volunteers also return with local knowledge and lasting relationships that add to the Australian community's connections in Laos. For businesses, that matters because a skilled local workforce and strong bilateral ties make Laos a more attractive place to hire, invest and partner.

If your organisation would like to connect with the volunteer community, the AustCham team would be glad to help make introductions. Keep an eye out for more Australian Alumni, AustCham Lao and AusVols collaboration very soon!

Please join us in wishing Kim, Grace and Anna every success in their assignments! 👏