TİKA Supports Women’s Empowerment in Laos

Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) has renovated and refurbished the Vocational Training Center of the Lao Women’s Union, with the aim of enhancing women’s professional skills and increasing their participation in the economy.

As part of the project, TİKA renovated the center’s design room and showroom in Vientiane, the capital of Laos, to support the social and economic participation of women and disadvantaged young girls. The renewed space provides a modern environment where women can receive training as well as display and sell their traditional products.

Founded in 1955, the Lao Women’s Union is recognized as the country’s most influential institution for women’s rights and gender equality. The Union supports women, particularly in rural areas, by offering training in sewing, embroidery, weaving, and entrepreneurship, encouraging their greater involvement in social and economic life.

Speaking at the handover ceremony, Lao Women’s Union Vice President, Lavan Southisan, said: “Thanks to collaborations like this, our women can generate income for their families and find new markets for their products. We are grateful to Türkiye.”

Türkiye’s Ambassador to Vientiane, Oya Yazar, emphasized the significance of the project, coinciding with the 70^th anniversary of the Lao Women’s Union, stating: “This project demonstrates Türkiye’s commitment to the well-being of the Lao people and, in particular, the advancement of women.”

Dursun Ali Yaşacan, Head of TİKA’s East and South Asia, Pacific and Latin America Department, underlined the importance of inclusive development: “Development cooperation is most meaningful when it is inclusive and sustainable. Our projects in Laos particularly focus on historically underserved groups.”

In 2023, as part of its collaboration with the Lao Women’s Union, TİKA provided equipment to the State Cotton Enterprise and supplied essential tools to women who completed sewing and embroidery courses, enabling them to start their own businesses. The United Nations highlights that women in Laos, classified as a “Least Developed Country”, face limited access to education and economic opportunities. With this project, TİKA aims to contribute both to women’s empowerment and to Laos’s broader development goals.