Switzerland has supported the Lao People's Democratic Republic since 1995 under its programme devoted to the Mekong region. The Mekong regional strategy 2018-2021 has an annual budget of CHF 35 million and focuses on three main areas:
- local governance and citizen participation
- agriculture and food security
- employment and vocational education and training.
Specific expenditure for the Lao People's Democratic Republic (bilateral programmes) come to approximately CHF 16 million per year.
The SDC, through its humanitarian aid programme, provides support on an ad hoc basis after natural disasters and to ensure a durable recovery. Switzerland intervened, for example, following the collapse of a dam in the province of Attapeu in July 2018 and subsequently helped in securing several dams.
The Lao People's Democratic Republic also benefits from a number of regional economic development programmes run by the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO).
Development cooperation and humanitarian aid
PROMISE project