Young people across Lao PDR gathered for the first ever Lao Entrepreneurship Day to celebrate the power of entrepreneurship and community for a better world of work.

On 31 March and 5 May 2022, over 500 youth from across Lao PDR gathered to celebrate the first Lao Entrepreneurship Days organized by the ILO, SME Service Center from the Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SSC-LNCCI) and Technical Vocational Education and Training College (TVET).

Lao Entrepreneurship Day consisted of series of events in both Luang Prabang province and Vientiane, as well as livestreamed through the Lao Pherng Lao Facebook page. The hybrid model was an adjustment from COVID-19 restrictions that led to various strategic adaptations in order to have a safe yet welcoming event.

In total, over 500 young people participated in the two events. Both days showcased a full day of activities, including interactive group trainings and engaging lectures from inspiring business leaders. The training was led by fellow youth facilitators who followed the ILO Activity-based Learning programme Ready 4 Business (R4B). The R4B training modules specifically target young people with practical entrepreneurial skills so they are able to start their own businesses. Atthe end, a series of awards were given to the best business ideas developed by groups with various prizes from sponsors.

Since 2017, the ILO and local partners have been working together to promote entrepreneurship across South-East Asia through various campaigns. In 2021, the ILO began the project ‘Supporting Resilience to Lao MSMEs in Response to COVID-19’ as a response to the disproportionate impacts of the pandemic on enterprises. The programme, supported by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, organized Lao Entrepreneurship Day to celebrate the transformative power of entrepreneurship for young generations across the country.

After the event, the young participants reported feeling more confident about their future plans and goals, with majority expressing interest in pursuing entrepreneurship. By working together to come up with business ideas, students were able to acquire soft skills such as teamwork and creativity while learning practical steps in starting a business. “At first I was shy and afraid to speak up, but after this experience I have more confidence and courage”, a student adds.

The first ever Lao Entrepreneurship Day reflected the growing potential of youth entrepreneurship in Lao PDR as well as the increased capacity and adaptability displayed by partners in hosting an event during challenging circumstances. The celebration will be an annual event going forward.