Luxembourg Partnership Drives Transformation of Laos’ National Statistics System

Luxembourg: A long-standing partnership between Laos and Luxembourg is delivering a major transformation of Laos' national statistics system, as officials mark the completion of a key five-year cooperation project. According to Lao News Agency, at a closing event, senior representatives including Fongsamud Khamvanvongsa, Deputy Director of the Lao Statistics Bureau, Tomas Lammar, and Olivier Thunus highlighted the results of the Lao PDR-Luxembourg Cooperation Project in Statistics (LLPS2). Implemented from November 2021 to March 2026, the £2.05 million initiative delivered 93% of its planned outputs and achieved a 99.8% budget execution rate, underscoring strong coordination and effective implementation. The project, built on close cooperation between the Lao Statistics Bureau and Luxembourg's national statistics institute, STATEC, with support from GOPA Consultants, has strengthened both technical systems and institutional capacity. One of its most significant impacts has been in environmental statistics. A dedicated department has been established, supported by new data systems including Laos' first nationwide household solid waste management survey. These advances have improved data availability and helped position Laos as a regional leader in environmental-economic accounting. At the same time, the project expanded economic and social data capabilities. It strengthened the Lao Expenditure and Consumption Survey (LECS7), enhanced analytical capacity for tracking development progress, and supported reporting on global targets such as the Sustainable Development Goals. New areas, including business statistics and economic forecasting, were also introduced, with tools such as the Statistical Business Register improving the country's ability to monitor economic trends. The initiative placed strong emphasis on human capital, with training programs, leadership development, and international placements helping to build a new generation of skilled statisticians. Institutional reforms have further strengthened plan ning systems, leadership capacity, and organisational effectiveness within the Lao Statistics Bureau, laying the groundwork for a more modern and responsive statistical system. Officials say the project highlights the value of long-term international cooperation in building sustainable national capacity, with discussions already pointing to a possible third phase to build on these gains.