From July 29 to August 2, the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS) had a 5-day training program for 14 Deputy Minister/Director General Level Government Officials of the Lao PDR. Objective of this program was sharing knowledge on Japan’s Administrative System, Economic Development, and the Capacity Building of Japan’s Private Sector.

Professor Emeritus Masahiro Horie, Director of Executive Development Center for Global Leadership of GRIPS and the Director of this program, Professor Hirofumi Takada, Adjunct Professor Keiichi Tsunekawa (former Vice President of GRIPS), Professor Tetsushi Sonobe (Vice President of GRIPS), and Professor Emeritus Hisayoshi Hashimoto delivered a series of lectures on Japanese Government Organizations and Civil Service Systems and Management, Local Government, Government Reforms and Innovation, Japanese Economic Development, and Capacity Building/Development of Japan’s private sector and relevant Industrial Policies.

On day 4, the trainees went on a site visit to Techno Front Morigasaki “Industrial Apartment” (start-up industries can rent workspaces for cheaper prices for a designated time) in Ota Ward and visited some industries inside the building. Ward officials made a briefing on Ota Ward’s Industrial Promotions and Policies for SMEs. The Lao PDR team also visited Kanamori Seisakusho, an outstanding Japanese Monozukuri Company located in Ota Ward.

As for the final event, Professor Horie gave a supplementary lecture including a Q&A session allowing participants to review and raise questions across the fields they touched during lectures. Each participant made a presentation on how the lessons learned from Japan can translate into their context of work back in the Lao PDR. A Completion Certificate was issued for each participant on the last day.

* This training program successfully completed with the support of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in response to a request from the Lao PDR Communist Party Central Organization Personnel Committee.