Vientiane — The International Organization for Migration (IOM), in partnerships with the Development Research Institute (DRI), the Ministry of Planning and Investment, launched on 8 December the first-ever Migration Profile of Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR).

The Migration Profile is a statistical report on migration situation of the country, highlighting the migratory processes, trends, and patterns against the background of existing regulatory systems, policy frameworks and international cooperation initiatives in the country. In addition, it aims to facilitate evidence-based policymaking, policy commitments and inter-agency cooperation, mainstreaming migration into broader policymaking processes.

Under DRI’s leadership and with the technical support from IOM, the development of the Migration Profile for Lao PDR is an outcome of extensive consultation meetings with relevant line ministries and stakeholders through the Inter-ministerial Technical Working Group.

IOM Chief of Mission Shareen Tuladhar said, “This first-ever Migration Profile will also serve as a valuable tool for policymakers, researchers, practitioners and will serve as a resource base for capturing the entire scope of migration trends in the country. This initiative has also formed a foundational basis and a framework for the country to develop such reports in the future.”

UN Resident Coordinator to Lao People’s Democratic Republic Bakhodir Burkhanov said, “As Lao PDR takes on the Chair of the ASEAN next year, the United Nations System hopes that this report can frame and deepen the discussion on this important topic, which was already put on the table during Indonesia’s chairmanship this year.”

Information and recommendations put forward by the Migration Profile is also expected to contribute to achieving the country’s 9th Five-Year National Socio-Economic Development Plan 2021-2025, and IOM Country Strategy 2022-2026 with a particular focus on socioeconomic growth, human capital, and people’s well-being. Additionally, the study supports key strategic priorities in Lao PDR under the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework 2022-2026.

Vice Minister of Planning and Investment Sthabandith Insisiengmai expressed that “Migration should be one of the Government’s priorities in the policymaking, as it contributes to socioeconomic development and poverty reduction in the country. “Thus, evidence-based data on migration will be very critical to develop policies and actions to address emerging migration issues and challenges.”

Migration Profile is a flagship report and a capacity-building tool developed by IOM Member States to improve governments’ capacity in migration management. IOM assisted the Government of Lao PDR in developing this first-ever, national-level document through the support of IOM Development Fund (IDF).

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