A Message from President Sounay Phothisane
The journey of JCI Vientiane has always been rooted in one fundamental belief: young people have the power to transform their communities, their nations, and their region. Over the past months, our organization has taken bold steps to position Vientiane—and Laos—as a central hub for entrepreneurial innovation and cross-border business development. Our recent participation in the ASEAN-BRICS Youth Program is a testament to this commitment.
Breaking Barriers, Building Bridges
On January 27, 2026, JCI Vientiane had the distinct honor of participating in the landmark ASEAN-BRICS Youth Program at Lao Plaza Hotel. This wasn’t simply another business forum. This was a strategic gathering of thought leaders, young entrepreneurs, and development experts from across Southeast Asia and the BRICS nations, all convened to tackle one fundamental question: How do we unlock opportunities for the next generation of business leaders?
Under my leadership as President, JCI Vientiane brought our network, our expertise, and our passion to these critical conversations. The result has been a roadmap for regional cooperation that extends far beyond January 2026.
The Program: Designing the Future
The ASEAN-BRICS Youth Program consisted of two powerful sessions:
This morning session examined the emerging trends reshaping youth entrepreneurship worldwide:
- Artificial Intelligence & Automation – How young entrepreneurs can leverage AI tools to scale their businesses
- Sustainability & Social Enterprise – Building profitable ventures that create positive environmental and social impact
- Creative Economy Development – Harnessing cultural assets and creative talent across ASEAN nations
- Cultural Entrepreneurship – Bridging traditions with modern business models
Participants worked collaboratively to develop concrete cross-national project initiatives with clearly defined launch steps, roles, timelines, and interaction formats. These aren’t theoretical exercises—they’re actionable blueprints for real business ventures.
Moderated by Alenbakh Regina, Assistant Rector of the Russian University of Cooperation (RUC), this afternoon session dug deeper into the practical realities young entrepreneurs face:
- Current Support Systems – We analyzed national support measures available to young entrepreneurs across ASEAN and BRICS nations
- Market Access Barriers – We identified key obstacles preventing young entrepreneurs from entering international markets
- Scalable Solutions – We formulated concrete, implementable mechanisms to overcome these barriers
The outputs from this session will feed directly into the ASEAN-BRICS Youth Entrepreneurship Development Concept, scheduled for official approval at the 2026 International Forum of Cooperation in Kazan, Russia.
Why This Matters for Laotian Entrepreneurs
For too long, talented young entrepreneurs in Laos have faced a critical challenge: access. Access to international networks, access to investment capital, access to mentorship from experienced business leaders, access to regulatory guidance in foreign markets.
The ASEAN-BRICS Youth Program directly addresses these gaps.
Through JCI Vientiane’s participation and advocacy, young Laotian entrepreneurs now have pathways to:
- Network with regional decision-makers from ASEAN’s largest economies
- Access mentorship from BRICS business leaders with experience scaling ventures across multiple nations
- Participate in cross-border project initiatives that combine cultural innovation with modern business practices
- Learn directly about regulatory frameworks, investment opportunities, and market entry strategies in neighboring countries
- Build partnerships that can accelerate their business growth and market expansion
JCI Vientiane’s Evolving Mission
When I assumed the presidency of JCI Vientiane, I made a conscious decision: we would not be content with local impact alone. Yes, local community development matters. But young Laotians deserve opportunities to think regionally and compete globally.
This philosophy has driven every major initiative we’ve undertaken:
- International networking events that connect our members with business leaders across Southeast Asia
- Capacity-building programs focused on business fundamentals, financial planning, and market strategy
- Strategic partnerships with regional and international organizations working toward youth economic empowerment
- Advocacy efforts to ensure Laotian perspectives are heard in regional business development discussions
The ASEAN-BRICS Youth Program is the natural culmination of these efforts.
The Road Ahead: Implementation and Impact
The Kazan conference in 2026 will mark an inflection point. At that gathering, the ASEAN-BRICS Youth Entrepreneurship Development Concept will receive formal approval, unlocking additional funding streams, institutional support, and international recognition for participating organizations and their members.
JCI Vientiane is committed to playing a lead implementation role in this framework. We are:
- Identifying high-potential young entrepreneurs in Laos who can benefit from ASEAN-BRICS opportunities
- Providing mentorship and business advisory support to prepare our entrepreneurs for international partnerships
- Facilitating connections between Laotian ventures and ASEAN-BRICS investors and partners
- Monitoring progress and documenting impact stories that will strengthen Laos’s position in regional business discussions
A Call to Action: Join the Movement
If you are a young entrepreneur in Laos with ambitions to grow beyond our borders, JCI Vientiane wants to support your journey. Whether you’re in technology, cultural entrepreneurship, sustainability, or any other sector with regional potential, our network, our expertise, and our connections are at your service.
We are actively recruiting new members—young, ambitious, committed to both personal success and community impact. Through JCI, you’ll gain:
- Access to our international business network spanning Southeast Asia and beyond
- Mentorship from experienced entrepreneurs and business leaders
- Information about funding opportunities, market trends, and regulatory requirements
- Leadership development and professional skills training
- The satisfaction of contributing to Laos’s emergence as a regional business hub
Laos stands at a remarkable crossroads. We have a young, educated population hungry for opportunity. We have strategic geographic positioning in Southeast Asia. We have rich cultural assets and emerging creative industries. What we’ve been missing is a concerted effort to connect our people with regional and global opportunities—until now.
Through organizations like JCI Vientiane and initiatives like the ASEAN-BRICS Youth Program, that gap is closing rapidly.
The future of Laotian business is being written right now—by young entrepreneurs who are bold enough to think bigger, willing to work harder, and connected enough to succeed globally.
If you want to be part of that future, I invite you to join us.
For more information about JCI Vientiane, membership opportunities, and our upcoming programs, visit www.jci.la
Mr. Sounay Phothisane is President of JCI Vientiane and a business development leader committed to youth entrepreneurship and regional economic integration.