REPORT
SKILL TRAINING ON WOOD CARVING
FOR THE LAO PEOPLE’S DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC
Vientiane, 22 November – 19 December 2007
INTRODUCTION
1.
The Skill
Training on Wood Carving for the Lao People’s Democratic Republic
was a one-month training programme contrived for 18 Lao craftsmen.
The said programme was held in Vientiane, the Lao PDR, commenced on
22 November 2007 and concluded on 19 December 2007.
2.
The
Training was organised in close collaboration between the Non
Aligned Movement Centre for South-South Technical Cooperation (NAM
CSSTC) and the Department of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of
Indonesia. It was convened, notably for the first time, to respond
the Lao Government’s proposal which was conveyed personally by its
Deputy Prime Minister to the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the
Republic of Indonesia requesting for Indonesia’s technical
assistance in developing the wood carving manufacture in Lao. NAM
CSSTC welcomed this opportunity and supported the necessary
arrangement to realise the initiative.
PROGRAMME
IMPLEMENTATION
3.
The
Training was devised to develop better knowledge and skills of the
Lao craftsmen in wood carving. Having completed the Training,
participants are expected to have comprehensive skilfulness on
technique and process of planning, producing, and marketing the wood
carving handicrafts.
4.
To meet
the abovementioned objective, NAM CSSTC in cooperation with the
Department of Foreign Affairs assigned 2 extended trainers from
Jepara, Central Java, Indonesia, in order to bring the knowledge and
expertise of Indonesia’s long tradition in wood carving and
eventually boost the trainees’ skills in this field of artistry.
5.
During
the Training, participants had learned to try their hand at
traditional wood carving of Jepara, including the wide range of
techniques, patterns and ideas behind this particular form of art.
It is expected that through this Training participants will have new
experiences and ideas that might be beneficial to their future
career in wood carving manufacture.
6.
On
the sidelines of his working visit to Lao for the Indonesia-Lao
Joint Commission, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Republic
of Indonesia, H.E. Hassan Wirajuda, availed himself to the
opportunity to observe the Training on 17 December 2007.
MEETINGS WITH THE LAO
OFFICIALS
7.
To
officially close the Training and to discuss with the relevant
agencies on how to further enhance the bilateral technical
cooperation between Indonesia and Lao, NAM CSSTC and Department of
Foreign Affairs made a working visit to Lao from 17-19 December
2007.
8.
During
such visit, NAM CSSTC and DFA met with relevant officials from Lao
Ministry of Education, Ministry of Trade and Industry, and also
Committee of Planning and Investment, and met separately with the
Head of the Lao Furniture Association who was responsible for the
implementation of the Training.
9.
Following
were the discussion and outcome of the Meeting:
·
The
Meeting shared the view that the Training was a constructive
undertaking for the Lao craftsmen in enhancing their skill in wood
carving particularly in advancing their creativeness to develop the
local wood carving pattern;
·
The
Meeting also noted that the Participants obtained valuable knowledge
from the Trainers on the business-related skills in wood carving
craftsmanship, another must-have quality that the craftsmen
specialised in wood carving handiwork should have;
·
The
Meeting noted Lao great potential in wood carving manufacturing that
needs to be further developed proficiently, bearing in mind that Lao
owns an enormous stockpile of raw material for wood carving
manufacturing, relatively low-wage human resources, prospective
domestic market that is still widely open to physical development,
and the fact that Lao would be hosting the forthcoming Sea Games in
2009. By way of improving the quality of its wood carving products,
it is expected that wood carving products from Lao would be mostly
welcome by the international market;
·
To
support the above initiative, it is necessary to encourage
Indonesian investors that may have interests in the area of wood
carving to run joint ventures with Lao manufacturers;
·
As a
follow up to the Training and to realise both sides commitment to
increase bilateral cooperation, Indonesia would invite the top-three
most excellent participants to further improve their skill by
partaking in a special training held at the Carving School in Jepara.
Afterwards, the three participants are expected to be able to train
the local craftsmen in Lao (Training of Trainees). In this
connection, it is deemed appropriate to involve GTZ which to this
end has been actively play a part in the promotion of Wood Carving
Centres both in Jepara and Lao;
·
The
Meeting noted that Indonesia and Lao have great potential for
further developing their economic and cultural ties. The Meeting was
also of the view that while technical cooperation in the field of
wood carving had been well developed, there should be a need to also
look into how to enhance cooperation and relations at other areas of
technical cooperation;
·
In light
of the above, the Lao side had indicated its interest to pursue and
to explore other possible areas of technical cooperation. It had
also requested Indonesia for providing the Lao with adequate
training and capacity building programme particularly in areas that
are correspond to Indonesia’s capacities;
·
The Lao
side had also requested that Indonesia’s technical assistance could
include scholarships in various areas for the young people of Lao;
·
The
Meeting also indicated both sides interest to establish “Lao-Indo”
as a mechanism that would house all forms of cooperation among the
two Countries, either cooperation between governments (G-to-G) or
between private sectors (P-to-P).
10.
Indonesia
affirms its strong commitment in contributing to the development of
its neighbouring Countries, especially in accelerating the economic
development of the new ASEAN Member Countries including the Lao PDR.
In this regard, the opportunity for fostering bilateral technical
cooperation in various fields, particularly cooperation in wood
carving, should be carefully managed and fully utilised. Such
technical cooperation should be conducted under the framework of
Indonesia-Lao Joint Commission which will be further implemented in
the grass-root level by private sectors.
11.
NAM CSSTC
noted the Department of Foreign Affairs initiative to hold
inter-agencies meeting in the near future, engaging Indonesia
Chamber of Commerce and Indonesia Furniture Association and other
relevant agencies, to discuss on how to strengthen bilateral
cooperation between Indonesia and Lao.
12.
NAM CSSTC
resolves to fortify national capacities of other developing
countries in diverse areas and stands ready to cooperate with the
Non Aligned Movement Member Countries in providing technical
assistance especially in providing technical skill and
experts/trainers.
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