At 24 years old, Somphone Inleuangsy never imagined she'd become a pioneer in her homeland. Thanks to the transformative China-Laos Railway, she's now one of Laos' first female train drivers – steering both locomotives and societal change in Southeast Asia.
The $6 billion cross-border infrastructure project, completed in 2021, has reduced travel time between Vientiane and Kunming from three days to less than 10 hours. But beyond the engineering marvel, it’s reshaping lives: Over 1,200 Laotians received specialized training through the initiative, with women comprising 38% of technical trainees – a breakthrough in a country where transport engineering remains male-dominated.
“This railway isn’t just steel tracks – it’s a bridge to new possibilities,” Somphone told myglobalnews.net. Her journey from rural Bolikhamxai province to the driver’s cabin mirrors Laos’ broader shift: the railway has already boosted the nation’s trade capacity by 50%, with passenger traffic exceeding 2 million in 2023.
The project aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals for decent work and gender equality, demonstrating how infrastructure investments can drive human development. As Southeast Asia’s connectivity intensifies, stories like Somphone’s offer a blueprint for inclusive growth in emerging economies.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
