HELVETAS Swiss Intercooperation is a development organisation anchord in Switzerland. It came into existence on 1 July 2011 through the merger of two organisations: Helvetas (founded in 1955) and Intercooperation (founded in 1982). Helvetas started working in Lao P.D.R. in 2001 with activities mainly in the agriculture sector, addressing issues related to sustainable agriculture, food security and social equity in the country.