Post on 12-Jun-2020
The Fifth Trade and Investment Week:
Regional Consultation on e-Commerce for Sustainable
Development
The Status of e-Commerce
in Lao PDR
Mouavixay Palee
Director, Import and Export Department, MOIC
UN Conference Centre, Bangkok, Thailand, 30 October 2017
1
Content
• National policy
• Current e-commerce development
- Related legislations
- Responsible government agencies
- E-commerce platform
• Main challenges
• Future plan
• International cooperation
2
National Policy
• Lao PDR currently is actively implemented its 8th Five-Year National Social-Economic Development Plan, with a committed view to graduate from LDC status by 2020
• Digital economy initiative is strongly promoted by the plan
• E-commerce will be able to push economic growth and offer more accessible channels for SMEs
3
Current E-commerce Development
Some related legislations
• Law on Consumer Protection in 2010
• Law on Telecommunication in 2011
• Law on E-transection in 2012
• Law on Cybercrime in 2015
• Law on Information Communication Technology in
2016
• Law on National Payment ( Next year)
4
Current E-commerce Development (cont.)
Responsible government agencies
• Unclear main responsible government agency
• Different voices, some said Ministry of Industry
and Commerce (MOIC), but other said Ministry
of Post, Telecommunication and Information
(MPTI)
5
Current E-commerce Development
E-commerce platform
• The first official e-commerce platform
(www.plaosme.com ) was built by DIMEX in 2015
• Loaned by ADB with amount of 560.000 USD
• Officially launched in August 2017
• Operated by Lao National Chamber of Commerce and
Industry
• More than 80 SMEs have registered with more than
300 products displayed on the website.
6
E-commerce platform
7
Main Challenges
• The concept of e-commerce is new for Laos
• Line government agencies are still not so clear on how
ecommerce works and operates
• Very few decision markers familiar with e-commerce
system
• Lack of manpower and financial support
• Some laws but limited implementing regulations
• Unclear responsible ministry
8
Future Plan
• To develop the online payment regulation,
• To organize a mission to visit China for e-commerce
learning in mid Nov.
• To make clear among ministries who will take lead on
e-commerce development
• To form a National Committee on e-commerce
development
• To develop necessary laws and regulations
• To invite local and international enterprises to involve
in the process of e-commerce development
9
International Cooperation
• Willing to learn from you and your successful
experiences
• Welcome UNESCAP and other international
organizations to support Laos on e-commerce
development
+ Capacity building
+ Technical assistance
• Welcome your enterprises to invest in e-commerce
sector
10
Conclusion
• E-commerce status of Laos is on the very beginning
stage
• Some laws but few implementing regulations
• Responsible ministry has been not identified yet
• Lack of e-commerce skill and knowledge and financial
support
11
Thank you
12