PM, technology minister advocate urgent digital transformation

The government is making progress under its strategy to create a digital economy, a digital society, and a digital government.
Its work is driving the 20-year national digital economy development vision (2021-2040), 10-year national digital economy development strategy (2021-2030), and 5-year national digital economy development plan (2021-2025).
Minister of Technology and Communications Prof. Dr Boviengkham Vongdara informed Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone, who chaired the inaugural meeting of the National Committee for Digitalisation Transformation on Thursday, that digital transformation was considered an important revolutionary mission in Laos’ industrialisation and modernisation.

Dr Sonexay Siphandone chairs a meeting on the development of digital systems.

The process would support the social and economic development of Laos in the immediate and long term, he said.
The creation of a digital economy would improve efficiency and add value to commercial and economic activities, production, delivery, sales, services, and management.
A digital society would allow the public to access various services more widely and would reduce the disparity between urban and rural areas, the minister added.
A digital government would also result in more transparent management of public sector services, linked to the development of high-quality human resources, especially by improving ICT infrastructure.
The ministry is preparing to expand the use of 5G trials, develop Laos as a connecting hub and digital gateway within the region, and ensure strong cyber security.
Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone advised all ministries and research institutions to create detailed plans of action linked to the vision, strategy and development plan for a national digital economy and to outline priority proposals and projects by 2025.
The prime minister instructed ministries to speed up the development of technological systems, especially the telecommunications network and internet, as well as upgrading the National Information Centre and creating electronic identity cards and a digital database in each ministry.
He also stressed the need to link ministries digitally so that data could be shared, as well as upgrading the whole of the government’s digital system and applying digital technology to revenue collection and expenditure.
Digital systems should also be widely introduced in sourcing funding and budgetary support from the international community.
Greater cooperation with the private sector is also necessary, Dr Sonexay said, as well as funding to support priority activities and projects. These should be closely monitored and their progress reported, to ensure development projects are effective and economical and that investment in duplicate projects is avoided.
Finally, the prime minister advised that all employees should have basic digital skills and lessons in this field should be learnt from other countries. Digital literacy should also be introduced across the country, Dr Sonexay said.

By Times Reporters
 (Latest Update August 4, 2023)