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