Laos promotes digital economy development

Lao Prime Minister Sonexay Siphandone has been named chairman of National Committee on Digital Transformation.(Photo: Pasaxon)

Vientiane (VNA) -  Lao President Thongloun Sisoulith has appointed 22 senior government officials as members of a National Committee on Digital Transformation, in a bid to spur Laos’s social and economic development, Vientiane Times reported.

The Prime Minister has been named chairman of the committee while the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Security, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the Minister of Technology and Communications will be vice chairmen, according to a Presidential Decree signed by the President on June 2.

Top government officials from the relevant sectors were appointed as members of the committee.

President Thongloun stressed the need for Laos to expedite digital transformation to bolster socio-economic development at a high-level meeting in Vientiane at the end of last year. 

Without digital transformation, the development process will be delayed, he said, adding that the country will lose the opportunity to advance its economy as the rest of the world is moving towards the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

According to the newspaper, the committee will formulate policies, strategies, plans and mechanisms as well as supervise the implementation of digitalisation reform at the central and local levels. Three digital pillars will be formed – digital economy, government and community - to drive the country’s socio-economic development.

To accomplish these objectives, the Lao government is working to fulfill the National Digital Economic Development Vision for 2021-2040, the National Digital Economic Development Strategy for 2021-2030, and the National Digital Economic Development Plan for 2021-2025./.