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Laos: ICT businesses urged to drive economy
Information and communications technology (ICT) businesses must be the main drivers of economic growth and the process of industrialisation and modernisation in Laos.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, Mr Somdy Duangdy, made the comment when stressing the encouragement given by the government to the ICT sector in his address at the annual national meeting of the post and telecommunications sector, which ended yesterday.
Post and telecommunications businesses are major contributors to state revenue with the taxes and other fees paid reaching 881 billion kip last year, a 12 percent increase on the previous year.
Mr Somdy praised the achievements of the sector in its development and contribution to the national economy, and for facilitating the effective operation of other sectors.
He also praised the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications for organising the meeting under the theme “Promoting, Using ICT in Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SME) and Startup Businesses to Drive the Digital Economy”.
The use of ICT equipment by businesses helped them turn a profit while reducing the cost of production and services, he said.
But, he said, the number of SMEs and startup businesses using ICT equipment remained small and he called for more enterprises to use this technology.
The Nam Kat Yorla Pa Resort in Oudomxay province was cited as an example of a business successfully using social media as a marketing channel, which he said had increased the number of its visitors.
Mr Somdy said the public sector in some provinces was already using the internet in communications and advertising their tourist attractions, while other provinces had yet to utilise the technology due to a lack of qualified personnel.
He encouraged the sharing of experiences between organisations and businesses on the effective application of technology.
Mr Somdy also called on the ministry to enhance its management of ICT equipment, trade and services such as the import of satellite dishes, which are now banned by the government.
The Ministry of Finance was looking at how the customs department could enforce this order.
The training of personnel in the use of fast-changing technology, better management of Lao Sat and the management of ICT enterprises which have yet to make a profit, as well as the national transmission line being the backbone of the economy were also highlighted.
Mr Somdy also urged the ministry to develop ICT for use by the whole population and to build the general public’s technological capacity such as by using smartphones and social media in a constructive way.
Source: http://www.vientianetimes.org.la/FreeContent/FreeConten_ICT.php