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Laos: New law to promote, control technology transfer
The government has presented a draft Law on Technology Transfer to the National Assembly for approval with the hope that its promulgation will ensure coordinated management and systematic technology transfer throughout the country.
Minister of Science and Technology Prof. Dr Boviengkham Vongdara represented the drafting sub-committee in introducing the draft law to the Assembly at its ongoing ordinary session last week.
The minister mentioned the importation of technology, which he said was on the rise with the aim of serving investment projects and other business operations.
He reminded those present about some shortcomings in the sector due to the lack of regulations, saying some out-of-date technologies that were imported resulted in environmental degradation, ineffective production and low quality products that were below international standards.
The government believed these imports were not accompanied by the transfer of knowledge and human resource development. Many development projects used foreign specialists and technical staff while Lao labour did not receive training and skills development.
“All these have delayed sustainable development,” Prof. Dr Boviengkham said on behalf of the drafting sub-committee.
The draft Law on Technology Transfer has 11 parts divided into 61 articles.
The law reflects government policy, giving importance to technology transfer through its facilitation of research and development, inventions, production, technology transfer services, and use of innovation that ensure benefits to and the safety of people’s lives and property, along with national stability and security.
Through the promulgation of this law, the government will promote technology transfer that assists new highly competitive products and industries, agriculture and services, energy savings, raw materials, and labour and production costs.
The government will also promote technology transfer that uses renewable and alternative energy, while protecting humans, domesticated animals and wildlife, to prevent and respond to natural disasters and disease outbreaks.
Other technologies encouraged are those that result in clean and environmentally friendly production, the protection and development of traditional seed sources, hybrid seeds and improved seeds, and increasing the economic value of plants and animal fertility.
Technologies enhancing horticulture and animal husbandry, agriculture stockpiles and processing, forestry, fish farms, and the development of traditional and local knowledge will also be encouraged by the government.
At the same time, the government will control the transfer of technologies that have negative impacts on the national economy and interests, people, animals and wildlife, culture and customs of the multiethnic people, and natural resources and the environment.
Through this law, technology transfers that adversely affect productivity, workplace safety, hygiene, national defence and security, customs and social order will be prohibited.
Source: http://www.vientianetimes.org.la/FreeContent/FreeConten_New_260.html