Thailand
Laos Promotes Online Trade In E-Commerce Push
Laos has become the latest country in Southeast Asia to promote e-commerce for its large small- and medium business sector. An online trade website called Plasosme focusing on Lao goods is now fully operational to act as a trade platform for online and offline businesses and also provide investment opportunities in the sector.
The website was created through a loan of $562,000 from the Asian Development Bank as part of government efforts to promote small-and-medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Laos and facilitate better access to markets in other ASEAN countries.
The e-commerce portal is in both Lao and English language and provides information about products and producers. Information on trade agreements, workshops on business and other important activities are also available on the website.
According to Lao Deputy Minister of Industry and Commerce, Bounmy Manivong, the portal is meant as a trading platform for entrepreneurs in Laos to introduce their products to the wider ASEAN market and regional trading partners.
“I believe that this e-commerce platform will provide more opportunities and environments for SMEs to access domestic and international markets,” he said.
“This is also a first step to increase Lao SMEs’ understanding of how free trade agreements are relevant to them and it also helps companies to find business partners and connect with other buyers and sellers,” Bounmy added.
So far, as many as 82 companies are already registered with the portal for online trading purposes with a range of more than 300 products and services. Plaosme is an initiative of the Department of Import and Export of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry of Laos and the Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry and operated and managed by Singapore-based e-commerce service provider barterfli Holdings.
Source: http://investvine.com/laos-promotes-online-trade-in-e-commerce-push/