2018-老挝人民民主共和国_电子贸易准备度评估（英文版）-1mb

Lao People's Democratic Republic Rapid eTrade Readiness Assessment Summary

Core Content

The Lao PDR Rapid eTrade Readiness Assessment, conducted by UNCTAD as part of the eTrade for all Initiative, evaluates the country's preparedness to engage in and benefit from e-commerce. The assessment highlights key areas for improvement and outlines recommendations to support the development of e-commerce in Lao PDR.

Main Policy Areas and Findings

The report analyzes seven policy areas crucial for e-commerce development:

1. E-commerce Readiness Assessments and Strategy Formulation

   • Findings: The government has shown renewed interest in e-commerce, driven by participation in the e-ASEAN framework and international trade negotiations. However, e-commerce is not yet seen as a major export source, especially for agricultural and handicraft products.
   • Recommendations: Accelerate the empowerment of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce (MoIC) as the lead agency for e-commerce development. Encourage the development of a single, coordinated e-commerce strategy aligned with the National Socio-economic Development Plan (NSEDP).

2. ICT Infrastructure and Services

   • Findings: Mobile phone penetration has increased significantly over the past decade, but the lack of an independent regulator, licensing framework, and market fairness remains a key barrier. Internet service needs to be strengthened to support digital financial services (DFS).
   • Recommendations: Ease licensing and pricing restrictions to foster customer-oriented services. Accelerate 4G deployment in rural areas to enable new e-commerce services.

3. Trade Logistics and Trade Facilitation

   • Findings: Delivery services are limited to urban areas, and postal systems lack a formal address system. Third-party logistics providers face challenges due to traffic congestion and regulatory constraints.
   • Recommendations: Develop public-private partnerships involving Lao Post to improve delivery accessibility. Access the Framework Agreement on Facilitation of Cross-Border Paperless Trade in Asia and the Pacific to support digital trade facilitation.

4. Payment Solutions

   • Findings: The main public bank holds a de facto monopoly on e-payment, and telecom operators have not yet launched mobile payment systems. There is no established Fintech industry, and reliance on foreign payment solutions persists.
   • Recommendations: Implement DFS regulations (National Payment System) in 2018. Encourage healthy competition between banks and telecom operators to improve service quality and affordability, especially for rural populations.

5. Legal and Regulatory Frameworks

   • Findings: While some legal instruments have been developed, there is a lack of comprehensive e-commerce legislation, particularly on data privacy and consumer protection. The absence of regulations has raised concerns about potential revenue losses.
   • Recommendations: Upgrade the e-Transactions Law and develop a dedicated e-commerce law. Leverage the 2016 Cyber Crime Law and 2018 DFS regulations. Consider joining the WTO e-commerce statement to gain access to technical assistance.

6. e-Commerce Skills Development

   • Findings: E-commerce skills are limited, even within the tech start-up community. Public education institutions lack ICT-related curricula, and in-company training compensates for this gap.
   • Recommendations: Support the development of co-working spaces and business accelerators. Encourage public and private investment in education and training to align with the needs of e-commerce players.

7. Access to Financing

   • Findings: Local banks are not incentivized to support MSMEs or tech start-ups. The start-up ecosystem is nascent, with support from Thai mentors and coaches. Youth communities are shaping future tech development.
   • Recommendations: Improve the current ecosystem to attract venture capitalists and business angels. Focus on transitioning from a social to a business-focused model to support start-up growth.

Key Information

• The assessment was conducted by UNCTAD consultant Sven Callebaut, with support from the Lao PDR government and various stakeholders.
• The methodology involved four phases: stakeholder engagement and literature review, online survey, in-country interviews, and report writing.
• Lao PDR ranks 139 out of 175 economies in the 2017 ITU ICT Development Index and 92 out of 144 in the UNCTAD B2C E-commerce Index.
• The 8th NSEDP 2016-2020 outlines goals for ICT development, including expanding Internet connectivity, increasing computer and Internet literacy, and establishing a national data centre by 2018.
• The eTrade for all Initiative aims to improve e-commerce capabilities in developing countries, especially LDCs, to support the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Conclusion

Lao PDR is at an early stage of e-commerce development, with significant progress in ICT infrastructure and trade facilitation, but persistent challenges in regulation, payment systems, and skills development remain. The report emphasizes the need for a coordinated national strategy, regulatory reforms, and enhanced public-private collaboration to unlock the potential of e-commerce for economic growth and development.

The Way Forward: Action Matrix

• Create awareness about e-commerce and its benefits.
• Develop a national e-commerce strategy using existing sectoral strategies.
• Adopt less restrictive regulations in banking and telecom to support affordable e-commerce services.
• Upgrade legal frameworks to include consumer protection and data privacy.
• Improve payment systems through DFS regulations and competition.
• Enhance skills development by investing in education and training.
• Improve access to financing by attracting investment and supporting start-ups.

References

• UNCTAD/DTL/STICT/2018/3
• ITU IDI 2017 Report
• UNCTAD B2C E-commerce Index 2017
• e-ASEAN Framework
• RCEP Negotiations
• WTO Ministerial Conference 11 (2017) e-commerce statement

Abbreviations

• B2C: Business to Consumer
• AFAS: ASEAN Framework Agreement on Services
• RCEP: Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership
• NSEDP: National Socio-economic Development Plan
• MoIC: Ministry of Industry and Commerce
• BOL: Bank of the Lao PDR
• DFS: Digital Financial Services
• MSME: Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises
• e-Transactions Law: 2012
• Cyber Crime Law: 2016
• eTrade for all: UNCTAD initiative to support e-commerce in developing countries.