UNDP Lao PDR and ICT development

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UNDP Lao PDR and ICT development

• Kosei Terami, Programme Analyst
• UNDP Lao PDR

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• Contents
• 1. Lao PDR General Facts
• 2. Government
• 3. UNDPs assistance for ICT development

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1. Lao PDR General Facts

• HDI rank 143rd (HDR 2002)
• Population approx. 5.2 million
• Telephone subscribers 31,600 (2001) 1/165
• ISP subscribers 2,300 (2001) 1/2,260
• One Two? TV channels in Lao language
• Thai TVs can be viewed
• How many? AM and FM radio stations

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2. Government

• STEA (Science, Technology, Environment Agency)
• Executing agency of ICT policy
• Given mandate in 1996
• LANIC (Lao National Internet Committee)
• Inter-ministerial committee on national internet
  policies
• Formed in 2000

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3. UNDPs assistance for ICT development

• Ongoing assistance
• E-readiness assessment
• Project proposals
• APDIP mission for ICT policy development

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3-1. Ongoing Assistance

• Tax and Customs Admin Reform
• Computerization of provincial tax office, customs
  statistics, etc
• Governance and Public Admin Reform
• Human resource management database
• Legal sector reform
• Database on legal affairs

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3-2. E-readiness Assessment

• Conducted in 2001 by Phet Sayo (APDIP) et.al.
• Established baseline data for ICT activities
• policy makers, communications, internet access,
  character set, education, IT industry, etc.
• Recommendations
• Coordination (policy, donor, govt intranet)
• Focused areas development web site, character
  set, education, e-commerce and business, etc.

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3-3. Project Proposals

• Followed by e-readiness assessment, five project
  proposal have been drafted
• 1.Official Development Website of Lao PDR
• 2.Standardizing Lao Character Set
• 3.Cisco networking Academy Programme
• 4.B-to-B Online system
• 5.Website for National Tourism Authority

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3-3. Project Proposals (cont.)

• UNDP and STEA identified 1. and 2. as priority
  areas
• 1.Official Development Website of Lao PDR
• 2.Standardizing Lao Character Set
• Currently discussion with the government for
  further review

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3-4. APDIP mission for ICT policy development

• Scheduled in 16-20 December 2002
• Assist government (STEA) in developing ICT policy
• Assist UNDP Laos in forming strategies on ICT

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Thank you.