The government of Laos has teamed up with Microsoft to advance the adoption of emerging technologies for sustainable economic development, with focus on projects with social impact.
At a Government Solution Day event held in collaboration with the Laos Ministry of Post and Telecommunications (MPT) and attended by key government officials and partners, Microsoft showcased how the government can use technology to digitally transform and support economic development.
Vivek Puthucode, GM for the public sector for Microsoft Asia-Pacific, said the benefits of the digital economy remain out of reach for many in emerging markets despite the enormous untapped opportunities across various industry sectors.
“As part of Microsoft’s National Empowerment Plan, our approach is to work closely with governments and public sector agencies to support them in overcoming challenges and building more cloud-enabling environments to accelerate their competitiveness, productivity and modernization of operations through trusted technology,” he said.
This cloud-based, digital transformation roadmap is especially aimed to enable emerging markets, such as Laos, harness the power of technology to embark on a digital transformation journey, aligned with their national priorities.
“Embracing trusted technology, particularly the power of emerging ICT, will be key to enabling Laos’ growing economy to take a giant leap forward, propelling our nation into a digital enabled community and economy,” said Dr. Thansamay Kommasith, minister of post and telecommunications of Lao PDR.
“Government Solution Day affirms our vision to drive inclusive growth, a smart government, and transform the way both public and private sectors operate – not only by ensuring accessibility of tools, but also by establishing the right processes and building the digital skills of our citizens,” he added.
Besides having access to the right tools, people must also know how to use them, according to Michelle Simmons, Microsoft APAC’s GM for new markets in Southeast Asia.
“Looking ahead, what will be critical for Laos to thrive is digital literacy. We are working with the government to not only deliver educational programs, but also to support the educators themselves with the right resources to impart science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) skills to local youth, preparing them for jobs of the future,” she said.
Microsoft had previously inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Education and Sport in Laos to develop a holistic plan to leverage technology for education, covering a range of programs that will support the development of 21st century skills and employability of students.