Tap Laos ICT boom, Malaysian firms told

 

Malaysian firms involved in information and communication technology (ICT) have been urged to take advantage of the boom in the sector in Laos.

The Laos National Authority for Science and Technology acting director-general Phonpasit Phissamay said the time was now ripe for Malaysian ICT companies, to explore the Indochinese nation.

"To date, we have only utilised ICT at offices and such. But this is now changing. We are moving into e-government and much more.

"In 2008, our Internet penetration stood at 21 per cent while in 2009, it increased to 32 per cent. This is a huge hike in the penetration percentage.

"With the government's strong support, we expect this percentage to rise further. Now, people are looking at mobile and 3G systems. The government put in place the national ICT policy in 2007 and invested quite a bit for it.

"We are spending about US$80 million to computerise all government departments to ensure they are online," he said at the Laos ICT Expo 2010 recently.

According to Phonpasit,when Laos held its inaugural ICT exhibition in 1985, it generated very little interest among the people of the landlocked nation.

But now, it is the reverse, since the government took the initiative to publicise the importance of ICT to its 6.23 million population.

"At that time our income level was very low as was the case with English literacy and ICT awareness. That has all now changed.

"There are more Laotian companies in the telecommunication and ICT sectors. Locally, there are about 1,800 companies providing for the ICT sector alone.

"Bigger foreign companies like Dell are setting foot here. Now is the best time for Malaysian firms, well versed in the industry, to start a business here as the market is virtually untapped," explained Phonpasit. -- Bernama