Laos Launches E-Market Platform to Present Domestic Goods to the World

Source: Vientiane Times

Buyers in Laos and foreign countries will be able to purchase locally made products from a newly developed online store, thanks to the efforts of the Lao National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LNCCI).

The online trading platform called “Made in Laos e-Marketplace” was designed and built by LNCCI and Alo-X Co Ltd in order to make a variety of domestic products available to purchasers through e-commerce.

Speaking at the ceremony for the launch of Made in Laos e-Marketplace at Lao-ITECC on Friday, the LNCCI Vice President, Mrs. Chanthachone Vongsay, said the project was aimed at creating, developing, managing, and maintaining an online trading system for Lao products.

“Made in Laos e-Marketplace is a project implemented by the LNCCI and Alo-X Company Limited to ensure the promotion of entrepreneurs and to give small, medium, and large enterprises a fully operational system for buying and selling products that include the connection of the payment system and a modern transportation management system,” she said.

Mrs. Chanthachone said the e-marketplace was also developed to connect sellers with domestic and international markets more easily and to give domestic entrepreneurs an opportunity to find business partners and a place to promote their products to consumers in Laos and abroad.

“The purpose of this event is to disseminate information about the use of the platform, its general features, user manual, and the buying and selling system for Lao products from all sectors, such as food, beverages, clothing, apparel, appliances, jewelry, agricultural items, handicrafts, and industrial and digital products, on the same platform, the Made In Laos e-Marketplace,” she said.

Mrs. Chanthachone added that buyers will be able to see the products of Lao manufacturers from various provinces and be able to pay more easily and conveniently. The launch of Made in Laos e-MarketPlace will enable the public to recognize and understand the benefits and uses of the platform.
The Vice President of Alo-X Co Ltd, Ms. Sourinda Manodham, said the development of the platform took more than two months after the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with LNCCI.

“As the platform’s developer, we had limited time after signing the MoU with LNCCI in December last year, but the platform was finally completed within two months. Thanks to our team and co-founder of this platform for their contributions. We are pleased to be part of efforts to promote Lao products to the world market,” she said.

Ms. Sourinda said the new platform was not created to compete with other existing platforms, but its developers are willing to integrate with them and push forward the development of the Lao economy through the promotion of domestic products in the international market.

At the same event, the Deputy Minister of Industry and Commerce, Dr. Manothong Vongsay, expressed his thanks for the creation of the online platform to provide buyers with a variety of options for the online and offline purchase of Lao products.

“The development of the Made in Laos e-marketplace is a milestone in efforts to provide an alternative channel for the micro, small, and medium-sized entrepreneurs to sell their products in Laos and foreign countries via an online platform,” he said.

The launch of the online platform was witnessed by Dr. Manothong, the Deputy Minister of Technology and Communications, Mr. Keovisouk Solaphom, the former Minister of Education and Sports, Mrs. Sengdeuane Lachanthaboun, the President of the Lao ICT Commerce Association (LICA), Mr. Thanousone Phon-amath, and guests from the public and private sectors.

The launch of the online platform coincided with the 10-day Made in Laos 2023 fair organized this month. The fair, held during February 10-19, had more than 200 booths from over 140 companies from around the country. Firms from the three top investment partners of Laos, China, Thailand, and Vietnam, also participated in the fair.