Lao PDR Launches Innovative IP Portal to Empower Businesses and Drive Innovation

Vientiane Capital, August 5, 2024 – To enhance the business environment in Laos, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce (MOIC), with support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), launched MOIC’s updated Intellectual Property (IP) Portal in an event on August 5. This user-friendly website empowers businesses to protect their innovations and creativity, fostering a more dynamic and competitive economy. The launch event was attended by Deputy Director of the Department of Intellectual Property, Saybandith Sayavongkhamdy, and USAID Acting Country Representative to Lao PDR, Elizabeth Chambers. Over 80 representatives from government ministries and the private sector participated in the event.

This newly updated IP Portal, developed with USAID support and hosted on dip.gov.la serves as a one-stop shop, providing clear and easy-to-understand guidance on the intellectual property landscape. Streamlined application processes enable entrepreneurs to efficiently safeguard their ideas, while comprehensive explanations of IP rights encourage a culture of innovation and research, and development investment. This, in turn, will fuel the creation of new products and services, empowering Lao businesses to compete in the global market.

“The launch of the IP Portal is a major step forward for Lao PDR’s intellectual property ecosystem. By fostering an environment that supports innovation, creativity, and attracts foreign investment, this portal provides businesses with the legal tools to protect their intellectual property. We are confident that this portal will undoubtedly drive a culture of ingenuity and propel Lao businesses onto the global stage,” said Saybandith Sayavongkhamdy, Deputy Director of the Department of Intellectual Property

Acting Country Representative Chambers congratulated the Government of Lao PDR, particularly MOIC, for its leadership in strengthening the IP framework and tools. “Proper IP management and protection help Lao businesses to safeguard their unique products, processes, and brands, which can be critical in boosting their competitiveness in domestic and international markets.” She added, “USAID is proud to partner with MOIC to improve the business environment, foster innovation, and advance investment in Laos, creating jobs and rebuilding Laos’s economy.”

A robust IP framework not only empowers Lao businesses but also attracts foreign investment. This, in turn, fosters job creation, technology transfer, and overall economic prosperity. The IP Portal will play a key role in securing intellectual property rights, encouraging innovation, attracting investment, and spurring economic development.

In recent years, the United States, through the USAID Laos Business Environment project, has collaborated closely with MOIC to facilitate trade and foster a more conducive environment for investment, trade and the competitiveness of the private sector. Particularly, USAID has provided ongoing support to the Department of Intellectual Property, MOIC, in the formulation of Ministerial Decisions on trademarks, industrial designs, patents, copyrights, and intellectual property agents; the Ministerial Decisions on administrative remedies for IP disputes; and the modern online portal for intellectual property rights in Lao PDR.