Vannapha Phommathansy, Deputy Director General, Digital Government Center, Ministry of Technology and Communications of Laos

1. How do you use technology/policy to improve citizens’ lives? Tell us about your role or organisation. 

I have been with the Ministry of Technology and Communications since 2014, currently serving as Deputy Director General of the Digital Government Center (DGC).  

My current project focuses on the formalization of the Digital Government strategy plan, decree on digital transformation, designing the government platform based on whole-of-government approach and establish the e-government interoperability framework that we could have common standard for data to be exchanges, system to be interconnected, and remove silos structure and improve governance.   

The DGC role is to advancing digital government systems and fosters collaboration both domestically and internationally.  

Currently, several systems have been developed including the Government Network (G-Net), Document Management System (e-Office), Video Conferencing and Gov Web Platform (G-web), Government Chat Application (G-Chat), and the Document collaborative  Platform (G-Share/G-Drive). 

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2. What was the most impactful project you worked on this year? 

• E-Office Project (G2G platform) 

Online electronic document management system that provide both in web and mobile application platform that help government office and officer to improve their productivity and efficiency more than 70% and reduce 60% of use of paper compare the legacy way of handling document in the office. 

The e-Office is an important step toward digitalising administrative processes. The system allows government agencies to create, store, retrieve, and manage documents electronically, aiming to streamline workflows and reduce reliance on paper-based systems.  

At the moment we have 45 government agencies across ministry and local government using the services and we plan to expand to local authority include district and villages. 

Digitising government documents ensures that information is stored in a structured, searchable format, drastically improving efficiency in document handling. Instead of navigating through piles of paperwork, government officials can quickly access the information they need.  

• Gov-X  (G2C) platform

The Lao Gov-X is a super application that designed as a comprehensive one-stop-shop for citizens, integrating various government services into a single, user-friendly mobile application. The aim of Lao Gov-X is to enhance accessibility, efficiency, and transparency in public service delivery.   

Key features of the Lao Gov-X include: Mobile number registration, document tracking, social security, bus tracking, postal parcel tracking, online learning platform, vaccine certificate, national business registration database, and now working on connecting driving licenses.  

In the future we hope to scale up and make improvements so that the app provides unified service access: by consolidating numerous services within one app, citizens can avoid visiting multiple government offices or navigating different websites.  

3. What was one unexpected learning from 2024? 

One unexpected learning from 2024 for policymakers was realising how economic hardships can sharply impact the retention of tech talent, even as digital transformation efforts gained momentum.  

Despite increased demand for digital services and innovation, economic challenges, such as inflation, budget constraints, and resource limitations, made it difficult to provide competitive compensation and growth opportunities in the public sector.   

4. What’s a tool or technique you’re excited to explore in 2025? 

I’m excited to explore AI-driven government as a tool for public policy and service delivery, including Automated Customer Support and Document Processing.  

5. Everybody’s talking about AI today – give us your hot take on AI and what it means for the public sector. 

AI offers significant opportunities to make digital government more efficient, accessible, and citizen-centric. However, to harness these benefits responsibly, governments need to prioritize ethical AI practices, ensure data privacy, and develop digital literacy across their organisations. 

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6. What are your priorities for 2025? 

• Government digital standard harmonisation

The development of e-Government Interoperability Framework is a critical step towards achieving seamless integration and efficient data sharing among government agencies.  

• Adoption and dissemination of digital government strategy plan

This is to ensure that a shared understanding, alignment, and coordinated action on digital transformation goals.

This helps align each ministry’s efforts with national priorities, fostering cohesion in implementing digital initiatives.

By clearly communicating the strategy, ministries can identify collaboration opportunities, share resources, and avoid duplicative efforts, leading to more efficient use of resources.  

• Promoting digital literacy and cultural change

Digital transformation requires a shift in mindset and innovation. Our goal is to help authorities at central and local level to improve digital skills, encouraging investments in digital literacy programs and fostering a culture of continuous learning and adaptation.  

7. What advice do you have for public sector innovators? 

For public sector innovators, navigating the unique challenges of government systems while driving impactful change requires a blend of creativity, persistence, and strategic thinking.  

I think what we could do is to start small and scale up, begin with pilot projects to test new ideas and use the sandbox to test both function and regulatory aspect.

Design solutions that can scale across departments and adapt to future needs.   

Focus on constant capacity building, equip teams with tools and knowledge to sustain innovation.

The public sector can move slowly, and navigating bureaucracy can be challenging. Stay focused on the end goal, and remember that even incremental progress is valuable.

8. Who inspires you today? 

Melanie Perkin, CEO of Canva. She envisioned a simple, user-friendly platform that would empower individuals and businesses to create professional-looking graphics with ease. Under her leadership, Canva has grown to become one of the world’s most popular design tools, used by millions globally.  

And that is the thinking that I would like to apply when we design digital government products that are user friendly, user-centricity and ease of use.  And as a woman, she is not only leaders in the fields but are also driven by a genuine love for technology and its potential to create meaningful change.