The Lao government has issued a Prime Ministerial Order to integrate citizen databases and national ID card systems across all ministries and state agencies. This directive aims to modernize public service delivery and strengthen digital governance by enabling real-time identity verification and streamlined administrative procedures.
Under this initiative, the Ministry of Public Security will lead efforts to digitize household registration books, issue chip-embedded ID cards, and ensure data quality. Other ministries, including Health, Education, Finance, and Agriculture, are tasked with aligning their databases to support services such as healthcare access, tax verification, and land title management. The Ministry of Technology and Communications will oversee data security, while the Ministry of Justice will revise legislation to facilitate inter-agency data exchange.
Local authorities are expected to promote digital literacy and citizen engagement through outreach campaigns and one-stop service centers. By establishing a centralized identity infrastructure, the government aims to enhance transparency, reduce administrative costs, and lay the foundation for a digital economy and society, in line with national development goals.
Read the full article here.
