Deputy Minister Nguyen Sinh Nhat Tan: 4 solutions to 'promote' the development of Lao Cai e-commerce

Many solutions have been proposed to help Lao Cai province achieve its goal of being among the top 20 provinces and cities nationwide in terms of e-commerce development index.

E-commerce is not yet commensurate with its potential

Speaking at the Lao Cai Province E-commerce Development Conference 2025 held on the morning of March 14 in Lao Cai, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Sinh Nhat Tan highly appreciated the speed of e-commerce development in Lao Cai Province in recent times; at the same time, he said that Lao Cai has many advantages to promote e-commerce development.

According to the Deputy Minister, Lao Cai is a province in the midland and mountainous region of the North, located on the economic corridor of Kunming - Lao Cai - Hanoi - Hai Phong and has a strategic position, being an important gateway for trade with China and ASEAN countries.

Not only that, with advantages in agricultural products, medicinal herbs and tourism, Lao Cai has great potential to develop e-commerce, especially cross-border e-commerce.

“ Some outstanding agricultural products and specialties such as tea, medicinal herbs, Seng Cu rice, and OCOP products of Lao Cai have been present on major domestic and foreign e-commerce platforms, receiving widespread support from consumers” - the Deputy Minister informed and said that in recent times, Lao Cai province has also made many efforts in promoting digital transformation, investing in infrastructure, applying digital technology, and supporting local businesses to access e-commerce platforms.

Deputy Minister Nguyen Sinh Nhat Tan pointed out the challenges facing the development of e-commerce in Lao Cai. Photo: Huu Huynh

However, looking directly at reality, the Deputy Minister pointed out that cross-border e-commerce has not really promoted the potential and advantages of border provinces. The level of e-commerce development is still quite different from other provinces and regions.

Not only that, the awareness of businesses and people about e-commerce is still uneven. Infrastructure, policies on logistics and e-payment need to be improved.

Brand building and product standardization to meet domestic and foreign market requirements need to continue to be improved. Cross-border e-commerce has not really promoted the potential and advantages of border provinces.

Sharing the same view, Mr. Trinh Xuan Truong - Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the People's Committee of Lao Cai province - said that Lao Cai strives to have an import-export value of 10.5 billion USD by 2030, of which the value of imported and exported goods through e-commerce accounts for over 10%.

To realize the above goal, Mr. Trinh Xuan Truong said that implementing Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW dated December 22, 2024 of the Politburo, Lao Cai province has issued a Plan on science, technology, innovation and digital transformation development in Lao Cai province for the period 2025 - 2030, with a vision to 2045.

Accordingly, Lao Cai province identifies the development of science, technology, innovation and digital transformation as a key driving force for socio-economic development, enhancing competitiveness and sustainable development; promoting digital transformation and digital economy; improving the effectiveness of state management, increasing labor productivity and people's quality of life.

In particular, on December 20, 2024, the Prime Minister issued Decision No. 1620/QD-TTg on the plan to develop Lao Cai into a center for economic trade connection between Vietnam and ASEAN countries with the Southwest region of China. In particular, Lao Cai needs to promote its comparative advantages in terms of geo-economic position, taking infrastructure, border economic zones and foreign economic relations as the foundation to develop Lao Cai province into a center for economic trade connection.

At the same time, propose policy mechanisms and solutions to strongly promote e-commerce activities..., especially consulting with central ministries, branches, Yunnan province (China), and businesses on both sides to promptly overcome and remove bottlenecks and obstacles in e-commerce activities in Lao Cai province.

In order to practically and effectively implement the Party and State's viewpoints and policies on e-commerce development, at this conference, Lao Cai provincial leaders hope that the Ministry of Industry and Trade and related units will support localities in removing obstacles and perfecting policies and mechanisms for e-commerce to develop more strongly.

Livestream session promoting and introducing typical products of Lao Cai province. Photo: Huu Huynh

Solution to bring Lao Cai to the top in e-commerce

Proposing solutions to promote e-commerce and cross-border e-commerce in Lao Cai province, Deputy Minister Nguyen Sinh Nhat Tan suggested that Lao Cai province focus on implementing the following key activities:

Firstly , promote the application of digital technology and digital transformation in e-commerce, while raising awareness among businesses and people about the benefits and opportunities of e-commerce. The Ministry of Industry and Trade will closely coordinate with Lao Cai province to implement training programs and support local businesses to improve their business skills on digital platforms.

Second , continue to invest in and develop logistics infrastructure, warehouses, electronic payment systems and cross-border e-commerce to improve the efficiency of the circulation of goods and services.

Third , coordinate with relevant units to support local enterprises in building brands, registering trademarks, tracing product origins and meeting international standards, thereby enhancing the value and competitiveness of products in the global market.

Fourth , coordinate with relevant units and logistics enterprises to build a convenient e-commerce customs clearance mechanism, apply digital solutions to supply chain management and promote international cooperation. It is necessary to continue promoting the good cooperative relationship between Lao Cai and Yunnan province (China), ASEAN and other potential markets to promote the development of cross-border e-commerce.

In order for Lao Cai province's e-commerce to develop sustainably, aiming to be among the top 20 provinces and cities nationwide in terms of e-commerce development index by 2030, Lao Cai province said it will implement 7 solutions to promote the development of the province's e-commerce market.

Specifically: Developing logistics infrastructure in Lao Cai province to ensure synchronization in accordance with the Lao Cai Provincial Planning for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050; reviewing and developing mechanisms and policies; developing the scale of the e-commerce market; improving the application of e-commerce in enterprises; developing infrastructure to support e-commerce; improving the operational efficiency of the provincial e-commerce platform; promoting the development of cross-border e-commerce activities.

Source: https://congthuong.vn/thu-truong-nguyen-sinh-nhat-tan-4-giai-phap-thuc-thuong-mai-dien-tu-lao-cai-phat-trien-378242.html