Training on Cybersecurity and Information Security for the Public Sector

Excellency Mr. Keovisouk Solaphom, Deputy Minister of Technology and Communications

Ms. Kesone Soulivong, Director-General, Technology Promotion and Transfer Center

Mr. Kiyoung Ko, Officer-in-Charge of APCICT at ESCAP

Government representatives, UN system colleagues

Ladies and gentlemen:

Good morning!

On behalf of the United Nations in Lao PDR, it is a pleasure to join you today for the opening of the Training on Cybersecurity and Information Security for the Public Sector. This important two-day programme will be followed by a further two-day training on Empowering Women Entrepreneurs through Digital Transformation. Both initiatives are highly significant and timely, addressing critical priorities of our increasingly digital world.

I would like to express my sincere appreciation to the organizers – the Ministry of Technology and Communications, the Asia and the Pacific Training Centre for Information and Communication Technology for Development (APCICT) of ESCAP, and the resource persons — for their commitment and partnership in making these trainings possible. I would also like to extend a warm welcome to all participants, whose presence today reflects the growing commitment of Lao PDR to building a secure and resilient digital future.

Distinguished participants:

Across Asia and the Pacific, digital technologies are reshaping how governments serve citizens, how businesses operate, and how societies connect and innovate. From digital public services and e-commerce to artificial intelligence and digital payments, technology is creating tremendous opportunities for greater efficiency, inclusion, and economic growth. Lao PDR is embracing these opportunities through its vision for digital transformation and its commitment to building a modern, connected, and resilient digital economy.

Yet these opportunities come with new risks. As countries become increasingly dependent on digital systems, they also face growing exposure to cyberattacks, ransomware, data breaches, misinformation, and threats against critical infrastructure. These risks are becoming more sophisticated, more frequent, and more costly to pre-empt or address. They affect not only technology systems but also public trust, economic stability, national security, and the ability of governments to deliver essential services.

This is why cybersecurity is not simply a technical issue; it is fundamentally a development issue. Strong cybersecurity enables citizens to trust digital services. It protects personal data and privacy. It safeguards public institutions and critical infrastructure. It strengthens resilience against shocks and disruptions. Most importantly, it creates the conditions necessary for inclusive and sustainable digital development.

For the United Nations, cybersecurity is increasingly recognized as an important enabler of the Sustainable Development Goals. A secure digital environment supports better governance, stronger institutions, innovation, economic opportunity, and digital inclusion. Without trust and security, many of the benefits of digital transformation cannot be fully realized. However, achieving cybersecurity cannot be the responsibility of a single institution.

Effective cybersecurity requires a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach. It requires clear policies and legal frameworks, strong institutions, skilled professionals, robust incident response capabilities, and sustained investment in capacity development. It also requires cooperation among government agencies, the private sector, academia, civil society, and international partners, because cyber threats do not respect institutional or national boundaries.

The United Nations has been supporting countries across the region in strengthening digital governance, digital inclusion, and digital resilience. APCICT, in particular, has played a key role in building digital leadership and policy capabilities throughout Asia and the Pacific. Through its capacity-building programmes, training initiatives, and knowledge-sharing platforms, APCICT has helped policymakers and public officials better understand the opportunities and challenges arising from digital transformation. This training represents part of that ongoing commitment to ensuring that public institutions have the knowledge and tools necessary to navigate a complex digital landscape.

Ladies and gentlemen:

Under the Lao PDR – United Nations Cooperation Framework 2027-2031, aligned with the 10th National Socio-Economic Development Plan, digital transformation is recognized as an accelerator of inclusive and sustainable development across all thematic areas. Our collective vision seeks to support a people-centered digital transformation that strengthens governance, improves service delivery, promotes inclusion, and creates opportunities for all.

Through our joint work, we aim to support Lao PDR in strengthening digital readiness, expanding access to digital services, and building the institutional and human capacities needed to thrive in an increasingly digital world. This includes supporting digital governance, data governance, cybersecurity, digital inclusion, digital skills development, digital public infrastructure, and the responsible use of AI and other frontier technologies.

Importantly, we believe that digital transformation must be accompanied by adequate safeguards. As digital systems become more integrated into people's lives, issues such as privacy, data protection, online safety, cybersecurity, and the ethical use of AI become increasingly important. Innovation is crucial, but so is trust of the public.

Recognizing the growing strategic importance of these issues, in January this year the UN Country Team established the UN Task Force on Digital Transformation and Artificial Intelligence. The Task Force was created following recommendations from the regional Issue-Based Coalition on Digital Transformation (IBC-DX), and builds upon earlier mapping exercises that documented the breadth of UN support across digital governance, digital economy, and digital society initiatives in Lao PDR. The objective of the Task Force is simple but important: to ensure that the UN system works together in a more coordinated and coherent manner in support of the Government's digital transformation priorities.

Against this backdrop, I would like to highlight some expectations for this training.

• First, we hope that participants will deepen their understanding of cybersecurity, information security, privacy, and data protection, and develop a shared understanding of the risks and opportunities associated with digital transformation.
• Second, we expect that this training will strengthen your ability to assess existing national and institutional frameworks against international standards and good practices. Learning from global experiences can help identify practical solutions that are relevant and adaptable to the Lao context.
• Third, we hope that you will leave with concrete ideas for improving policies, governance arrangements, and institutional coordination mechanisms that strengthen national cybersecurity preparedness and resilience.
• And fourth, we are hopeful that this training will contribute to the development of a stronger community of practice among government institutions, enabling greater collaboration, information-sharing, and coordinated action on cybersecurity issues.

I am also pleased to note that the training that will be followed by a two-day training to enhance women entrepreneurs’ digital skills and knowledge, enabling them to leverage digital tools and platforms to grow and innovate their businesses.

The United Nations stands ready to continue supporting these efforts through capacity development, technical cooperation, knowledge exchange, and regional partnerships. I encourage each of you to participate actively, share your experiences openly, and use this opportunity to learn from one another. 

Allow me to conclude by once again thanking the Ministry of Technology and Communications, the APCICT, our resource persons, and all participants for the commitment to this important agenda.

I wish you a productive and successful training.