1. The Status of Stanadization of Lao Character Set
Phonpasit PHISSAMAY
Director of Information Technology Center
Science Technology and Environment Agency

2. The IT element in Lao PDR
25,000 PCs, 70 LANs, 3 ISPs
Less than 1% of population who have permenantly Used IT facilities Internet Users
32 IT Service Companies (21 Foreign share)
2 Advanced training, 6 Colleges and 14 Regular
Not yet completed the National IT policy and Master plan

3. The Status of Lao Character Set Development
In 1985: First Lao code table “Duang Jan”
In 1992: STEA-Thailand develop the Lao Code Table for DOS-Based.
In 1993: Many code table for Window based (Lao Script for Window)
General System Company develop the Lao code table for IBM PC and AS-400, which encouraged department of Standardization to adopted as National Standard.

4. The Issue of Lao Character Set
No harmonization and standardization of Lao code table among local developers
The National Standard did not used by the users
The ISO did not adopted the National Standard of Lao code table, but Lao character Set already existed with ISO and UNICODE

5. The problem resolution
To get the compromise and consensus among local developer
To create the National Project of Lao codepage
Do an assessment of ISO and UNICODE. Do they meet or need to be modifed to merge with Lao culture and local users demand.
Solving the current used code table
Develop the new code table based on new national standard.

6. Thank you