On Tuesday, 22 November 2022, the Cambodian Institute for Cooperation and Peace (CICP), in collaboration with the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA), organized a High-Level Consultation Group Meeting on “Accelerating Digital Transformation in Cambodia” at Raffles Hotel Le Royal, Phnom Penh aiming to dig deep into the state of the affairs of digital transformation in Cambodia and provide suggestions on (1) how to accelerate the pace of this transformation with consideration of both efficiency and inclusiveness, and (2) in the long term, how digitalization, competition, innovation, and human development interact with one another in the context of Cambodia’s post-Covid-19.
The research studies took about a year to complete with funding from ERIA comprising of a dedicated team of CICP and ERIA researchers, co-led by Amb. Pou Sothirak, Executive Director of CICP, and Dr. Lurong Chen, Senior Economist, ERIA with Dr. Henry Chan, Visiting Senior Research Fellow at CICP, serving as the focal point with two other CICP researchers, Mr. Sun Kim, and Mr. Him Raksmey.
There were a few online guests and thirty-Six (36) participants attended in person the event, including representatives from the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications, the Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology, and Innovation, international non-governmental organizations, local non-governmental organization, academic institutions, scholars, and experts.
The event kickstarted with the welcome remarks by Mr. Koji Hachiyama, Chief Operating Officer at ERIA, followed by the opening remarks delivered by H.E. Amb. Pou Sothirak, Executive Director at CICP, and then a remark by Prof. Fukunari Kimura, Chief Economist of ERIA through a virtual platform.
There were three sessions covering: (1) Developing Digital Enabling Ecosystem in Cambodia; (2) Prioritize Building up Digital Skills at Beginner Level and Energize Digital Entrepreneurs in Cambodia; and (3) 5G network deployment: opportunity and challenge. Dr. Henry Chan provided the presentations at the three sessions with three discussants: Mr. Robert Hör, Chief Innovation and Entrepreneurship Officer, Cambodia Academy of Digital Technology (CADT), Ms. Nguon Somaly, Director-General, Institute of Digital Governance, Cambodia Academy of Digital Technology (CADT), and Mr. Po Sovinda, Senior Fellow, Cambodian Institute for Cooperation and Peace.
Amb. Pou Sothirak holds a view that a good digital transformation program, once it is developed, will indeed enhance Cambodia’s ability to leapfrog in the digital age, allowing the country to accelerate the catching-up mode in using digital tools to minimize the economic and social dislocations and regain growth potential of the country seen during the pre-Covid-19 period. However, Cambodia still faces challenges in the formulation of a sound digital policy and must overcome the insufficient digital infrastructure and shortage of human talent. The country needs a sound policy for accelerating digital transformation emphasizing creating the right ecosystem that allows a good pool of human capital, sound physical infrastructure, savvy entrepreneurs, and enlightened government, all must work together in the formula to accelerate digital transformation if the country wants to earn greater stride in recovering from the dreadful pandemic.
