Speaking at the event, H.E. Hem Vanndy, Minister of Industry, Science, Technology & Innovation, underscored the growing importance of intellectual property in driving innovation across sectors, including sports.

“Intellectual property is not only a legal concept, but a fundamental pillar that supports the sports sector—protecting innovation, encouraging investment, and ensuring that sports continue to deliver benefits to society,” he said.

Intellectual property plays a critical role in supporting the ecosystem of modern sports—from broadcasting rights and digital content production to the protection of trademarks, industrial designs, and patents.

Minister Vanndy stressed that strengthening these systems is essential to enabling businesses and innovators to compete in both domestic and global markets.

He also cautioned that, “The rapid expansion of the digital economy presents both opportunities and challenges, including piracy, counterfeit goods, and unauthorized use of protected content, underscoring the need for stronger enforcement and greater public awareness.”

Cambodia has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening its intellectual property system through digitalization and enhanced cooperation at both the national and international levels, positioning IP as a key enabler of innovation-driven growth.

World IP Day, observed annually on April 26, promotes awareness of how intellectual property rights support creativity and innovation.

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The workshop aimed to raise awareness among stakeholders from government, academia, and the private sector about a new standardised evaluation framework that will play a crucial role in accelerating the achievement of national strategic priorities, according to MISTI.

In his welcoming remarks, H.E. Dr. Try Sophal, Director General of the General Department of Science, Technology & Innovation, stated: “The Science, Technology and Innovation Evaluation Criteria were initiated to serve as a reference for public and private institutions in creating their own guidelines for evaluating STI attributes, and to strengthen themselves to become high-level, improved STI institutions, promoting decision-making, stable implementation, and fostering cooperation among key stakeholders such as the government, academia, and industry.”

Presiding over the opening ceremony, H.E. Dr. Hul Seingheng, Undersecretary of State at MISTI, emphasised that creating the STI Evaluation Criteria responds well to the Royal Government’s Pentagonal Strategy that’s placed ‘Technology’ as a key priority.

“An effective STI evaluation framework will become a potent driving force to support national development planning,” H.E. Hul Seingheng said. “Such framework will provide important, evidence-based insights for leaders at all levels to use as a compass for decision-making, aiming to enhance national prestige by improving Cambodia’s ranking in the Global Innovation Index.”

These criteria are expected to become a key tool for measuring and evaluating the implementation of STI-related data, projects, policies, and initiatives—ensuring the efficient and transparent use of resources.

The framework will help institutions identify their strengths and weaknesses, enabling them to make improvements and build capacity in support of Cambodia’s transformation into a knowledge-based economy and the realization of Cambodia Vision 2050.

The workshop brought together over 100 participants representing ministries, universities, associations, and local and international businesses to discuss, share experiences, and identify challenges in implementing the criteria. Participants also explored ways to strengthen partnerships and share best practices for future STI evaluations.

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H.E. Minister made the remarks while presiding over the closing ceremony of Cambodian Women Entrepreneurs Day 2024, organised here on Nov. 11 by the Cambodian Women Entrepreneurs Association (CWEA) under the theme “Women Empowerment in Green Economy”.

He noted women’s growing contribution to Cambodia’s business landscape, particularly in small and medium enterprises (SMEs). “Promoting women’s entrepreneurship requires combined efforts of all stakeholders to integrate their businesses into regional and global value chains, harness local resources, and adopt new technologies,” Minister Vanndy said.

Women entrepreneurs lead 69.2 percent of Cambodia’s economic units, according to the Ministry of Planning’s 2022 census. With Cambodia’s economy expected to grow around 6 percent in 2024—driven by sectors like garment exports, non-garment manufacturing, agriculture, tourism, and trade—H.E. Hem Vanndy stressed that women-led businesses are crucial to sustaining this momentum.

The Royal Government of Cambodia is actively implementing strategies and policies designed to support women entrepreneurs, with initiatives focused on enhancing productivity, expanding market access, and providing critical financial resources to help businesses to thrive, said the Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology & Innovation, adding that platforms such as ASEANAccess and KhmerSME offer essential business information in the region to small and medium enterprises (SMEs), equipping them with the tools and resources necessary for sustainable growth and success.

Addressing attendees at the event, the industry minister encouraged SMEs to formalize their businesses, emphasising that doing so would enhance their ability to access support, contribute to the government’s targeted policymaking, and strengthen their long-term business resilience and growth.

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Regional Leadership: The partnership is a strategic step towards establishing Cambodia as a regional leader in innovation, particularly in blockchain and AI.
Smart City Development: The collaboration will focus on developing smart city infrastructure using blockchain technology, enhancing efficiency and security.
Innovation Ecosystem: The partnership will foster a national innovation ecosystem, promoting research, technological innovation, and entrepreneurial growth.
Data Sovereignty: DFINITY’s commitment to data sovereignty aligns with Cambodia’s goals for digital independence.

PHNOM PENH: The Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology & Innovation (MISTI) has made a strategic move to position Cambodia as a regional leader in innovation through a partnership with the DFINITY Foundation, a Swiss nonprofit specializing in blockchain and AI.

This collaboration, announced in an AKP press release on Sunday, aims to transform Cambodia into a knowledge hub for emerging technologies by leveraging the Internet Computer Protocol (ICP). ICP’s scalability, immutability, transparency, and smart contract capabilities will be instrumental in achieving this goal.

The partnership will focus on developing sovereign cloud technology and exploring practical applications for smart city infrastructure. Cambodian entities will also have the opportunity to collaborate with global and local academic institutions, fostering joint research and innovation projects.

H.E. Dr. Hul Seingheng, Undersecretary of State of MISTI: “This partnership marks a significant step in Cambodia’s technological advancement… By incorporating blockchain technology into national infrastructure projects, we aim to create secure, transparent, and scalable solutions that will advance smart city efforts and enhance the overall digital economy and society.”

H.E. Dr. Try Sophal, Director General of MISTI’s General Department of Science, Technology & Innovation: “We envision not only transformative technological advancements but also the cultivation of a robust technological landscape that will empower our economy and society for years to come.”

Dominic Williams, Founder and Chief Scientist at DFINITY: “We believe that blockchain and AI technology can offer a truly transformative impact on Cambodia’s technological and digital infrastructure… ICP’s scalability and transparency will empower Cambodia to develop smart cities that operate on secure, transparent, and immutable infrastructure.”

The LOI with Cambodia is part of DFINITY’s ongoing efforts to support innovation and knowledge sharing globally. The foundation is also focused on engaging with entrepreneurs and tech-focused organizations in Southeast Asia.

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Minister of Industry, Science, Technology & Innovation (MISTI), H.E. Hem Vanndy, has called upon provincial departments to actively engage local businesses in the development of national standards. This initiative aims to foster manufacturing growth and enhance export competitiveness.

During his recent visits to Preah Vihear, Oddar Meanchey, Banteay Meanchey, and Siem Reap provinces, Minister Vanndy emphasized the importance of private sector involvement in identifying regional manufacturing potentials and creating tailored standards.

He highlighted the need for Cambodia to align with ASEAN Harmonized Standards by 2025 to facilitate regional trade.

With Cambodia’s impending graduation from Least Developed Country status in 2029, Minister Vanndy stressed the critical role of national standards in achieving long-term economic goals.

He urged provincial departments to promote the adoption of standards among local businesses to improve the competitiveness of Cambodian products and services.

To date, the National Standards Council has adopted approximately 1,700 standards, including recent additions for rice liquor.

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During a recent meeting, U.S. businesses expressed their keen interest in expanding their imports of Cambodian rice. Prime Minister Hun Manet expressed pride in the growing presence of Cambodian products on American shelves, noting that the variety of goods available has expanded significantly from his student days.

The Prime Minister encouraged all stakeholders to continue working together to promote Cambodian products on the global stage. From January to August 2024, Cambodia’s exports to international markets reached $17.58 billion, a 16.7% increase compared to the same period last year.

At the 7th Cambodia Rice Forum, Minister of Industry, Science, Technology & Innovation Hem Vanndy also highlighted the crucial role of rice processing in enhancing the sector’s value. He stressed the need for investment in infrastructure, such as transportation, logistics, and processing plants, to support this goal.

Minister Vanndy also advocated for the adoption of environmentally friendly farming practices and modern agricultural technologies. To further support the rice sector, MISTI has transformed its National Laboratory into a public administration institution, which will offer expanded testing capabilities starting in December.

Cambodia currently has 19 large-scale rice factories and 19,570 small and medium-sized rice mills. The government aims to increase rice exports to 1 million tonnes by 2025.

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Chaired by H.E. HEM Vanndy, Minister of MISTI, the event was attended by some 260 participants, including officials from relevant ministries-institutions, Oknha Te Tang Por, Vice President of the Cambodian Chamber of Commerce and Co-Chair of the Government-Private Sector Working Group on Manufacturing and Services (WG-C), business associations, private sector stakeholders, development partners, and UN agencies.

H.E. Minister re-iterated the government’s commitment to fostering a supportive environment for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), which play a vital role in driving economic growth and job creation in Cambodia. “The private sector is the backbone of our economy, and it is imperative that we work collaboratively to identify and resolve the challenges that hinder its growth,” he stated.

During the meeting, Oknha Te Tang Por provided an update on the progress of government’s solutions to private sector challenges since the 19th Government-Private Sector Forum last year. He noted that many challenges had been addressed, but there remain issues that require solutions and interventions from the government. Currently, there are 22 challenges, indicating that significant work still lies ahead, particularly given the difficulties faced by SMEs.

The meeting discussed 22 challenges, including compliance requirements such as product registration and taxation, heightened competition, access to financing, markets, and skilled workforce, and rising production costs, particularly due to high transportation and energy prices.

H.E. Vanndy emphasised the need for local businesses to prepare for Cambodia’s graduation from its Least Developed Country (LDC) status, urging them to strengthen their operations and competitiveness. “As we move forward, competition is unlikely to diminish. MSMEs must discover their distinctiveness in terms of quality, taste, local content, traceability and environmental safeguards,” he said.

According to a news release, MISTI has continued to move its public services online, eliminating cash transactions in most cases, and has transformed the Science, Technology & Innovation National Laboratory (STINL) into a public administration institution in order to improve service quality and expand its testing capability to better support the private sector.

MISTI will continue to engage with private sector stakeholders to ensure that their voices are heard and considered in government interventions and policy-making, said the source, pointing out that the outcomes of this meeting will be included in the agenda of the upcoming Government-Private Sector Forum.

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Manufacturing sector has experienced significant improvements, yet it remains heavily dependent on imported raw materials, highlighting the need for enhanced competitiveness, said MISTI in a news release, stressing that to tackle these challenges, MISTI is leveraging CAPRED’s expertise and its own insights to identify effective tools, policies, and programs essential for diversifying the manufacturing sector, bolstering local supply chains, and integrating small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) into the value chain.

“Cambodia’s manufacturing sector holds immense potential for fueling economic growth and job creation,” stated H.E. Hem Vanndy, Minister of Industry, Science, Technology & Innovation. “This workshop aims to transform knowledge and insights into actionable strategies that will elevate our manufacturing sector to the next level of development.”

Australian Chargé d’Affaires Mr. Andreas Zurbrugg said, “Australia is committed to supporting Cambodia’s economic growth and diversification. By strengthening the manufacturing sector, we are creating opportunities for businesses to thrive and for Cambodians to prosper.”

According to the news release, MISTI plays a central role in advancing Cambodia’s industrial development and diversification in line with the government’s Pentagonal Strategy.

The ministry aims to enhance the manufacturing sector competitiveness by fostering entrepreneurial ecosystem, developing national quality infrastructure to support local industries’ integration into global value chains as well as promoting initiatives such as SME clusters. Through these efforts, it seeks to reduce reliance on imports, stimulate job creation, and ultimately build a more sustainable, resilient and inclusive economy.

Australia’s CAPRED programme bolsters these initiatives by providing policy support and assistance in key areas, including micro, small, and medium-sized enterprise (MSME) development, the establishment of national quality infrastructure, and the promotion of gender equality.

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The meeting took place here on Aug. 7, under the chairmanship of H.E. Hem Vanndy, Minister of Industry, Science, Technology & Innovation, and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Khmer Enterprise.

The new strategic plan was presented for implementing core programmes and highlighted projects that are aligned with the Pentagonal Strategy Phase I of the Royal Government of Cambodia, said the Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology & Innovation (MISTI).

The new strategic plan aims to promote entrepreneurship across the country with a focus on four sectors: services, agriculture, ICT, and manufacturing, it pointed out.

“Khmer Enterprise has achieved commendable progress in the first half of 2024, yet significant challenges remain ahead. It is crucial for our SMEs to embrace new technologies, access technical skills and formal financial services, and commit to high standards and quality. This will enable them to compete effectively in both local and international markets,” said H.E. Hem Vanndy.

The Board of Trustees expressed its support for Khmer Enterprise to pursue the 2024 plan, which focuses on several key initiatives: expanding entrepreneurship support programmes, enhancing market competitiveness, encouraging SMEs to adopt technology, and broadening the promotion of an entrepreneurial culture throughout Cambodia, MISTI underlined.

According to the same source, as a government trust, Khmer Enterprise plays a crucial role in developing the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Cambodia. It offers resources, training, and support that empower entrepreneurs to transform their ideas into viable businesses and drive expansion. The organisation’s support programmes are designed to enhance capacity, boost competitiveness, and stimulate business growth throughout the country.

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Minister Vanndy underscored the Royal Government’s dedication to developing Cambodia Standards (CS), stating, “National standards are paramount for boosting exports through improved quality, production, and productivity.” He acknowledged the potential perception of standards as burdensome for some businesses but emphasized the NSC’s role in creating strategic national standards to support Cambodian products.

To accelerate standards development, Minister Vanndy urged sectoral committees to establish clear targets, prioritizing standards based on economic sector needs. He highlighted the importance of reviewing and refining existing standards to better suit Cambodia’s context, particularly those adopted from international frameworks.

The meeting resulted in the adoption of the draft Cambodia Standard for Rice Liquor, demonstrating the NSC’s commitment to elevating the quality and marketability of Cambodian products. While recognizing the National Institute of Standards’ role as the coordinating body, Minister Vanndy stressed the collaborative nature of the NSC, emphasizing the contributions of sectoral committees in driving national standards development.

The 28th NSC meeting reaffirms the government’s strategic focus on building a comprehensive standardization framework to propel Cambodia’s growth in both domestic and international markets.

Cambodia’s exports surged in the first half of 2024, reaching US$12.29 billion, a 12.6% increase compared to the same period last year. The United States remained the top destination for Cambodian exports.

Cambodia’s main exports include garments, machinery, electrical equipment, footwear, leather goods, grains, furniture, rubber, fruits, vegetables, pearls, toys, and textiles. The garment, footwear, and travel goods industry remains the country’s leading source of foreign income.

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