Be Chantra, CADT director, discussed the upcoming Tech Expo event. PHOTO SUPPLIED
The Cambodia Academy of Digital Technology (CADT) – with the support of the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications and in collaboration with the American University of Phnom Penh (AUPP) – will host the “CODE-C: Developer Conference and Tech Expo 2023”, scheduled for September 8-9.
The event will bring together coders, technology developers, digital technology company leaders and intellectuals, as well as students. The event aims to expand the relationship between software developers and digital technologies to enhance collaboration and the exchange of experiences to boost the digital sector in Cambodia.
Be Chantra, director of the CADT’s Institute of Digital Research and Innovation (IDRI), sat down with Van Socheata for an interview about the upcoming event.
How many times has the Software Developer Conference and Tech Expo been held? Where will it be organised, and how important is it?
This is the second time we have hosted the conference. This year’s event will be held at AUPP. The conference aims to promote the growth of the digital sector in Cambodia.
It will be extremely useful to raise awareness and support for software developers and the new digital business ecosystems in Cambodia, and this conference is organized only within the country.
What will be the main agendas at the expo? What displays can guests expect to see?
The conference will focus on two topics. The first will focus on updating cyber security threats, as well as strategies for protecting user data and strengthening digital privacy. The second is the latest technology trends for software developers, as well as updates of leading technologies that are in demand, both in Cambodia and globally.
There will be about 45 speakers who will give presentations on topics as varied as software development, cloud computing, web 3.0, artificial intelligence (AI), data science, marketing technology (MarTech), video game development, and innovative design.
Around 50 technology companies and new digital businesses will be on display in booths. We expect the participation of about 3,000 people, ranging from software developers, digital technology experts – from government institutions, development partners and the private sector – to the founders of new digital businesses and digital service providers.
Since the first event, have you noticed that young Cambodians are more interested in the software and technology sector?
More and more youth are starting to choose digital technology for their study. Through the dissemination of subjects related to STEM (Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) at the secondary and high school levels, together with the government’s Digital Economic and Social Policy Framework 2021-2035, more people are being encouraged to embrace digital skills.
What do you think about the capacity of Cambodian youth in this field? Are they still limited?
Of course, the skills of the Kingdom’s young people remain limited. This could be related to their curriculums in university. It may also be the result of a lack of study materials.
Is the conference open to the public?
The expo is open to the public, including students and anyone else who is interested in digital technology. People are welcome to attend and listen to the speakers – and entrance is free.
As director of the Digital Innovation Centre, what are your expectations for the conference and Tech expo 2023?
We hope many people will join this event. We want to bring together software developers and technology enthusiasts so they can exchange knowledge related to the evolution of technology. They will also benefit from visiting exhibitions by well-known technology companies and learning about new products related to this field.
The expo was made possible with the support of Smart Axiata and will be open from 8.00am to 5.00pm on both days. Interested parties can register through the IDRI website.
