A student builds an automated machine at PPIU university in 2020. POST STAFF
The Kingdom is slated to host the Cambodia Tech Expo 2022 (CTX 2022) from November 11-13 in the capital, in conjunction with this year’s ASEAN Summit, the Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology and Innovation confirmed in an October 3 statement.
The CTX 2022 will offer a platform for experience sharing and reflection on trends and developments in digital systems and the technological sphere among officials and representatives of the private sectors, development partners and civil society across ASEAN, the statement said.
The trade fair also seeks to spotlight investment opportunities in tech-business segments in the Kingdom for interested parties, it added.
“The event is expected to feature a total of around 400 booths and attract some 60,000 participants from government agencies, NGOs, educational institutions, private sectors, development partners, technology developers, electronics companies and telecom operators, internet service providers, banking and microfinance institutions, SMEs [small- and medium-sized enterprises] and tech start-ups,” the statement said.
It added that the CTX 2022 would be organised by the industry ministry, with support from a plethora of other institutions, including its finance, foreign affairs, telecoms, commerce, labour, education, agriculture and health counterparts.
Industry minister Cham Prasidh said in the statement that the expo will be designed to showcase the historical growth and untapped potential of local tech businesses, while facilitating network building and drawing in foreign investors to Cambodia and the other nine ASEAN countries.
The minister described the event as a step for “preparations for the digital economy” as laid out in Rectangular Strategy Phase IV in the sixth legislature.
He said the government has launched a series of policies and roadmaps, with different scopes and level of generality, to create enabling ecosystems for advancements in the science, technology and innovation (STI) landscape and serve the country’s socio-economic development needs.
“The [industry ministry] hopes that many Cambodians, entrepreneurs and investors will benefit from the considerations in these initiatives,” Prasidh was quoted as saying.
Hul Seingheng, ministry director-general for STI and main organiser of the CTX 2022, said that the mechanisms for close cooperation between public institutions, the private sector, and development partners are key to promoting rapid development of STI.
He called for mass participation in the trade fair, “to gain knowledge, and especially to seize opportunities for technological expansion and investment in all sectors”.
