Commerce minister Cham Nimul addresses the “One ASEAN Startup Award Pre-Event” on September 2 in Phnom Penh. Ministry of commerce
Minister of Commerce Cham Nimul urged Cambodian youth and entrepreneurs to harness the potential of technology and e-commerce to grow their businesses in the digital era.
She made the remarks while presiding over the opening ceremony of the “One ASEAN Startup Award Pre-Event” organised by the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA) on September 2 in Phnom Penh.
“The minister encouraged Cambodian youth and entrepreneurs to embrace digital technology and e-commerce to expand their businesses by adapting to digital transformation,” according to the ministry’s September 2 press release.
Nimul appealed to Cambodian youth to aspire to become successful entrepreneurs who will play a key role in the country’s economic growth.
She emphasised that startups are crucial in driving socio-economic development, creating jobs and positively impacting GDP when their innovative ideas, technologies and business models evolve into established enterprises.
The minister urged participating entrepreneurs to present their business ideas, innovations and new technologies.
"For the successful candidates, please continue to increase your entrepreneurial skills and share your experiences with other aspiring entrepreneurs and youth who wish to create startups," she was quoted as saying in the press release.
Nimul also called on them to increase their networking efforts with entrepreneurs across ASEAN and globally to share experiences, tackle challenges, build capacity and form business partnerships.
The minister encouraged participants in the event to actively seize the opportunity to gain more experience through the award programme, and to consider the potential for networking with peers, exchanging ideas and expanding innovation across ASEAN and beyond.
ERIA noted that the event attracted over 150 participants. It emphasised that startups in Southeast Asia play a vital role, not only as drivers of the new economy through technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) but also as providers of innovative solutions to social challenges, thereby supporting stable development in the region.
“ERIA is committed to highlighting these impactful startups and generating global interest in the ASEAN startup ecosystem,” the organisation stated in a separate press release the same day.
Aladdin Rillo, managing director for policy design and operations at ERIA, highlighted the purpose of the award competition.
“The One ASEAN Startup Award is a platform for Southeast Asia’s most promising startups to showcase their potential. This competition is designed to encourage partnerships, drive growth and foster positive social and environmental change.
“By collaborating with various stakeholders, we hope to play our part in supporting entrepreneurs amid these challenging times and establishing the region as a global tech hub,” he was quoted as saying in the press release.
