Telecommunications minister Chea Vandet (centre) poses with the developers of the two winning apps – Machine Translation for Khmer Braille and the Tenbox App – at the 2025 ASEAN Digital Awards, held during the 5th ASEAN Digital Ministers’ Meeting (ADGMIN) in Thailand. Telecommunications ministry
Two Cambodian digital applications were recognised with top honours at the recent 2025 ASEAN Digital Awards, held during the 5th ASEAN Digital Ministers’ Meeting (ADGMIN) in Thailand. The apps were among more than 120 contenders for the top prizes.
The Machine Translation for Khmer Braille, developed by the Cambodia Academy of Digital Technology (CADT), secured a gold medal (1st place) in the Digital Inclusivity category, while two Indonesian teams were awarded silver and bronze medals.
The Tenbox App, developed by Wave Asia Co., Ltd., won the silver medal (2nd place) in the Digital Start-up category.
The gold medal in this category was awarded to an Indonesian team, with the bronze going to the host country, Thailand.
“The ASEAN Digital Awards recognise outstanding digital achievements in the region, honouring organisations, businesses and individuals who are driving innovation through emerging technologies such as AI and data,” according to ASEAN Insights.
The Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications announced he two winners on January 16, noting that the telecommunications minister attended the event and personally presented the medals.
“Chea Vandet, Minister of Posts and Telecommunications, who led Cambodia’s delegation to the 5th ASEAN Digital Ministers’ Meeting on January 16–17 in Thailand, participated in the ASEAN Digital Awards 2025,” said a ministry statement.
The Machine Translation for Khmer Braille development team received a Gold Medal in the Digital Inclusivity category at the 2025 ASEAN Digital Awards. MPTC
Vandet expressed Cambodia’s pride in earning the two medals.
Yann Kimhuoy, an assistant lecturer, researcher and member of the development team for Machine Translation for Khmer Braille, explained the functions of the app.
“Our system can translate Khmer into Braille and vice versa, making it easier for blind students to study,” she said.
She added that, in its first phase, the programme focuses on translating written text. In the next phase, the team plans to incorporate sign language translation for subjects such as mathematics, physics and geography.
“This initiative encourages other digital developers to enhance their capabilities,” she noted.
The Machine Translation for Khmer Braille project began in 2022 in collaboration with the National Institute of Special Education. By automating the translation of handwritten texts, it has significantly eased the workload for teachers and students.
At the 2025 ASEAN Digital Awards, 120 exceptional digital products and services from the 10 ASEAN member countries competed across six categories, with 18 winners.
The categories included Digital Solutions for Public Services, Digital Solutions for Private Services, Digital Solutions for Digital Inclusivity, Digital Content Solutions, Digital Start-up Solutions and Digital Innovation Solutions.
Notably, the Machine Translation for Khmer Braille has previously received accolades, including the “Best Digital Research and Innovation of the Year” award at the Cambodia Digital Awards 2024.
It won the “Best Accessibility Award” at the AI for Good program during the 2024 World AI Conference in Shanghai, China, organized by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).
The Tenbox App is a digital innovation for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the food and hospitality sector.
It streamlines product searches, selections and orders from suppliers efficiently and quickly. It also won the Best Digital New Business of the Year award at the Cambodia Digital Awards 2023.
The ASEAN Digital Ministers’ Meeting (ADGMIN) aims to establish ASEAN as a leading digital community and economic bloc, powered by secure and sustainable digital services, technologies and ecosystems, in alignment with the ASEAN Digital Master Plan.
