Minister Chea Vandeth (left) met with EU-ABC president Jens Ruebbert on October 25. MPTC
Minister of Post and Telecommunications Chea Vandeth has suggested that the EU-ASEAN Business Council (EU-ABC) promote investment in digital technology in Cambodia in order to contribute to the implementation of the government’s digital policies.
The minister's proposal came during a working meeting with a delegation led by EU-ABC president Jens Ruebbert on October 25.
The meeting, held at the ministry headquarters in Phnom Penh, aimed to expand EU business cooperation with the Kingdom’s private and public sectors, in order to support socio-economic development, said a ministry statement.
During the meeting, Vandeth informed the delegation of the progress of the ministry's work in formulating policies, laws and regulations that would promote the telecoms sector. He explained that they have focussed on human resource development through scholarships and digital skills development programmes.
“Promoting and developing competitive programmes, building national data centres, establishing digital platforms, building digital connectivity infrastructure and improving the quality of telecoms services – as well as the development of 5G technologies – are all parts of our roadmap to the development stage of the telecoms sector,” he said.
Ruebbert thanked the minister for receiving the delegation made up of representatives of large companies from the fields of telecoms and digital technology. He hoped that the council would continue to cooperate with the ministry in the future.
During the meeting, representatives of Zuellig Pharma, DHL and Eurocham, all members of the EU-ABC, inquired about the ministry’s strategic plans to support the private sector in regard to digitalisation, healthcare and the digital transformation of local SMEs, as well as the ministry's projections regarding 5G.
The minister explained that it will focus on implementing the three key recommendations of the government, including digital government, digital economy and business, in order to contribute to the development of e-commerce and support Cambodia's economic diversification.
Cambodia Chamber of Commerce (CCC) vice-president Lim Heng noted that further investment and the strengthening of the digital technology sector is especially crucial as the world reaches the Fourth Industrial Revolution, or Industry 4.0, which focuses heavily on information technology for socio-economic development.
“The development and modernisation of the use of digital technology requires the ministry to play a leading role. We are moving towards a digital revolution, so without technology, our economy will suffer in regional and global markets,” he said.
Heng also asked that the ministry ensure transparency, efficiency and fairness in competition across the telecoms industry in order to attract more investment.
