The Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications is registering candidates for the 2019 Cambodian Women in Tech Awards, which aim to recognise outstanding women in the technology field for them to become role models and encourage others to enter the sector. Registration commenced on January 25 and runs until February 25.

Five women will be recognised for the Cambodian Woman ICT Entrepreneur Award, the Cambodian Woman ICT Engineer Award, the Cambodian Woman ICT for Community Award, the Digital Multimedia and Content Award and the Girl Innovator Award, in which the candidate must be under 18 years old.

Coordinator of the Cambodian Women in Tech 2019 Programme Yin Huotely told The Post the women who wished to enter the competition, which began last year, would be those who wanted to inspire others.

“Women who want to join the competition will be role models for others. We want women to join so they will motivate others to become interested in technology. We want women to be recognised for their achievements because some think technology is only for men,” said Huotely, who is also the director of the administration office at the General Department of Technology, Telecommunications and Information.

She added that candidates who wish to enter can register at cbrd.gov.kh/nominations. Alternatively, those interested should email [email protected].

The awards ceremony will be held on March 15, during Cambodia’s first digital technology event.

“Based on my observations, only 80 per cent of women under 50 years old can use technology."

“Technology in this case does not mean fixing a computer or writing code – tech in the application – but whether they can use a smartphone or the internet, as that is also technology,” Huotely said.