Building a Digital Economy and Society

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POLICY FRAMEWORK

The Cambodia Digital Economy and Society Policy Framework sets out a long-term framework aimed at promoting and orienting the digital transformation in Cambodia successfully through defining and implementing policy measures that reflect and respond to the current situation in Cambodia as well as in line with regional and global trends.

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Vision, Objective, and Goals

Cambodia's Digital Economy and Society Policy Framework has the vision of “Building a vibrant digital economy and society by laying the foundations to promote digital adoption and transformation in all social actors including the state, citizens, and businesses, to accelerate new economic growth and promote social welfare in the new normal”. At the same time, the objective of this policy is to “build a digital economy to become both a new growth driver, as well as an ecosystem to contribute to increasing economic productivity and efficiency, and improve the welfare of the people of Cambodia's digital society”.
In building a digital foundation based on the above vision and objective, this policy framework identifies five main goals, including:

  • Developing infrastructures
  • Building digital citizens
  • Building digital government
  • Enabling digital businesses
  • Building reliability and confidence in digital system

Priority Framework of Digital Transformation for the Cambodia’s Economy and Society

To achieve the above goals, all stakeholders shall be prepared and involved in the development of basic infrastructures, usage and acceptance of digital undertakings, and self-development through the strengthening of knowledge and skills on various digital technologies. The digital transformation starts from the center of institutional reforms based on digital technology, which includes the design of digital platforms and the use of data resulting from the interaction of key stakeholders in promoting and developing the digital economy and society.

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Principles for Building Cambodia's Digital Economy and Society

To accelerate the adoption and take advantage of the advancement of digital technology aimed at promoting the development of digital economy and society, the Royal Government has identified three main principles, including “Building Digital Foundations - Digital Adoption – Digital Transformation”. Establishing clear principles, coupled with clear policy measures and action plans, will allow the process toward the development and building of the digital economy and society to be more effective during implementation, based on a coherent and correspondent implementation progress. At the same time, this policy framework defines an implementation period of 15 years from 2021 to 2035.

PHASE 1: Building Digital Foundations and Digital Adoption.
  • Develop ICTs Infrastructure.
  • Design the institutional and legal framework as well as human resources.
PHASE 2: Digital Adoption and Digital Transformation.
  • Continuous human resource development and practices.
  • Modernize the state system and public services.
  • Strengthen regional and global cooperation.
PHASE 3: Digital Transformation.
  • Accelerate strong foundations, more capable human resources, and a more favorable ecosystem environment.
  • Stimulate a participatory digital society with high use of technology.
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CAMBODIA'S READINESS TO BUILD A DIGITAL ECONOMY AND SOCIETY

Cambodia is a country that has achieved high growth in the region with a dynamic and demographic potential to continue to promote the development of the country, especially in the context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and the digital transformation. In the process of digital transformation, readiness is a prerequisite that countries have been developing and launching strategic policy frameworks to maximize the benefits of the digital economy.

Based on the implementation practice in various countries, the capture of the digital economy and society focuses on the following key components:

Digital Infrastructure

Although Cambodia's Internet infrastructure has better coverage and affordability, especially in large cities and towns, the overall quality is still limited, which requires further strengthening.​ Therefore, developing infrastructures will focus on expanding the high-speed Internet network, setting up digital payment systems, and setting up logistics systems and last-mile delivery to support the digital socio-economic development process.

Digital Trustworthiness

Cambodia remains vulnerable to cyber-attacks as Cambodia's legal and institutional framework for supporting and ensuring digital security and safety remains limited. Building reliability and confidence in the digital system focuses on building legal systems and raising awareness of digital security that will contribute to increasing reliability and confidence of relevant stakeholders, and encourage a wider participation in the digital socio-economic development process.

Digital Citizen

In Cambodia, human resources such as leaders, workers, and all citizens have made significant progress, especially concerning digital adoption, but such progress remains limited compared to other countries in the region. Therefore, to maximize the benefits of digital economic and social transformation and increase competition with countries in the region, the Royal Government will focus on developing digital knowledge and skills by prioritizing three specific areas: digital leadership, a pool of digital talent, and digital citizens in both the public and private sectors, particularly penetrating the local community level.

Digital Government

Digital government is a necessary player in the preparation of digital economy and society or means the Royal Government shall take the lead in the use of digital technologies to create direct needs and to enable businesses and citizens to adopt the digital sector. Hence, to promote the reform agenda of the Royal Government by using technology and creating an inclusive environment for the development and building of a digital economy and society that can support the Royal Government in achieving its mission on digital transformation and further expansion to support businesses and citizens, the Royal Government focuses on building a digital government on three aspects: digital government and public services through the continued ownership and accountability of information technology systems of important ministries and institutions, and the development of common technical standards for the implementation in ministries and institutions, the keys to boosting digital performance, and data-based governance.

Digital Business

In the past, the adoption and use of digital technologies, as well as ICT of enterprises in Cambodia were seen to be low in almost all sectors and almost all sizes of enterprise. Thus, to promote the digital adoption of enterprises at all levels and in all sectors to expand the markets, strengthen operational efficiency, ensure business sustainability, increase productivity and economic efficiency, increase competitiveness, foster the participation of private companies in global digital chains, and promote data- based startups; the Royal Government focuses on promoting digital business in three areas: promoting the digital transformation of enterprises, creating the entrepreneurial and startup ecosystems, and enhancing the digital value chain.