Author: Niem Chheng
ASEAN has announced the implementation of five AI-related activities by the ASEAN Committee on Science, Technology and Innovation (COSTI), with the support of dialogue partners. The new initiatives aim to position ASEAN as a competitive player in the global AI (artificial intelligence) landscape. The five new programmes were announced in a June 7 joint statement which followed the 20th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Science, Technology and Innovation (AMMSTI-20), held in Siem Reap. Hem Vanndy, Minister of Industry, Science, Technology and Innovation, told reporters at a press conference that the five activities include consultation on generative AI, an ASEAN workshop on…
Prime Minister Hun Manet has called for Artificial Intelligence (AI) development to be people-centric to avoid unwanted harm to society. Speaking at the opening of the 20th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Science, Technology and Innovation (AMMSTI-20) in Siem Reap province on June 7, Manet praised the emergence of new technologies in enhancing human capabilities. However, he warned that the development of new technologies, especially AI, must include ethical considerations, inclusivity, transparency, fairness and data privacy. Manet encouraged any AI development to be people-centric, with a responsibility to balance and ensure it benefits humanity. Recent developments, like OpenAI and many others,…
The Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology and Innovation is accelerating the establishment of a management system to foster research and development activities in the Kingdom, in collaboration with the Science and Technology Policy Institute (STEPI) of the South Korea. The collaboration began in 2018, but another workshop on the partnership was held on the sidelines of the 20th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Science, Technology, and Innovation (AMMSTI-20/STI) in Siem Reap province on June 6. Research and development, commonly known as “R&D”, are seen as efforts by companies or the government to enhance their capacity to ultimately use knowledge and innovation…
The 85th Meeting of the ASEAN Committee on Science, Technology and Innovation (ASEAN COSTI-85) concluded on June 5 in Siem Reap, with a focus on innovation and regional cooperation. The committee, responsible for coordinating science, technology and innovation (STI) efforts within ASEAN member states, will send its conclusions and recommendations to the higher-level ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on STI (AMMSTI) for further discussion and decisions. The two-day meeting reviewed 93 ongoing STI activities, including projects funded by the ASEAN STI Fund (ASTIF). COSTI updated the list of 21 centres, networks and subsidiary bodies under nine sub-committees and four task forces. Two…
On the sidelines of the 20th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Science, Technology and Innovation (AMMSTI-20), leaders and experts gathered to discuss human-centred AI adoption in the ASEAN region. The event, held in Siem Reap on June 3, was organised by the Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology and Innovation, the ASEAN Committee on Science, Teachnology and Innovation (COSTI), The Asia Foundation and Stanford’s AI Institute, with the goal of crafting policies that benefit all members and minimise AI risks. Presiding over the event, Hul Seingheng, undersecretary of state at the industry ministry and chair of ASEAN COSTI, emphasised the need for…
More than 1,000 mobile phones which customs officers seized from shops in Tbong Khmum province’s Memot district have been returned to the vendors. The release of the confiscated items followed a meeting between customs officials, phone importers and the shopkeepers. The owner of one phone shop, Ratha Memot, posted a message to his “buy, sell repair” social media page last night, thanking the wholesalers for their help in the negotiations. Two other stores, Nato, which sells phones and accessories of all kinds, and Piseth, a mobile phone shop, also announced the return of their stock and the resumption of normal…
The UN Country Team for Cambodia met with Prime Minister Hun Manet to share the jointly developed Cooperation Framework 2024-2028, with the expected outcomes to fully align with phase one of the government’s Pentagonal Strategy and the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The team, led by Resident Coordinator Jo Scheuer, met with Manet at the Peace Palace on June 4. Scheuer briefed Manet on the outcome of the five-year framework, explaining that it centres on four categories. They include the human element, notably through improved health, nutrition, education, gender equality and social protection, and the economy, ensuring people can contribute…