Cambodia has used the 2025 Pinnacle Entrepreneur Forum (PEF) and ASEAN Women Entrepreneur Award (AWEN) to send a clear message to the region: ASEAN must scale its entrepreneurial power to the global level — and women must be at the heart of that transformation.
Deputy Prime Minister Sun Chanthol, first vice-chairman of the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC), told more than 1,000 regional and international business leaders that ASEAN can no longer think of itself as a collection of emerging markets, but as a unified force shaping global business.
“Entrepreneurship is central to building a more sustainable and equitable world,” he said, as he addressed the November 21 opening ceremony.
“For ASEAN to have global impact, we need ecosystems that allow entrepreneurs — especially women — to scale across borders,” he added.
Chanthol highlighted Cambodia’s readiness to serve as an ASEAN gateway for global expansion, citing rapid economic growth, strategic geographic positioning and strong investor momentum.
He noted that the CDC has approved almost 600 investment projects this year, a second consecutive record after the 414 approvals recorded in 2024.
“Cambodia is not just a market in itself. It is a stepping stone to regional and international expansion,” he said, pointing to the country’s young workforce, rising digital economy and expanding renewable energy sector.
Chanthol highlighted how Cambodia was the first country in the world to conclude and sign the new US Reciprocal Trade Agreement in October, removing tariff uncertainties and strengthening international investor confidence.
He described this as a milestone that “reaffirms Cambodia’s readiness to integrate more deeply with global markets”.
Scaling ASEAN entrepreneurship through PEF
Chanthol called for scaling the Pinnacle Entrepreneur Forum — launched in 2024 by Prime Minister Hun Manet — into a global business platform capable of driving cross-border partnerships, investment and innovation.
He said the region’s 600 million people and growing economic integration make ASEAN one of the world’s most dynamic entrepreneurial landscapes, but persistent barriers remain.
“Access to funding, mentorship, and strong networks continues to limit progress,” he said.
“To unlock ASEAN’s potential, we must strengthen collaborative platforms that help entrepreneurs move beyond local markets,” he explained.
Women at the centre of ASEAN’s economic future
A major portion of Chanthol’s speech focused on women entrepreneurs, whom he described as “a powerful but under-supported engine of regional growth”.
He credited the ASEAN Women Entrepreneurs Network (AWEN) for creating cross-border opportunities but stressed the need for stronger, more coordinated support.
“The rise of women entrepreneurs has been a game-changer for communities across ASEAN,” he said.
“But we must do more to ensure women can scale globally, not just locally,” he continued.
He outlined four key priorities: Expanding cross-border connections through platforms like PEF; Increasing access to funding, mentorship, and business development resources; Ensuring inclusive access to digital tools; and Scaling sustainable, impact-driven enterprises led by women.
“Technology is the great equalizer,” he said, adding, “But only if women have the tools and training to use it”.
PEF co-founder and AWEN chair Eng Lykuong reinforced that collaboration — not competition — must guide ASEAN’s economic future.
“The world prospers when we collaborate,” she said.
She highlighted Timor-Leste’s entry as AWEN’s 11th member as proof that the region’s entrepreneurial community is expanding.
PEF co-founder and event director Thomith Chin described the forum as a platform that converts ambition into collective strength.
He reiterated the vision for PEF to become “the Davos for doers”, where ideas, capital and innovation are brought together to shape the region’s future economy.
International partners echoed the forum’s focus on scaling women-led businesses.
Anna Nesterova, chairperson of the Russian Chapter of the BRICS Women’s Business Alliance, said women’s participation is “essential for long-term inclusive growth” and highlighted opportunities for Cambodian entrepreneurs to access BRICS’ digital platform, which links more than 3,000 entrepreneurs across 60 countries.
Closing his address, Chanthol urged entrepreneurs, investors and policymakers to engage beyond discussion and take action that enables ASEAN to compete at the global level.
“A single tree cannot make a forest,” he said.
“Scaling meaningful change requires cooperation, partnership and mutual support,” he added.
As Cambodia positions itself at the centre of this regional movement, this year’s PEF & AWEN Award underscored a decisive shift: ASEAN is preparing to scale its entrepreneurship globally — and women will be at the forefront of that rise.
