The government has unveiled a comprehensive plan to develop digital skills for at least 100,000 citizens over the next decade, as part of its broader effort to strengthen the country’s digital economy and society.
The policy was announced during the opening of the Digital Government Forum 2025 on December 5 in Phnom Penh, which also highlighted advances in digital classrooms, community technology centers and civil servant training programmes.
Minister in Charge of the Council of Ministers Vongsey Vissoth emphasised that rapid advances in artificial intelligence (AI) and digital technologies are reshaping the global economic landscape, creating both opportunities and risks.
“Technology has become a factor determining the competitive advantage and destiny of nations, institutions, enterprises and individuals,” he said.
“For Cambodia, digital transformation is a vehicle for modernization, development and improving the livelihoods of citizens,” he added.
The government roadmap aligns with the Cambodia Digital Economy and Society Policy Framework 2021-2035 and phase one of the Pentagonal Strategy, which prioritises building a digital ecosystem across three pillars: digital government, digital business and digital citizenship.
Vissoth outlined the government’s multi-pronged approach, which includes expanding 5G infrastructure, enhancing digital public services and supporting AI adoption in key sectors.
To address the shortage of skilled human resources, the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications, in coordination with the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport, has introduced scholarships, capacity-building programmes and digital literacy campaigns.
Currently, about 3,500 outstanding students with A, B, and C grades have received targeted training, and over 13,000 civil servants have participated in professional development programs.
Pilot projects are also underway for 60 digital classrooms in primary schools and community technology centers in public high schools, with additional digital technology centres planned for higher education institutions.
The civil servants across various ministries have already undergone training programmes designed to enhance their competency in digital tools, AI applications and data-driven decision-making.
“Training civil servants is not an option; it is a necessity to ensure public services are delivered effectively and in line with international standards,” said telecommunications minister Chea Vandeth.
Vandeth noted that these initiatives are central to Cambodia’s goal of becoming a regional digital hub.
“We are not just consumers of digital technologies but active contributors to the digital transformation of ASEAN and the Asia-Pacific region,” he added.
He highlighted the ongoing development of a Digital Park spanning more than 100 hectares, intended to foster entrepreneurship, innovation and industry-education linkages in the digital sector.
The forum also provided a platform for international collaboration.
Cambodia signed five memorandums of understanding with partner countries and organisations, including agreements with Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, UN-ESCAP, the French Agency for Development and a UK-based tech company, to strengthen cooperation in digital public services, AI development and cybersecurity.
Cambodia’s ambitious plans to integrate AI and digital skills into education, governance and business signal a strategic move to reduce the digital divide, enhance competitiveness and support sustainable economic growth.
By combining infrastructure investments, skill development and international partnerships, the government aims to ensure that citizens and institutions are well-equipped to benefit from the global digital economy.
