i

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The National Council of Science, Technology & Innovation (NCSTI) officially endorsed the
DigitalTech Roadmap in its second meeting. This comprehensive roadmap was developed by
the Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology & Innovation (MISTI), under the supervision of
the General Department of Science, Technology & Innovation (GD/STI), with the invaluable
support of the Science, Technology Policy Institute (STEPI) of the Republic of Korea.

The roadmap was collaboratively prepared by the Asian Vision Institute (AVI) and the GD/STI
working group, incorporating inputs from a panel of sub-committee members specialising in
the development of the DigitalTech Roadmap. To ensure its comprehensiveness and accuracy,
valuable insights were collected from diverse stakeholders with expertise in the digital field,
through a series of extensive workshops and discussions.

The sub-committee members and relevant stakeholders who contributed to this effort include:
- General Department of ICT, MPTC
- General Department of STI, MISTI
- Institute of Digital Research & Innovation, CADT
- Royal University of Phnom Penh
- Department of STI Data Management, GD/STI
- Department of STI Policy, GD/STI
- Department of STI Training, NISTI
- Department of Planning Statistic and Commerce Information
- Ezecom Co., Ltd
- Quantum Engineering and Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
- Techo Startup Center
- STEP IT Academy Institute

iv
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Digital Technology (DigitalTech) Roadmap is a strategic document that highlights the
vision, goals, strategic products and services, and key technologies of Cambodia, in terms of
national DigitalTech development. This roadmap aims to complement existing digital policy
frameworks, roadmaps, and strategies, for the common goal of transforming Cambodia into an
upper-middle-income country by 2030 and a high-income country by 2050. Given the
widespread influence of DigitalTech across various industries and domains, it becomes
exceptionally important to seek insights from a wide array of professionals who possess
practical expertise and implicit knowledge within the local setting. Although there is a global
push for digital transformation at various stages, national roadmaps for respective countries are
not one-size-fits-all. Thus, a national DigitalTech Roadmap tailored to the needs of Cambodia
is crucial to establishing clear steps and key milestones for the coming years.

Undoubtedly, the significance of DigitalTech in Cambodia's economy, society, and

government is experiencing substantial growth. Although Cambodia’s human capital and
technical capacity with regard to DigitalTech is still lacking to a certain extent at the national
level, there have been vast improvements over recent years, thanks to the strategic focus of the
Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC). In addition, the holistic national digital transformation
approach encompasses broader cultural aspects, mindsets, and behavioural patterns concerning
the role of DigitalTech within society. Cambodia exhibits a high digital adoption rate, driven
by its young and tech-savvy population, widespread smartphone usage, and affordable mobile
data services. This has resulted in the rapid adoption of emerging technological applications on
a large scale. To effectively drive digital transformation at the national level, it is crucial for
the public sector, private sector, and academia to collaboratively and strategically implement
their DigitalTech initiatives in a unified manner that benefits all relevant stakeholders.

This roadmap will provide a brief overview of the global and local demand, supply, and trends
of DigitalTech, as well as existing digital policy frameworks and strategies moving forward.
Taking into account the workshop inputs provided by sub-committee members, alongside the
contextualisation of domain expertise and literature review carried out by the consulting team,
the vision is established to induce DigitalTech to enhance productivity and efficiency, and to
bring about innovation for socioeconomic development. This vision is underpinned by three
key goals: firstly, to leverage digital literacy and Information Technology (IT) skills as a

v
foundation for human capital development; secondly, to diversify digital infrastructure in the
national innovation system for priority sectors; and thirdly, to build a vibrant ecosystem
through connectivity within digital and physical spaces. In pursuit of these objectives, strategic
products and services such as digital devices, internet infrastructure, online business platforms,
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM)/Digital education programmes,
a digital re-skilling/upskilling programmes, public awareness events, a national data centre,
and a centre of excellence have been identified. Additionally, the critical role of key
technologies, including mobile devices, the Internet of Things (IoT), cybersecurity, 5G,
automation systems, big data, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning, computer
software, Wi-Fi 6/7, and cloud computing, cannot be understated in this transformative
journey.

To ensure the successful implementation of the digital strategy, three key actions are
recommended. These actions involve the appointment of transformational leaders who can
drive change and inspire innovation, the investment in human capital development by
prioritising training and skill-building, and the allocation of resources towards robust IT
infrastructure to support the effective implementation and sustainability of digital initiatives.

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ABBREVIATION LIST

ADB : Asian Development Bank

AI : Artificial Intelligence
AR : Augmented Reality
AUS : Australia
BAN : Bangladesh
BHU : Bhutan
BRU : Brunei Darussalam
CAM : Cambodia
CWGSTI : Committee for Women and Girls in STI
EHRs : Electronic Health Records
FDI : Foreign Direct Investment
FIJ : Fiji
GDP : Gross Domestic Product
GI : Global Investment
GVC : Global Value Chain
HKG : Hong Kong
ICT : Information and Communication Technology
IND : India
INO : Indonesia
IoT : Internet of Things
IT : Information Technology
JPN : Japan
KAZ : Kazakhstan
KGZ : Kyrgyz Republic
KOR : Republic of Korea
MAL : Malaysia
MEF : Ministry of Economy and Finance
MISTI : Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology & Innovation
MLD : Maldives
MON : Mongolia
MPTC : Ministry of Post and Telecommunications
NBC : National Bank of Cambodia
NCST : National Council for Science and Technology

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NEP : Nepal
NSDP : National Strategy Development Plan
PAK : Pakistan
PHI : Philippines
PRC : People's Republic of China
R&D : Research and Development
RGC : Royal Government of Cambodia
SA : Score Adaptation
SIN : Singapore
SNEC : Supreme National Economic Council
SRI : Sri Lanka
STEM : Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics
STI : Science, Technology, and Innovation
TAP : Taipei, China
THA : Thailand
TTC : Technology Transfer Centre
VIE : Viet Nam
VR : Virtual Reality
WTO : World Trade Organisation

viii
Table of Contents
FOREWORD............................................................................................................................ii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ...................................................................................................... iv
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ..................................................................................................... v
ABBREVIATION LIST ........................................................................................................vii
1. Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 1
1.1. .Background .................................................................................................................. 1
1.2. .Rationale ....................................................................................................................... 3
1.3. .Objective and Scope ..................................................................................................... 3
2. Demand, Supply and Trends of DigitalTech .................................................................. 5
2.1. .Global Trends ............................................................................................................... 5
2.2. .Overview in Cambodia ................................................................................................ 9
3. Government’s supports on Digital ................................................................................ 12
3.1. Overarching Policy Frameworks.............................................................................. 12
3.2. Digital Related Policies .............................................................................................. 13
4. Technology Roadmap Development Process ............................................................... 17
5. DigitalTech Roadmap Development ............................................................................. 19
5.1. .Vision and Goal .......................................................................................................... 19
5.2. .Environment Analysis ............................................................................................... 19
5.3. .Products and Services ................................................................................................ 24
5.4. .Key Technologies ....................................................................................................... 25
5.5. .Charting ...................................................................................................................... 27
6. Conclusion and Recommendations ............................................................................... 32
References ............................................................................................................................... 37
Annex1: Committee Members .............................................................................................. 38
Annex 2: Visions and Goals .................................................................................................. 44
Annex 3: Strategic Products/ Services Scores ..................................................................... 45
Annex 4: Key Technologies Scores ....................................................................................... 46

ix
1. Introduction
1.1. Background

The digital revolution has transformed society and economics since the late 1980s. First came
the emergence of a connected economy, marked by widespread Internet use and the
deployment of broadband networks. A digital economy eventually developed as a result of an
increase in the use of platforms as business models for the provision of products and services.
The current trend is towards a digitalised economy, in which all economic, social, and
environmental aspects incorporate digital technologies into production and consumption
models (ECLAC, 2021).

In Cambodia, since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2019-2020, the country has
been pushed to its limits to utilise digital technologies in ways that were never done before in
the Kingdom. Despite the hardships and complications over the last few years, Cambodia
showed its resiliency and adaptability by adopting DigitalTech applications and platforms at
exponential rates. The finance, e-commerce, and education sectors have transformed
significantly, to name a few. The way that we communicate and interact with each other as
individuals, organisations, and nations, has undergone a revolutionary paradigm shift,
impacting all aspects of work and life. In hindsight, only an extreme situation, such as a global
pandemic with forced lockdowns and social distancing, would create the rare opportunity for
a developing country such as Cambodia to leapfrog in terms of digital adoption and maturity.
Reflecting on the past five years, considering the principles of digital transformation, the
evolution of digital culture, workforce, and technology, in Cambodia has been remarkable.

To achieve Cambodia’s ambitious, yet attainable goals of economic development, the

Kingdom will have to strengthen its understanding and capability in the field of DigitalTech.
The utilisation of DigitalTech does not only involve individuals with IT or Computer
Science/Engineering backgrounds, but all members of the society. As long as individuals are
connected to the Internet or use mobile devices such as computers and phones, they are all
considered part of the digital economy and society as consumers, operators, service providers,
regulators, and more. Consequently, the roles and responsibilities of utilising digital
technologies extend far beyond the demographic of IT experts. Cambodia significantly
reinforced its digital transformation journey in 2018 by introducing the specific strategy
commonly known as Rectangular Strategy Phase IV for “Growth, Employment, Equity, and

1
Efficiency: Building the Foundation Toward Realising the Cambodia Vision 2050” (MFAIC,
2018). Immense development pressure to find improved and alternative sources of economic
growth propelled this digital economy ambition, while looking to achieve the goal of becoming
an upper-middle-income country by 2030 and a high-income country by 2050. In response to
this target, the RGC of the 6th legislature of the National Assembly stated its aim to transform
the country into a digital economy by 2023 by initiating and establishing relevant strategies,
policies, and regulations for digital transformation purposes (Chan, 2021).

Emerging digital technologies involving AI, Big Data, Blockchain, IoT, and 5G, are rapidly
transforming people’s lives all around the world. As such, digital transformation at the national
level is inevitable, in order to enhance efficiency, increase productivity, reduce costs, and
improve quality of life. However, the valuable potential of these advanced technologies is often
mystified and overcomplicated by buzzwords and misconceptions, associated without much
understanding or contextualisation. Looking at the big picture, one must not get distracted by
fancy terminologies, in order to fully understand the true meaning of “digital transformation”
and its fundamental precursors, “digitisation” and “digitalisation” (Katuu, 2022).

Digital Transformation

Digitalisation 5
Transform the
4 Institution
Streamline
Digitisation 3 Processes
Automate
2 Processes
Organise Digital
1 Information Transformation
Digitise A series of deep and
coordinated culture,
Information Digitalisation workforce, and
Using digital technologies technology shifts that
and information to enable new educational
transform individual and operating models
institutional operations. and transform an
Digitisation institution’s operations,
Changing from analogue or
strategic directions, and
physical to digital form.
value proposition.

Figure 1: Digitisation, Digitalisation, and Digital Transformation

“Digitisation” is the conversion of analogue or physical information into digital representation,

such as scanning a paper document – this physical object is converted into a digital file

2
accessible and organisable on a computer. Moreover, “Digitalisation” is the automation and
streamlining of analogue processes and operations into digital, such as making mobile
payments with a phone – instead of paying with physical cash money, transferring money
instantaneously from one bank account to another via the Internet. Finally, “Digital
Transformation” is the overall process of transforming an institution by utilising digital
technologies, taking into consideration paradigm shifts in culture, workforce, and technology
(Katuu, 2022). In this case, the digital transformation of Cambodia would imply the strategic
process of leveraging DigitalTech applications and platforms, to reach the socioeconomic goals
of the nation.

1.2. Rationale

In Cambodia, where "Industry 4.0" is quickly emerging, the demand for advanced digital
technologies is greater than ever. Digital technologies encompass a wide range of tools,
including online resources, systems, programmes, apps, and various electronic devices like
laptops, tablets, and mobile phones. These technologies serve multiple purposes, enabling
electronic, social, mobile, analytics, cloud, and security services. Specifically, they include
Blockchain, IoT, and radio-frequency technologies, as well as an assortment of digital tools,
systems, devices, and resources responsible for generating, storing, or processing data. This
data encompasses elements such as social media, online games, multimedia, and mobile
phones, shaping the landscape of digital transformation (Sun, 2023). In order to fuel the digital
transformation of Cambodia with the vision of becoming an upper-middle-income country by
2030 and a high-income country by 2050, a National DigitalTech Roadmap is of paramount
importance. A National DigitalTech Roadmap is a visual document that reflects the digital
transformation strategy of the country – the goals, initiatives, and enhancements in DigitalTech,
to strive for a high-performing and digitally-driven country. This DigitalTech Roadmap will
be a core visual plan for Cambodia in order to achieve the goals stipulated in a variety of digital
policies and frameworks of the country, whereas its aim is to provide a well-rounded and
balanced strategy for Cambodia to adopt, in terms of technical capacity development and policy
options.

1.3. Objective and Scope

The objective of this National DigitalTech Roadmap is to build a strong foundation, identify
clear stages for development, and establish steps on how to reach them effectively. The scope

3
of this roadmap will include 1) Vision Building, 2) Environment Analysis, 3) Strategic
Products/Services driven by innovation, and 4) Key technologies, in terms of short-, medium-
, and long-term goals. Based on the aforementioned components as a framework, the roadmap
will provide a comprehensive guideline for relevant organisations to follow in order to
contribute to the overall digital transformation journey of the Kingdom of Cambodia.

4
2. Demand, Supply and Trends of DigitalTech
2.1. Global Trends

According to McKinsey Technology Trends Outlook 2022 (McKinsey, 2022), report identified
14 most significant technology trends today and defined the next decade follow. The majority
of these 14 technologies were defined by their common features: Digital Technologies and
Support Infrastructure. The research team collected data on five tangible measures of activity:
search engine queries, news publications, patents, research publications, and investments. For
each measure, a defined set of data sources was used to find occurrences of keywords
associated with each of the 14 trends, screen those occurrences for valid mentions of activity,
and index the resulting numbers of mentions on a 0–1 scoring scale that is relative to the trends
studied. The innovation score combines the patents and research scores; the interest score
combines the news and search scores. Investment measures the flows of funding from the
capital markets into companies linked to the trend. Data sources for the scores include the
following:
 Patents – Data on patent filings are sourced from Google Patents
 Research – Data on research publications are sourced from the Lens (www.lens.org)
 News – Data on news publications are sourced from Factiva
 Searches – Data on search engine queries are sourced from Google Trends
 Investment – Data on market capital raises are sourced from PitchBook.

Result of research reported the state of each trend, by scoring for innovation (based on patents
and research) and interest (based on news and web searches) as showing in Figure 2. Report
also counted investments in relevant technologies and rated their level of adoption by
organisations in Table 1.

Table 1: Summary of the Technology Trends Outlook Report (McKinsey, 2022).

Technology Trend GI SA

Applied AI: involves the use of machine learning models to

automate tasks, improve capabilities, and enhance decision-making $165 billions 4

by solving classification, prediction, and control problems.

5
Advanced connectivity: such as 5G/6G cellular, low-power
wireless networks, low-Earth-orbit satellites, and others, provide a $166 billions 4

multitude of digital solutions that have the potential to significantly

enhance growth and productivity across various industries.

Future of bioengineering: entails the convergence of biological

and information technologies, which has the potential to $72 billions 3

revolutionise the healthcare industry, enhance human performance,

transform food value chains, and lead to the development of
innovative products and services.

Future of clean energy: revolves around the adoption of

sustainable solutions that contribute to achieving net-zero $257 billions 2

greenhouse gas emissions throughout the energy value chain. These

solutions encompass various aspects such as power generation,
storage, and distribution.

Future of mobility: is focused on advancing technologies that

enhance the efficiency and sustainability of transporting people and $236 billions 2

goods, both on land and in the air. These innovations aim to

revolutionise transportation, making it more environmentally
friendly and resource-efficient.

Future of sustainable consumption: entails leveraging

technology to transform both industrial and individual consumption $109 billions 2

patterns, with the goal of mitigating environmental risks, such as

climate change. This shift involves adopting more eco-friendly
practices and products to promote a more sustainable and
responsible approach to consumption.

Web3: refers to a paradigm of platforms and applications that

facilitate the transition to a decentralised internet. It is characterised $110 billions 1

by open standards and protocols that prioritise the protection of

digital ownership rights, granting users increased control over their
data. This movement towards Web3 not only empowers individuals

6
with greater ownership of their digital assets but also sparks the
emergence of novel business models.

Industrialising machine learning: involves the utilisation of $5 billions 1

software and hardware solutions to expedite the development and

implementation processes. It also supports vital aspects such as
performance monitoring, stability, and continuous improvement.
By incorporating these advancements, machine learning becomes
more scalable, efficient, and reliable in various industrial
applications.

Immersive-reality technologies: employ sensing technologies and $30 billions 1

spatial computing to enable users to perceive the world in unique

ways. This can be achieved through mixed or augmented reality,
where users experience an enhanced version of reality, or through
virtual reality, where users are transported to an entirely different
world.

Cloud and edge computing: pertain to the distribution of

computing workloads across remote data centres and local nodes. $136 billions 4

This approach aims to enhance various aspects such as data

sovereignty, autonomy, resource productivity, latency, and
security.

Trust architectures and digital identity: enable organisations to

establish, expand, and uphold trust among stakeholders in the $34 billions 2

utilisation of their digital products and services. These architectures

facilitate secure and reliable access to data and other digital assets,
while also safeguarding against unauthorised access or breaches.

Future of space technologies: encompasses remarkable

advancements and significant cost reductions in satellites, $12 billions 2

launchers, and habitation technologies, opening up avenues for

ground-breaking space operations and services.

7
Quantum-based technologies: hold the potential to unleash an
exponential surge in computational performance for specific $3 billions 0

problems, revolutionising networks by enhancing their security and

resilience.

Next-generation software development: facilitate the creation of

software applications, enhancing processes and elevating software $2 billions 1

quality. These tools encompass AI-enabled development and

testing, as well as low-code or no-code platforms, streamlining the
development process and empowering developers to create
innovative solutions.

GI: Global Investment received in year 2021. SA: Score Adaptation (0 = None, 5 = Mainstream).

Figure 2: Technology Trends Identified by McKinsey (McKinsey, 2022).

8
Services have become the backbone of the global economy. In 2019, services accounted for
about two-thirds of both global GDP and FDI and provide the majority of employment (WTO,
2020). According to a report by Oxford Economics and Western Union Business Solutions in
2020 (WesternUnion, 2020), the value of international trade in services is expected to rise from
$6.1 trillion in 2019 to $8.0 trillion by 2025. This would account for approximately one-third
of the total global flows over this period. Additionally, the World Trade Organisation projects
in 2019 indicate that the share of services in global trade is expected to expand by 50% by the
year 2040.

Asia is the second-largest trader of digital services, with this trading segment growing faster
than in other parts of the world. In 2020, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, year-on-year growth
of trade in digital services in Asia and the Pacific remained resilient at a 1% increase, while
other services (global tourism, travel, and distribution sectors) plummeted 38% (Liberatore,
2022). In recent years, the sectors contributing the most to Asia’s growth in digital services
trade are other business services and telecommunications, and computer and information
services. Some Southeast Asian economies have also been driving expansion in digital services
trade by posting rapid growth in digital exports, as in Cambodia, the Lao People’s Democratic
Republic (Lao PDR), and the Philippines. Emerging areas of further growth include e-
commerce, digital transactions, demand for automation, and the remote delivery of services.

2.2. Overview in Cambodia

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) estimated that Cambodia technologies and digital
businesses achieved $470 million in revenue for 2019, according to the Asian Economic
Integration Report 2021. There was an uptick in cashless payments in Cambodia, especially
during the global COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the growth of financial technology
(FinTech) adaptation and a push by the government for her citizens to go cashless for safety
and health reasons. Broken down by sectors, e-commerce, e-service, digital media, advertising
technology, transportation, and online travel accounted for 27.60%, 7.80%, 10.20%, 12.70%,
3.80%, and 37.90%, respectively. According to the National Bank of Cambodia (NBC), the
market demand in Cambodia stands at approximately $29.6 billion collectively, of which only
about $5.7 billion is filled by digital financial applications (ADB, 2021)⁠.

9
As of 2019, Cambodia had a young population, between the ages of 15 and 35, of about 5.69
million persons, of whom 2.88 million were women, equivalent to 36.59% of the total
population and 55.97% of the total working-age population (15-64 years)⁠. This young
demographic dividend is a main driver of the advancement of the DigitalTech and digital
economic transformation in society through the adoption of technologies for both
socioeconomic development and self-development following global trends. Cambodia is also
one of the ASEAN countries, a vibrant region with large economies that is increasingly
becoming an attractive destination for the development of regional and global value chains
(SNEC, 2021).

As of January 2021, the number of mobile phone subscriptions across Cambodia’s six operators
was 21.18 million, having increased by 0.8% from the same time last year. This figure was
equivalent to 125.8% of the total population of Cambodia, implying most citizens of Cambodia
have multiple mobile phone subscriptions from different operators. Additionally, the number
of internet users reached 8.86 million, with an increase of 1.1 million between 2020 and 2021.
The internet penetration rate accounts for 52.6% of the total population. Cambodian internet
users prefer to use mobile phones for accessing the internet, which is reflected in Digital 2021.
Among all devices, mobile phones accounted for 52.0%, laptops and desktops for 45.9%, and
tablet computers for 2.2% of total web traffic (Kemp, 2021)⁠.

Developments in IT and digitalisation have been responsible for the growing importance of
trade in services. Digitalisation cuts dramatically costs and lowers barriers-to-entry, facilitating
a wider range of services to be traded. Given social distancing and travel restrictions during the
COVID-19 pandemic, the adoption of DigitalTech was accelerated even more as companies
expanded their online presence and consumers adopted new habits, especially in the health,
education, telecommunications, and audio-visual service sectors (WTO, 2020).

In Asia and the Pacific, digital services are an important component of total foreign
investments. Even in Asia’s digital services, the reinforcing relationship of Global Value Chain
(GVC) and FDI is apparent. Cambodia (CAM) featured both a high FDI presence and a high
GVC participation in digital service sectors, as shown in Figure 3. Growing FDI in those sectors
could improve regional trade with integration to international production networks through
various channels. Advancements in information and communication technologies and digital

10
platforms have reduced distance-based barriers in goods and services trade and allowed firms
and businesses to integrate into global supply networks (ADB, 2021).

Figure 3: Scatter Plots on GVC participation and FDI—Asia and the Pacific, 2020: Asian
Economic Integration Report (2022).

11
3. Government’s supports on Digital

RGC has recognised the importance of DigitalTech and its potential to drive economic growth
and development in the country. As with all other instances of innovation throughout history,
the private sector moves first, and policy follows afterwards. This premise resonates even more
so in the field of DigitalTech, where Moore’s law (Thompson, 2006) applies – the number of
transistors on a microchip doubles every two years. This phenomenon implies that computing
capabilities are growing accordingly, advancing the evolution of DigitalTech applications at
rates that are increasingly difficult for policies to catch up with. By the time legislative
processes are complete, most technology-related policies are already obsolete, due to rapid
updates and iterations of products and services. Nonetheless, policymakers are tasked with the
challenging responsibility of establishing visions, policies, and strategies based on their
experience, expertise, and foresight.

The digital sector has become a key driver of economic growth in Cambodia, with the
government recognising its importance and taking steps to develop policy and regulatory
frameworks to support its development. The Cambodian government has enacted laws related
to e-commerce, cybercrime, and telecommunications and has also developed national policies
related to information and communication technologies (ICT) and digital payments. These
frameworks aim to provide a legal and regulatory environment that supports the growth of the
digital sector and promotes innovation and entrepreneurship while also protecting the rights of
consumers and businesses operating in the online space. Additionally, the government has
implemented initiatives to increase access to ICT and promote the adoption of digital
technologies, including the establishment of a National ICT Policy. These frameworks aim to
create a safe and secure online environment for all stakeholders and ensure that the digital
sector continues to contribute to Cambodia's economic growth.

3.1. Overarching Policy Frameworks

Cambodia's national development strategy for the period of 2019-2023, known as the
Rectangular Strategy Phase IV (MFAIC, 2018), seeks to build upon the successes of its
previous three phases and propel Cambodia towards becoming an upper-middle-income
country by 2030 and a high-income country by 2050. The Rectangular Strategy Phase IV
focuses on four key pillars:

12
 i. Human Resource Development: (a) strengthening the quality of education, science, and
technology; (b) Enhancing public health and nutrition; (c) improving vocational
training; and (d) civilising gender equality and social protection.
ii. Economic Diversification: (a) improving the logistic system and enhancing
transportation, energy, and digital; (b) ensuring readiness of the digital economy and
industrial revolution 4.0; (c) developing the key and new source of growth; (d)
promoting banking and financial development.
iii. Private Sector and Job Development: (a) attracting foreign investment and creating
jobs; (b) spreading out and instigating the public private partnership; (c) promoting
small and medium enterprises and entrepreneurship; and (d) enhancing competition.
iv. Inclusive and Sustainable Development: (a) promoting the agriculture sector and rural
development; (b) strengthening urban planning and management; (c) intensifying the
sustainable management of natural resources and culture; and (d) ensuring
environmental sustainability and a pre-emptive response to climate change.

The Rectangular Strategy Phase IV recognises the importance of DigitalTech and innovation
in driving economic growth and social development. The government plans to promote the
development of the digital economy, expand internet access, and improve digital literacy. It
also aims to enhance cybersecurity and data protection. The National Strategy Development
Plan (NSDP) 2019-2023 (RGC, 2019) provides a comprehensive framework for implementing
the Rectangular Strategy Phase IV in Cambodia. By aligning development efforts around the
four pillars of the strategy, and focusing on specific targets and indicators, as well as a range
of cross-cutting issues, such as DigitalTech and innovation, gender equality, and climate
change.

3.2. Digital Related Policies

Digital-related policies vary from country to country, as they are influenced by a range of
factors such as the country's level of economic development, political system, and cultural
norms. Cambodia has developed a number of digital policies in recent years to promote the
growth and development of its digital economy. The digital economy is regarded as one of the
key drivers of growth. The Cambodia Digital Economy and Society Policy Framework 2021-
2035 (SNEC, 2021) sets policy measures to (a) develop digital infrastructure focusing on
digital connectivity, financial technology infrastructure and digital payment systems, and
logistics and last-mile delivery; and (b) build trust and confidence in digital systems focusing

13
on responsive and effective legal frameworks and strengthening digital security management.
There are 82 policy measures to strengthen the three pillars, including (a) building digital
citizens focusing on digital leadership, pools of talents, and digital citizens, (b) building digital
government focusing on digital government and public services, keys to boosting digital
performance, and data-driven governance in the public sector, and (c) enabling digital
businesses focusing on enterprise transformation, entrepreneurial and start-up ecosystems, and
the digital value chains.

The Cambodia Digital Government Policy 2022-2035 (MPTC, 2022) aims to achieve ten goals,
namely (a) establishing and improving digital connectivity infrastructure, (b) establishing
digital payment system infrastructure for public services, (c) strengthening digital security
infrastructure, (d) developing postal service infrastructure, (e) organising digital government
governance, (f) digitalising government and public services, (g) developing digital human
capital, (h) promoting digital research and innovation, (i) promoting collaborations with
DigitalTech companies, and (j) promoting digital start-ups.

To promote and accelerate the development of science, technology, and innovation in

Cambodia, the National Policy on STI 2020–2030 (NCST, 2019) was developed. The policy
sets out several key goals, including developing and strengthening adequate Science,
Technology, and Innovation (STI) human resources, enabling national research and
development, developing and strengthening a dynamic innovation ecosystem, and instilling in
society an STI culture in an inclusive manner. Additionally, Cambodia’s STI Roadmap 2030
(MISTI, 2021) has been established and covers the digital sector as one of its key areas of
focus. One of the key goals of the roadmap is to increase access to affordable and high-quality
digital infrastructure and services across the country. This includes expanding broadband
internet coverage, promoting the development of digital applications and services, and
encouraging the adoption of digital technologies in both the public and private sectors. The
roadmap also emphasises the importance of developing a skilled workforce that is capable of
driving innovation and growth in the digital sector. This includes promoting STEM education
and training programmes for digital professionals and encouraging the recruitment and
retention of talented individuals in the sector.

14
Besides, the priority themes to be explored in Cambodia have been defined in the National
Research Agenda 2025 (MISTI, National Research Agenda 2025, 2023), where DigitalTech is
the spine supporting the eight identified research missions such as local food, reliable energy
supply, quality education, electronic and mechanical spare parts, cloud-based services,
electricity and potable water, carbon neutrality, and digitally-enhanced health. Specifically,
cloud-based service is one of the priority themes that heavily relies on DigitalTech to provide
scalable, efficient, and secure solutions. DigitalTech enables the creation and maintenance of
robust cloud infrastructure, allowing organisations to store and access data remotely. It
facilitates the development of cloud computing platforms, enabling seamless sharing and
collaboration, data backup, and disaster recovery. With DigitalTech as the backbone, cloud-
based services offer numerous benefits, such as improved data accessibility, cost efficiency,
and enhanced productivity. The necessary elements to achieve the research mission of cloud-
based services are legal and policy frameworks, human resources, infrastructure, and
collaboration. In addition, DigitalTech is also strongly involved in digitally-enhanced health to
transform healthcare delivery and improve patient outcomes. Digital solutions such as
telemedicine, electronic health records (EHRs), and health monitoring devices are integral to
digitally-enhanced health initiatives. Telemedicine leverages digital technology to provide
remote consultations, enabling patients to access healthcare services from any location. EHRs
digitise patient records, enabling seamless data sharing among healthcare providers, reducing
errors, and improving care coordination. Health monitoring devices, powered by digital
technology, collect real-time health data, allowing for personalised interventions, early
detection of health trends, and proactive disease management. The research areas prioritised
for funding under this digitally-enhanced health mission include: 1) health education and
prevention; 2) diagnosis; 3) medical treatment devices for patient monitoring; and 4)
accessibility, health administration, and insurance. The role of DigitalTech in supporting cloud-
based services and digitally-enhanced health will continue to grow. Ongoing research and
innovation within these priority themes will further harness the power of DigitalTech to drive
advancements, improve efficiencies, and enhance outcomes in areas such as data storage,
accessibility, collaboration, remote healthcare, personalised medicine, and health data analysis.

Additionally, the Mapping Research and Innovation in the Kingdom of Cambodia (MISTI,
2023) highlights Cambodia's strong commitment to using STI as a driving force for sustainable
and inclusive development. The government is determined to achieve its ambitious vision for
2030 and 2050 by investing in STI and involving various stakeholders, such as the public and
15
private sectors, higher education and research institutions, and civil society. To support these
efforts, based on these developments and the report's analysis, the following recommendations
are proposed as priorities: 1) Continuously invest in and strengthen the STI system, introducing
missing components and enhancing existing institutions; 2) Establish a “Committee for
Women and Girls in STI” (CWGSTI) to promote and empower women in STI and engineering;
3) Create research and development (R&D) and innovation funds aligned with the upcoming
Technology Transfer Law to support research and innovation in Cambodia; 4) Improve and
evaluate existing STI instruments and infrastructure; 5) Foster dynamic regional and rural
innovation systems by encouraging partnerships and collaborative projects; 6) Facilitate the
creation, diffusion, and utilisation of knowledge, technology, and innovation by promoting new
and existing innovation intermediaries and service providers; 7) Implement a diaspora
programme; 8) Invest in the development of quality, metrology, and standardisation
infrastructure, offering internationally recognised certification across sectors; 9) Establish a
national Technology Transfer Centre (TTC); 10) Enhance STEM curricula to cultivate high-
level capabilities and skills among students; and 11) Implement measures to attract girls to
STEM subjects and increase women's participation in research and STI-driven
entrepreneurship.

Aside from the previously mentioned ministries, most of the other government ministries and
agencies in Cambodia are also developing or already implementing their own digital
transformation strategies. To elaborate, they are either developing their own internal strategies
for digital transformation or complying with the digital government strategies laid out by the
RGC, with support from MEF and MPTC. Each government ministry or agency has been
tasked to establish their own digital transformation units to implement varying levels of digital
transformation based on their technical capacity and financial budget.

To effectively implement the policy frameworks, it is important to identify policy challenges

and gaps essential for DigitalTech applications, develop policy support mechanisms or
ecosystems, support strategic products and key technologies that meet the needs of the rapidly
evolving industries, and better align and build synergies between the existing policies and
strategies relevant to the digital economy, society, and government.

16
4. Technology Roadmap Development Process

The digital transformation of Cambodia is a crucial step towards the country’s economic and
social development. To reach this, a well-planned and comprehensive national DigitalTech
Roadmap is necessary, which presents a pathway to drive the digital transformation of
Cambodia at the individual, organisational, and national levels. Although the presence of
DigitalTech applications is growing rapidly across all sectors, they are fragmented for the most
part. As such, a national DigitalTech Roadmap with clearly established steps is essential for
the Kingdom to consolidate all initiatives and efforts in a synergistic approach. The roadmap
will include fundamental stages and objectives that the government, private sector, and
academia should strive towards in terms of DigitalTech development. By having a common
vision and achievable goals in the context of Cambodia’s current environment analysis,
strategic products and services and key technologies can be extrapolated for the roadmap.

Figure 4 shows the five steps to developing a comprehensive DigitalTech Roadmap for
Cambodia. The first step is to define a vision and goals for the digital sector in Cambodia for
the next eight years. This includes identifying the essential technologies required to develop
the sector globally and contribute to the growth of the national economy. The second step
involves conducting an environmental analysis that considers social, technological, economic,
environmental, and political concerns. This analysis will help identify drivers, opportunities,
and threats in the DigitalTech sector. In the third step, potential functions, strategic products,
and services are identified. The expert committees then score the priority products and services
to determine the final selection. The fourth step involves identifying key technologies that can
drive the DigitalTech Roadmap vision building for Cambodia. Again, the expert committees
rank the important technologies to choose the priority key technologies. Finally, a technology
roadmap is charted with timeframes ranging from short to long-term. This roadmap will
provide a clear and concise plan for the government, private sector, and academia to work
towards achieving the digital transformation goals of Cambodia with innovation as the
foundation.

These five steps provide a structured and systematic approach to developing a comprehensive
DigitalTech Roadmap for Cambodia. By following these steps, Cambodia can create a thriving
digital ecosystem that benefits all its citizens and contributes to the country's economic and
social development.

17
 Vision Building
1 - Vision
- Goal

Strategic Products/Services
Environmental Analysis - Identified candidate
2 - Trends/Drivers
- Opportunities/Threats
3 strategic products/services
- Prioritised strategic
products/services

Key Technology
- Identified key
Charting Technology
5 Roadmap 4 technologies
- Identified prioritised
key technologies

Figure 4: National DigitalTech Roadmap development process

18
5. DigitalTech Roadmap Development

5.1. Vision and Goal

Vision:
To induce DigitalTech to enhance productivity and efficiency and to bring about innovation
for socioeconomic development.
Goals:
1) Leverage digital literacy and IT skills as a foundation for human capital development;
2) Diversify digital infrastructure in national innovation system for priority sectors; and
3) Build vibrant ecosystem through connectivity within digital and physical spaces.

5.2. Environment Analysis

The use of STEEP analysis to identify drivers of DigitalTech is a useful approach to

understanding the broader societal and environmental factors that can influence the adoption
and diffusion of digital technologies. Table 2 outlines how the vision and goals are aligned
with the environmental drivers, opportunities, and threats.

Specifically, one of the key factors to consider in the environmental analysis is the social
environment. Social factors are crucial in achieving the vision of promoting economic growth
and development as well as ensuring equality and inclusivity in society. The level of digital
literacy and the acceptance of DigitalTech in society can impact the adoption and success of
the vision. Furthermore, it is critical to consider how digital technologies impact employment
and societal norms. Youth, employment, skills development, adequate skills and understanding
of the benefits of technology, increased participation of women, advanced knowledge of digital
skills in rural areas, and lifelong learning opportunities for all age groups are among the drivers
identified by experts, providing policymakers and stakeholders with valuable insights in
promoting sustainable and inclusive development.

Additionally, the technological environment is influenced by a range of factors, including

mobile and internet technologies, e-commerce, artificial intelligence, research and
development, infrastructure and accessibility, and grid development to support technology
adoption. The availability of digital infrastructure and access to technology can impact the
ability to achieve the vision. For instance, regions with better internet connectivity and

19
advanced digital infrastructure are likely to be more successful in leveraging DigitalTech to
enhance productivity and efficiency.

In analysing the situation, it is essential to consider the economic environment. The drivers of
economic growth, which have been extensively discussed, include the emergence of tech start-
ups, increased foreign investments, the proliferation of digital businesses, the advent of e-
banking and e-payment systems, greater access to funding for innovation and new technology
solutions, expanded possibilities for connecting with investors, and the availability of funding
opportunities from government and international organisations. All of these factors play a
crucial role in shaping the economic environment of a DigitalTech Roadmap, and should be
taken into account when developing a strategy for its implementation.

Environmental factors should not be overlooked in the analysis. The environmental impact of
DigitalTech, including its carbon footprint, waste generation, and resource depletion, should
be considered. While DigitalTech has the potential to enhance productivity and efficiency, it
can also contribute to environmental degradation. Therefore, sustainable practices must be
incorporated into the use of DigitalTech.

Political factors such as government policies, regulations, and political stability also affect the
investment in and adoption of DigitalTech. Governments can create an enabling environment
by implementing policies that promote the adoption of DigitalTech. Some of the key political
factors that can influence the digital sector are:
 Policies and Legal Frameworks: The government's policies and legal frameworks
related to DigitalTech can have a significant impact on the industry's growth and
success. Examples of such policies and frameworks include the National Policy on STI
2020-2030, Cambodia Digital Economy and Society Policy Framework 2021-2035,
Cambodia’s STI Roadmap 2030, and the National Research Agenda 2025.
 Stable Political Situation and Supportive Political Environment: A stable political
situation and supportive political environment that encourages the development and
adoption of DigitalTech can attract investors and create a conducive business
environment.

20
  Transparent and Clear Legislation: Clear and transparent legislation related to
DigitalTech can provide clarity for investors and reduce uncertainty. This legislation
can cover areas such as data protection, intellectual property, and cybersecurity.
 Benefits for Investors and Implementers of Tech Solutions: Governments can provide
benefits and incentives for investors and implementers of tech solutions to encourage
investment in DigitalTech. Examples of such benefits include tax support, legal
support, and other financial incentives.
 Digital Government Tools and Opportunities: Digital government tools and
opportunities that ensure easy and fast services for citizens can create demand for
DigitalTech and encourage its adoption. Such tools include e-government services,
online platforms, and digital identity verification systems.

Consequently, environmental analysis is essential to consider the opportunities and threats in

the external environment, including technological, economic, social, political, environmental,
and legal factors. The group discussions were held among stakeholders to identify opportunities
and threats, as shown in Table 2. By doing so, appropriate strategies can be developed to align
the vision with the external environment and ultimately achieve the desired results.

21
 Table 2: Vision, goals and opportunities and threats of DigitalTech in Cambodia

Vision “To induce DigitalTech to enhance productivity and efficiency, and to bring about innovation for socioeconomic development”

1. Leverage digital literacy and IT skills as a foundation for human capital development
Goals 2. Diversify digital infrastructure in national innovation system for priority sectors
3. Build vibrant ecosystem through connectivity within digital and physical spaces

Social: Technological: Economical: Environmental: Political:

 Youth  Mobile and internet reach  Tech start-up  Land and natural  Policies and legal
 Employment  E-commerce  Foreign resources frameworks (e.g.,
 Skill development  Artificial Intelligence investment  Climate change DES, STI roadmap,
 Sufficient skills  Internet  Digital Business  Environmental etc.)
and understanding  Research and Development  E-banking sustainability  Stable political
of the benefits of  Infrastructure and  E-payment situation and
technology accessibility for everyone  Access to funding supportive political
 Increase female  Close the gap between rural to support environment that
participation and urban areas in innovation and encourage
Drivers

 Advance accessing technology new technology DigitalTech

knowledge of  Ensure access to affordable solutions  Transparent and
digital skills in devices  More possibilities clear legislation
rural areas  Grid development to connect with  Benefits for
 Offer life-long investors investors and
learning  Funding implementers of
opportunities for all opportunities tech solutions such
groups, including from government as tax support, legal
elderly people and international support, and others
 Include people with organisations  Digital government
disabilities tools and
opportunities that

22
 ensure easy and fast
services for citizens

Opportunities Threats
 Higher youth population (2/3 under 35)  Limited technology training/awareness to the youth
 High demand with high salary in the market  Availability of skilled workforce
 
Opportunities & Threats

Many services providers Lack of infrastructure and quality of services

 Higher adoption starting from banking sector  Consumer protection
 Higher adoption and innovation  Lack of investment and sustainability
 Open economy, higher attraction to investors, cheap labour  Sanctions (EBA withdrawal)
 Abundant resource availability  Climate change with low resilience among local people
 Many endorsements and drafting from all related ministries  Awareness to public, implementation, and investment
 Youth learn fast and are tech-savvy  Security
 Larger number of users  Customer security
 Technology aspect, founding  Protection, ethic of AI using, too fast development of technology
 Strong Collaboration (ASEAN and Mekong Country)

23
5.3. Products and Services

After conducting an environmental analysis of the DigitalTech Roadmap, a set of strategic

products and services have been identified as key drivers for the success of the DigitalTech
sector. These strategic products and services are digital devices, internet infrastructure, a
national data centre, STEM/Digital education, digital re-skilling/upskilling, online
business platforms, public awareness events, and centres of excellence. According to
experts and consultants, the identified products and services have been specifically designed to
cater to the needs of businesses, consumers, and society as a whole. It has been determined that
each of these products and services is vital for achieving the vision of inducing DigitalTech to
enhance productivity and efficiency and bring about innovation for socioeconomic
development.

Digital devices and internet infrastructure are critical components for enabling connectivity
and access to information, which are fundamental for the functioning of the DigitalTech sector.
The online business platform streamlines the process of starting a business and supports the
development of e-commerce. STEM/Digital education and digital re-skilling/upskilling are
designed to promote the growth and development of skilled workers in the DigitalTech sector,
which are essential for the sector's sustainability and competitiveness. Public awareness events
help to promote awareness and understanding of the sector, which is essential for attracting
investors, customers, and skilled workers. The national data centre and centre of excellence
support the development and implementation of innovative DigitalTech by providing research
and development support, testing and evaluation services, and training and education
programmes. These facilities provide a reliable and secure environment for data storage,
processing, and analysis. The centre of excellence is a hub for innovation, research, and
development that supports the creation of new digital products and services.

While the above strategic products and services were identified as essential for the success of
the DigitalTech sector, other strategic products and services were also considered in group
discussions. These included decentralised financial systems, start-up support programmes,
free online educational resources in Khmer, consumer protection enforcement, and hardware
development centres. These products and services have the potential to significantly contribute
to the growth and development of the DigitalTech sector and should be given due consideration
in the implementation of the DigitalTech Roadmap. Decentralised financial systems can drive

24
financial inclusion and provide alternative payment systems that are secure and efficient. Start-
up support programmes can provide essential resources and support to entrepreneurs and start-
ups, promoting innovation and entrepreneurship. Free online educational resources in Khmer
can provide individuals with access to high-quality education and training resources, enabling
them to acquire the skills needed to succeed in the digital economy. Consumer protection
enforcement is important to building trust and confidence in the DigitalTech industry and
ensuring that consumers are protected from fraud and abuse. Hardware development centres
can drive innovation in hardware design, enabling the development of cutting-edge
technologies and products that can drive growth and development in the DigitalTech sector.

The strategic products and services identified through this environmental analysis provide a
solid foundation for the growth and development of the DigitalTech sector. However, it is
essential to continuously monitor and update these products and services to keep up with the
fast-changing digital landscape. Moreover, it is crucial to take into consideration the
interdependencies among these products and services and to create an ecosystem that supports
their development and implementation.

5.4. Key Technologies

Based on the strategic products and services, the groups then proceeded to propose key
technologies that would be essential for the development of the aforementioned strategic
products and services. The highest-scoring key technologies were for Cybersecurity, 5G,
Automation Systems, Big Data, AI and Machine Learning, Computer Software, Wi-Fi
6/7, and Cloud Computing. The evaluation criteria for these technologies are indicated in
Table 3 and Figure 5. The significance of these key technologies either implied their role in
developing the identified strategic products and services or their utility in relation to the
strategic products and services. As such, it would be beneficial to explore their complementary
nature in the context of Cambodia. Rather than striving to leverage the most advanced
technologies, each nation should evaluate its current stage of technical capacity and implement
its digital transformation strategy in a feasible and practical manner.

Specifically, Table 3 reveals important insights regarding the evaluation of various

technologies based on their importance and feasibility scores. AI & Machine Learning (T1),
Cloud Technology (T5), IoT (T7), and Cybersecurity (T8) emerge as the most promising

25
technologies, with high scores for both importance and feasibility indicating its significant
value and practicality. Big Data (T2) received a high importance score, indicating its
significance, but its feasibility score was relatively low, suggesting potential challenges in its
implementation. 5G (T9) and Wi-Fi 6/7 (T10) share the same score of 7/10, suggesting
moderate importance and feasibility. Although both technologies have potential, there may be
some limitations or obstacles to their implementation. Other technologies, like Quantum
Computing (T4) rank relatively lower with a score of 5/10, indicating moderate importance but
low feasibility. The practical implementation of this technology is challenging and may require
further advancements.

Table 3: Evaluation of Technologies

Evaluation Criteria
Technologies Code Sum
Importance Feasibility

AI & Machine Learning T1 5/5 5/5 10/10

Big Data T2 5/5 2/5 7/10

Blockchain T3 4/5 5/5 9/10

Quantum Computing T4 4/5 1/5 5/10

Cloud Technology T5 5/5 5/5 10/10

AR/VR T6 3/5 3/5 6/10

IoT T7 5/5 4/5 9/10

Cybersecurity T8 5/5 4/5 9/10

5G T9 4/5 3/5 7/10

Wi-Fi 6/7 T10 3/5 4/5 7/10

26
 Figure 5: Importance and Feasibility of Technologies

5.5. Charting

The chart, is illustrated in Figure 6, indicates the relations between vision, direction, strategic
products/services, and key technologies, based on the workshop findings and group consensus.
Strategic products/services and key technologies are ranked from highest to lowest score, from
top to bottom. In addition, it shows the evolution of thought from the established vision,
breaking into clear and concise components to be considered and implemented. As observed
through the chart, many of the components overlap, showing their heavily interconnected
nature. In order to avoid confusion, implementing agencies should explore each individual
relation in detail, as its implications may vary from case to case.

27
 Vision Direction Strategic Products Key Technologies

Mobile Devices
IoT

Digital 5G
Infrastructure Digital Devices Cybersecurity
Wi-Fi 6/7

To induce digital Internet Infrastructure Computer Software

technology to AI & Machine Learning
enhance
productivity and National Data Center Big Data
efficiency, and to Automation System
bring about
Digital Literacy STEM/Digital Robotics
innovation for
socio-economic Education Cloud Computing
development
Parallel Processing
Digital Re- National Language
skilling/Upskilling Processing
Program
Blockchain
Online Business Platform E-Learning Platform
Vibrant
Ecosystem AR/VR
E-Commerce
Chatbot

Figure 6: Matching of Vision, Direction, Strategic Products, and Key Technologies.

28
 Vision: To induce digital technology to enhance productivity and efficiency, and to bring about innovation for socio-economic development

Digital Infrastructure Digital Literacy Vibrant Ecosystem

Short (∼2024) Medium (∼2027) Long (∼2030)
(P, G)
Mobile Devices
Digital Devices IoT
(R&D, IC, P)

(P, G)
5G
(G, P, IC)
Cybersecurity
Internet (P)
Infrastructure Wi-Fi 6/7
(P, R&D)
Computer Software
(R&D, P, G)
AI & Machine Learning
National Data (G,P, R&D, IC)
Center Big Data
(P, R&D, G)
Automation System
(P, R&D)
Robotics
STEM/Digital (P, G)
Education Cloud Computing
(P)
Parallel Processing
Digital Re- National Language Processing
(R&D, P, G)

skilling/Upskill Blockchain
(P, G, R&D)

ing Program (G, P, IC)

E-Learning Platform
Online AR/VR
(P)

Business (P, G)
E-Commerce
Platform (P)
Chatbot
(G, R&D, IC)
Center of Excellence
(G, P, IC)
Public Awareness Events
Strategic importance
R&D: Research and Development; G: Government support; P: Private lead; IC: International
collaboration
Figure 7: Roadmap of Key Technology Supporting Strategic Product/Function (2023-2030).

29
Figure 7 depicts the most visual strategic activities and key technologies to be adopted for this
DigitalTech Roadmap with the vision to induce DigitalTech to enhance productivity and
efficiency, and to bring about innovation for the socioeconomic development of Cambodia.
Building digital infrastructure, digital literacy, and a vibrant ecosystem are central to achieving
not only this roadmap’s vision but also transforming the digital economy and society, which is
also in line with the national digital policy framework. To actually realise this endeavour,
efforts must be collectively, from all key relevant stakeholders, paid towards leveraging, if not
bringing about structural changes, to the key products and services identified in the previous
session, including digital devices, Internet infrastructure, a national data centre, STEM/digital
education, digital reskilling and upskilling programmes, and online business platforms,
illustrated at the left of the charting roadmap. In tandem with the strategic products and
services, the complementary key technologies, colour-coded in terms of strategic importance
from light to dark blue, over short-, medium-, and long-term timeframes are then outlined for
the implementing agencies, referring to this roadmap, to implement their digital transformation
strategies within the specific timeline indicated in the chart, incrementally. With hindsight,
Cambodia shall promote the utilisation of digital devices, including mobile devices such as
personal computers, tablets or smart phones, in the short term, as they are the prerequisite to
enabling digital transformation to occur. In the medium to long term, the IoT can fully harness
the existing digital devices available. For the Internet infrastructure, cybersecurity stands at the
forefront among others. Cambodia shall commit to strengthening its security capacity over the
Internet and cyberspace as a whole. Wi-Fi 6/7 shall provide benefits in the medium term to
enable reliable and high-speed internet connections and big data transfers in various
applications. In the meantime, Cambodia shall have enough capabilities to develop computer
software embedded with the latest technologies, including AI, big data, and machine learning,
all of which are strategically important over the medium to long run as these technologies have
the potential to leverage automation and robotics for a wide range of applications ranging from
manufacturing to the service sector. Natural language processing is also a crucial technology
as it enables the ability to analyse data in local languages. To utilise the full potential of these
technologies, establishing a national data centre must be the direction that Cambodia shall
pursue. STEM, digital education, and digital upskilling and reskilling programmes shall be in
place for leveraging digital literacy amongst Cambodian citizens, as they could lay a firm

30
foundation and make a path for digitally enabled society. E-learning platforms and technology
such as VR/AR could provide an immersive experience to students on an equitable basis,
meaning no one is left behind for the opportunity to access a high-quality education. Last but
not least, online business platforms, including e-commerce platforms, shall be promoted in
Cambodian society as they could, to some extent, enhance the vibrant digital business
ecosystem, which in turn would accelerate the adoption of digital nationwide in their
production lines and businesses for the business sector and in their daily lives for citizens.

Digital has the potential to transform the economy and society due to its invasive nature in
many sectors. However, it is merely a tool if not fully utilised. Raising awareness about digital
among firms, manufacturers, or service providers shall be ceaselessly promoted by building
trust and the right perception of digital. Many firms in Cambodia have the perception that
digital adoption is difficult and expensive. It might be true, but compared to the benefits it
provides in return, digital adoption is truly a must for firms and citizens to stay competitive and
relevant. Due to the fast changes in digital and technology as a whole, centres of excellence or
research-intensive centres on digital must be established to keep strengthening the digital
capacity of the country.

31
6. Conclusion and Recommendations

6.1. Conclusion

The vision of inducing DigitalTech to enhance productivity and efficiency, and to bring about
innovation for socioeconomic development is a powerful and forward-thinking aspiration. This
vision sets the stage for a transformative journey that prioritises leveraging digital literacy and
IT skills as a foundation for human capital development. By focusing on diversifying digital
infrastructure in the national innovation system for priority sectors and building a vibrant
ecosystem through connectivity within digital and physical spaces, this vision aims to create a
thriving digital ecosystem.

To achieve these goals, a range of strategic products and services have been identified,
including digital devices, Internet infrastructure, a national data centre, STEM/digital
education, digital re-skilling/upskilling programmes, online business platforms, public
awareness events, and centres of excellence. These offerings play a crucial role in supporting
the vision and goals by providing the necessary tools, resources, and platforms to foster
innovation, connectivity, and digital transformation.

Furthermore, key technologies have been recognised as the driving force behind the realisation
of this vision. Cybersecurity, 5G, automation systems, big data, AI and machine learning,
computer software, Wi-Fi 6/7, and cloud computing emerged as the highest-scoring
technologies. These technologies serve as the backbone of the digital ecosystem, ensuring
secure and efficient operations, enabling advanced data processing and analysis, and
facilitating seamless connectivity.

By aligning the vision, goals, strategic services/products, and key technologies, the pathway to
achieving a digitally empowered society becomes clear. The focus on human capital
development, diverse infrastructure, vibrant ecosystems, and cutting-edge technologies will
undoubtedly propel societies towards increased productivity, efficiency, and innovation. As we
embrace the digital age, it is through such visionary approaches that we can create a better
future for all, fostering socioeconomic development on a global scale.

32
In conclusion, this roadmap does not aim to compete with or contradict other existing strategies
or policy frameworks, but rather to complement and provide support from different
perspectives, with the ultimate goal of contributing to Cambodia’s digital economy, society,
and government.

6.2. Recommendations

DigitalTech will undoubtedly continue to play a vital role in the development of Cambodia’s
digital economy, society, and government in the coming years. Pre-COVID, the Kingdom’s
economic growth showed no signs of slowing down, boasting one of the highest GDP growth
rates in the region. Fast forward to today, and Cambodia has shifted towards the integration of
digital applications and platforms into everyday life. In terms of digital adoption, the Kingdom
has leapfrogged years ahead, out of necessity and survival. This forced acceleration has
enhanced Cambodia’s post-COVID economic recovery, which relies heavily on improved
interconnectivity and efficiency.

At the individual level, citizens have become consumers of technology on a daily basis. In the
long run, this will progressively contribute to improving the digital literacy of the population,
correspondingly raising the level of market education with regards to DigitalTech applications.
This societal shift will contribute to increasing the overall productivity and efficiency of the
nation, from the bottom-up. Furthermore, exposure to digital platforms might inspire the next
generation of Cambodians to pursue tech-related careers, as IT and digital skills grow more in-
demand to meet the industrial needs of the Kingdom. From an organisational perspective, there
is often a requirement of leadership, human capital, and infrastructure, to implement digital
transformation. First, leaders with general management skills and experience are often
intimidated by IT-related work, as it seems overly technical and outside their field of expertise.
Moreover, IT professionals typically lack the leadership or soft skills to effectively manage an
IT department within an organisation. As such, this dilemma creates gaps in knowledge and
experience in bringing both technical and non-technical team members together on the same
page. Second, there is a general shortage of IT human capital, which makes it challenging for
organisations to fully leverage the potential of DigitalTech. Although there has been an
increased focus on STEM and ICT education at the national level, reaping these benefits will
take significant time. In the meantime, there is natural competition for IT human capital
between organisations. This often leads to staff poaching and high turnover, which, in the long

33
term, is unsustainable and counter-productive at both organisational and national levels. Third,
core IT infrastructure is essential for any large-scale digital transformation. However, the
relatively high cost of IT infrastructure is often a limitation for organisations. The budget
allocation for more traditional infrastructure or equipment usually outweighs that for IT
infrastructure. Furthermore, organisations would require additional technical expertise to
manage, maintain, and utilise them properly.

As the entire society pushes forward in the digital era at the individual, organisational, and
national levels, policymakers will be responsible for establishing the overall vision, goals,
strategic products and services, key technologies, and policy recommendations in the context
of a national DigitalTech strategy. Hence, this DigitalTech Roadmap has been developed under
the co-design and develop and multi-stakeholders’ mechanisms, contextualised by the domain
expertise from various sectors, including government agencies, universities and research
institutions, the private sector and literature reviews conducted by the consulting team. The
vision of this roadmap is “to induce DigitalTech to enhance productivity and efficiency, and to
bring about innovation for socioeconomic development” with the goals consisting of
leveraging digital literacy and IT skills, building a sound digital infrastructure, and developing
a vibrant ecosystem enabling digital business in the country. To this end, contextual analysis
has been conducted to identify opportunities and threats taking into account Social,
Technological, Economic, Environmental, and Political aspects, namely STEEP analysis.
Strategic products and services were then derived based on a consensus-building framework.
Key technologies were introduced with consideration of their strategic importance, economic
impact, and potential for success within a certain timeframe.

This DigitalTech Roadmap lays out the DigitalTech adoption strategy to guide all relevant
ministries and key stakeholders in the ecosystem to take their respective roles in order to
achieve the goal of inducing DigitalTech to enhance productivity and efficiency, and to bring
about innovation for socioeconomic development, and subsequently transfer Cambodia to a
digital economy and society. Below are some recommendations for relevant organisations in
Cambodia to implement their respective digital transformation strategies:

i. Appoint Transformational Leaders at the organisational level do not necessarily need

to have technical expertise in IT. Digital transformation is not purely technical but rather
about culture, the workforce, and technology as a whole. For top-level leadership, digital
34
 literacy is more important than IT expertise. The key leadership characteristic to stimulate
any transformation is to inspire and motivate a team to shift in terms of mindset and
behaviour.

ii. Invest in IT Human Capital

All organisations expect digital transformation, but this responsibility is often dumped on a
limited IT team that is understaffed and/or underpaid. There is no clear distinction between
digital transformation and IT support, which leaves most IT staff overwhelmed with routine
support tasks such as setting up computers, fixing printers, and setting up online meetings. As
such, organisations must invest in sufficient IT human capital with diverse expertise and clear
roles in networking, data, security, development, support, etc. If digital transformation is truly
the top priority of an organisation, the budget allocation towards IT human capital should
reflect that accordingly.

iii. Invest in IT Infrastructure

Budget allocations for IT infrastructure should not be seen as costs or expenses but as crucial
investments. In order to maximise the utilisation of DigitalTech applications, organisations
must first build a strong foundation in terms of network, servers, databases, cloud, applications,
etc. Limited financial resources are often an obstacle to investing in IT infrastructure.
Therefore, organisations should develop short-, medium-, and long-term budget strategies to
plan and prioritise IT infrastructure investment in terms of fundamental importance.

iv. Utilise Science, Technology & Innovation

STI contributes to the development of not only the digitally related sector but also society as a
whole. They provide solutions to problems, create the scientific knowledge of humankind on
natural and societal phenomena, create new products and services to tackle the societal
challenges, and improve the quality of life of individuals and the whole community.

v. Keep Update Digital Strategies and Policies

Digital is known to change very fast from generation to generation. The government and
policymakers do not have luxurious time to wait 2 or 3 ways to roll out the policies and
strategies. Digital strategies and policies at the organisational and national level need to be
timely and highly relevant and be able to keep up with this change before those technologies
become obsolete.
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 vi. Enhance Education and Training System on Digital
Education and training on digital shall be consistently promoted to effectively respond to the
fast changes of digital and to avoid the negative impacts posed by digital transformation
strategies. Reskilling and upskilling schemes shall be in place to ensure sustainable and
inclusive development and guarantee that no one is left behind.

vii. Promote collaboration and networking

Collaboration and networking are essential for success in many sectors, especially in the digital
ecosystem. Enhancing collaboration and networking among key actors in the ecosystem will
ensure the building of a vibrant digital ecosystem in Cambodia. Effective collaboration and
networking require a genuine interest in others, a willingness to learn, and a commitment to
building relationships over the long term.

36
References

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Asia and the Pacific. Retrieved from https://www.adb.org/publications/asian-
economic-integration-report-2021
Chan, S. & Ngorn, C. (2021). Digital challenges and opportunities for agricultural Input
suppliers in Cambodia: Implications for the Cambodian economy. Centre for Policy
Studies.
ECLAC. (2021). Digital technologies for a new future (LC/TS.2021/43). Retrieved from
Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean:
https://www.cepal.org/sites/default/files/publication/files/46817/S2000960_en.pdf
Katuu, S. (2022). Management of public sector records in the digital age. Workshop hosted by
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Liberatore, A., Avendano, R., & Cho, W. H. . (2022). Trends in Digital Services Trade in
Asia and the Pacific. In Unlocking the Potential of Digital Services Trade n Asia and
the Pacific (p. 10). Asian Development Bank.
McKinsey, C. &. (2022). McKinsey Technology Trends Outlook 2022. Retrieved from
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gital/our%20insights/the%20top%20trends%20in%20tech%202022/mckinsey-tech-
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content/uploads/2022/09/Rectangular-Strategy-Phase-IV.pdf
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Annex1: Committee Members

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Annex 2: Visions and Goals

Visions Goals

 Minimise the digital device

 Public service digitalisation
1. A digitally literate society  Digitalisation in the rural areas
and economy by 2035 or 2030  More contribution from the private sector
 Cyber security and data protection
 Inclusion of digital curriculum in all schools

 Build infrastructure and connectivity

2. Increasing the  Increase digital literacy
productivity and connectivity  Research & Development
 Entrepreneurship and Innovation

3. DigitalTech that is
 Evolution: positive evolution for digital
relevant locally and competitive
citizens, digital government, and digital
internationally, dynamic and
business
adaptive to the changing world,
 Inclusion: inclusion for everyone in digital
and focused on the positive
era: elderly, rural, people with disabilities and
impact for the country and the
female
people (relevant and
 Knowledge hub: focus on skills and access
competitive, dynamic and
to technology to support tech advancement for
adaptive, bringing positive
everyone
impact)

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Annex 3: Strategic Products/ Services Scores

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Annex 4: Key Technologies Scores
To induce DigitalTech to enhance productivity and efficiency, and to bring about innovation for socioeconomic development

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