Minister of Posts and Telecommunications Chea Vandeth on February 24 encouraged budding digital entrepreneurs to register for licences and receive technical support, training and “encouragement” from the ministry.
The minister made the remark at a meeting held at the ministry that discussed a draft sub-decree on the “management and encouragement” of new digital businesses.
He said the meeting sought to determine the mechanisms, rules and procedures concerning recognition, encouragement, facilitation and training for new digital businesses.
These, he said, will promote entrepreneurship and innovation in the fields of telecommunications and information and communication technology (ICT) and foster the creation of businesses that serve to develop the digital socioeconomic ecosystem.
“The draft sub-decree also encourages those wishing to apply for recognition as a digital business to submit an application to the ministry free of service fees,” Vandeth said.
He said the draft legislation would encourage new high-potential digital businesses to register and fulfil their obligations in accordance with applicable laws so that they may continue to run and expand their businesses.
“I hope that through this draft sub-decree, newly-established digital businesses will help promote entrepreneurial development and innovation in the fields of telecommunications and [ICT] in Cambodia through to fruition,” Vandeth said.
Super App Technology Plc founder Path Chamnan noted that the government as of late had shifted its focus on the concepts of digital government and the creation of digital citizens.
“Government encouragement will help us grow our businesses faster and the private sector will be all the more confident in pursuing our mission to further develop the digital business scene,” he said.
Chamnan stressed the importance of cooperation between the state and the private sector in promoting national economic growth against the backdrop of the digital-driven industry 4.0.
“In the modern technological age, the use of digital industry 4.0 methods in business will hasten economic growth more than heavy industry could, and the development of digital businesses will help promote national products to a wider international market,” he said.
The government is also drafting a 2021-2035 policy framework for Cambodia’s evolving digital socioeconomic environment that optimally facilitates economic growth, according to a recent press release.
The framework focuses on five major priorities – developing digital infrastructure, fostering digital trust and confidence, creating digital citizens, building the digital government and promoting digital businesses.
The release said the framework is designed to respond to the global trends of Industry 4.0 and the digital transformation that is taking place across regional economies and beyond, now more so than ever with Covid-19 underscoring their growing potential to propel development and economic growth.
It added that the framework sets forth a vision for building a vibrant digital economy and society by laying the foundations for digital adoption and transformation across society, businesses, people and the state to generate fresh economic growth momentum and promote social welfare under the “new normal” perspective.
