The National Assembly (NA) has approved a draft law to rename the Ministry of Industry and Handicraft to the Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology and Innovation to realise future potential in a broader range of sectors.
Chaired by NA president Heng Samrin, the 6th legislature was held on Friday. Present at the NA were Prime Minister Hun Sen, 118 legislative members and several government representatives.
A press release issued after the NA session said that based on discussions before the vote, the NA had unanimously approved the draft law.
The NA’s Commission on Legislation and Justice chairman, Pen Panha, led some discussions regarding the contents of the draft while Minister of Industry and Handicraft Cham Prasidh and his colleagues defended the need for the name change before the vote.
“The draft law is one that opens the way for the government to change the name of the Ministry of Industry and Handicraft to the Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology and Innovation.
“The change is being made to expand the potential of industries in Cambodia with a focus on keeping pace with today’s technology amid the advent of the Fourth Industrial Revolution,” the press release said.
A statement from Hun Sen said the Council of Ministers had approved the draft law, which consists of eight articles, during its session on February 27 and had forwarded it to the legislative body for review and approval.
“Articles 1 through 4 defines the name of the new ministry, its mission and the competency of the leadership.
“Article 5 outlines the legal framework and Article 6 identifies issues relating to the management and the leadership of the ministry.
“Articles 7 and 8 define the repeal of the law and the promulgation of the law respectively,” his statement said.
At Prasidh’s request, Hun Sen on January 25 approved the name change. A letter from the Council of Ministers sent to him on January 24 said besides the name change, the government had also approved amendments to the law regarding the ministry’s new functions.
The letter said the government had also agreed to create two new units, the General Department of Science, Technology and Innovation and the National Institute of Science, Technology and Innovation which will both be of a rank equivalent to a General Department.
“The units are not required to create new frameworks, but instead use existing frameworks in relation to work in science, technology and innovation,” the statement said.
