Bangkok (FN), Apr. 22 – Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet stated that Cambodia has actively involved in other ASEAN digital initiatives, particularly the preparation of the “ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA)”, a framework aimed to provide a strategic and comprehensive regional approach to promote timely and inclusive digitalisation in the region.

The premier delivered a special address on Monday (Apr. 22) at the high-level opening of the eightieth session of the UN-ESCAP in Bangkok.

Samdech Thipadei underlined that in global and regional context, Cambodia has been proactively engaging in digital policy agenda to achieve global and regional digital development goals, including the “ASEAN Digital Masterplan 2025” and the UN’s “Digital Strategy 2022- 2025”.

The implementation of this framework will expand the size of ASEAN digital economy from USD 1 trillion to USD 2 trillion by 2030. In addition, ASEAN has already considered digital economy as a priority chapter in various agreements such as the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Area (AANZFTA), and ASEAN-China Free Trade Area (ACFTA 3.0), and Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), the premier added.

On the occasion, Samdech Thipadei continued that Cambodia, ASEAN and the Asia-Pacific region have made significant progress in digitalization over the last few years. However, we still face some challenges, including digital gap between countries, and between cities and rural areas, the lack of infrastructure and the access to quality internet service, the limited level of digital literacy of the people, the lack of adoption and implementation of digital technology, digital trading and services, cyber security and cybercrime.
=FRESH NEWS