A new website dedicated to serving readers' cravings for the essential progress of Cambodia’s digital economy has been officially launched by Meta (formerly Facebook) and Open Development Cambodia (ODC).

The Digital Economy Portal (DEP), accessible in both Khmer and English, launched last week at Phnom Penh’s Hyatt Regency and features indicators for digital government, citizens, and businesses. It also chronicles reports, sub-decrees, prakas, and laws released by Cambodian ministries. In the digital entrepreneurship of the DEP’s resource hub, there is a Law on E-commerce, with more to come, that are available to download.

Digital Economy Portal: www.dep.kh Photo: Kry Sosereybot

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Meta’s public policy manager, Dr. Heng Pheakdey, told the audience that the global tech company’s presence in Cambodia has contributed to a Covid-19 information center in Khmer and blood donation in Khmer. In operation in Cambodia since 2019, Meta has also developed community standards and a community safety guidebook in Khmer as its social networking platform Facebook is among the most popular in Cambodia.

At the workshop on Cambodia’s Digital Economy and Business Web Portals. Photo: supplied

Meta’s Cambodian representative said the global tech company’s work in the Kingdom is to contribute to Cambodia’s digital economy and society policy framework 2021-2035. To support this goal, Cambodia-based Meta has been involved in capacity building, community support, and policy insights with its tech products and services (Facebook, Messenger, Instagram, and more).

Advisory experts in the Meta-funded-initiative are from the Ministry of Post and Telecommunication, Ministry of Economy and Finance, UNDP, and Cambodia Academy for Digital Technology. Leading and running the newly-launched DEP is ODC, a Cambodian NGO known for its open data hub.

As the country is executing the Cambodia Digital Government Policy 2022-2035 to “improve the people’s quality of life and build trust among the people through better public service provision”, the DEP.kh publishes information and content on the Cambodian digital economy. ODC director, Thy Try, said the new website is aimed at “policymakers, researchers, businesses, and civil society”.

In addition to Meta’s sponsored-DEP, Dr. Kong Marry, Under Secretary of State of the Ministry of Economy and Finance, also urged the Cambodian public to use more content on The Digital Economy and Business Committee website (www.digitaleconomy.gov.kh), the business platform (www.business.gov.kh), startup Cambodia platform (www.startupcambodia.gov.kh), and the E-Commerce project (Go4eCam).