AKP Phnom Penh, April 29, 2025 --

Samdech Maha Rathsapheathika Thipadei Khuon Sudary, President of the National Assembly (NA) of Cambodia, delivered an opening address at a high-level public forum on the “Review and Analysis of Functions and Organisational Structures within Ministries and Institutions” held this morning at the NA Palace.

The forum brought together around 300 key members from the legislative and executive branches.

In her opening remarks, Samdech Khuon Sudary underlined the urgency of comprehensive public sector reforms in the face of intensifying global headwinds, such as geopolitical tensions, economic fragmentation, declining multilateralism, increasing public expectations, fiscal pressures, and rapid technological disruptions.

“Public sector reforms and transformations are no longer a choice — they are a matter of national survival and success,” she stressed.

The NA President emphasised that the forum was taking place at a critical juncture, aligning with the government’s ongoing implementation of the Pentagonal Strategy. While commending progress thus far, she noted that continuous modernisation is necessary to meet the evolving needs of Cambodian citizens.

Samdech Khuon Sudary lauded the reformist leadership of Deputy Prime Minister Hun Many and acknowledged the achievements made under his stewardship, stating her confidence in the government’s ability to deliver further concrete outcomes.

“The transformative leadership with a reformist and growth mindset of our public servants, especially under H.E. Hun Many, has laid a solid foundation. I am confident more progress is on the way,” she said to applause.

Focusing on the importance of institutional effectiveness, she called for more professional data collection and evidence-based policymaking to drive efficient, accountable governance. She advocated for leadership development programmes that would empower public service leaders to anticipate and respond to both current and future challenges.

The NA President further stressed the importance of inter-ministerial collaboration, stating that building a shared vision, mission, and values system is essential to fostering a “teamwork spirit” across government institutions.

Addressing functional overlaps within ministries, Samdech Khuon Sudary called for clearer delineation of roles and responsibilities, which she said would reinforce meritocracy, fairness, justice, and overall productivity in the public service.

In this regard, she expressed full support for the Ministry of Civil Service’s Action Plan 2024-2028, which outlines strategic objectives for reform, particularly in enhancing civil servant performance and introducing performance-based incentives.

“Our reform journey is about unity and solidarity — not division or polarization,” she affirmed. “Justice and fairness must be the foundation of institutional performance and internal harmony.”

Samdech President urged institutional leaders to embrace diversity, agility, and inclusion in their leadership teams to adapt to an increasingly complex environment.

The forum is expected to contribute valuable inputs for refining government organisational structures and strengthening institutional capacity as Cambodia continues its journey toward becoming a high-performing, citizen-centric state.

By Chea Vannak