AKP Phnom Penh, September 19, 2025 --

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is preparing to expand its partnership with Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology & Innovation (MISTI), with four key areas of programme support proposed during a meeting between Minister Hem Vanndy and an ADB delegation led by Mr. Jose Antonio Tan III, Director at ADB’s Public Sector Management and Governance Sector Office, in Phnom Penh on Wednesday.

Building on the Trade and Competitiveness Programme, Subprogramme 3, which concludes in 2026, Minister Vanndy proposed future collaboration in: (1) strengthening national quality infrastructure, particularly Cambodia’s laboratories; (2) supporting Khmer Enterprise in scaling up MSMEs and startups; (3) enhancing national productivity to boost industrial competitiveness; and (4) supporting MISTI’s regulatory development and reforms.

Minister Vanndy emphasised the importance of aligning support with Cambodia’s industrial priorities. “As Cambodia approaches LDC graduation in 2029, we must not only strengthen government capacity but also build industries themselves, from standards to productivity reform and digital transformation,” he said.

ADB noted that these proposals provide clarity for refining its upcoming programmes and confirmed that the Bank is ready to work with MISTI and the government to move the initiatives forward.

AKP-MISTI