AKP Phnom Penh, October 10, 2025 --

Cambodia’s Committee on Science, Technology and Innovation (COSTI) and its nine sub-committees convened here on Oct. 9 to discuss progress and strengthen collaboration in aligning national priorities with ASEAN's 2035 Vision.

Held at the Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology & Innovation (MISTI), COSTI Cambodia reaffirmed science, technology and innovation (STI) as a key pillar for national and regional growth.

Presiding over the meeting, H.E. Dr. Hul Seingheng, Under Secretary of State of MISTI and Chairman of Cambodia's COSTI, emphasised the importance of Cambodia’s collective commitment to ASEAN.

“This 7th COSTI Cambodia meeting demonstrates our collective commitment and active engagement in advancing science, technology and innovation as an essential foundation for the ongoing development of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC),” he said.

A central topic of the meeting was the dissemination and promotion of the recently ratified ASEAN Plan of Action on Science, Technology and Innovation (APASTI) 2026–2035, which was adopted at AMMSTI-21 in Jakarta.

According to MISTI, this new 10-year plan provides strategic guidance for the region and is grounded in the vision of “An integrated ASEAN powered by STI, fostering seamless collaboration and global competitiveness.”

The APASTI 2026–2035 highlights Cambodia’s commitment through national initiatives aimed at advancing a resilient STI ecosystem. Cambodia's involvement will be crucial in promoting strategic areas such as space, health, food, energy, AI, and technology transfer to enhance regional competitiveness.

Additionally, the meeting agenda featured presentations from the Secretariat on the outcomes of AMMSTI-21 and COSTI-87 sessions, as well as progress updates and project proposals from the nine Sub-Committees. A detailed overview of the procedures and mechanisms governing the ASEAN Science, Technology and Innovation Fund (ASTIF) was also provided.

H.E. Dr. Seingheng urged all members of the committee and sub-committees to strengthen coordination, emphasizing the importance of cohesive national efforts and active participation to achieve common STI goals.

AKP-MISTI