Legislation and Regulatory Framework Development in Cambodia

The Cambodian Government has embarked on a far-reaching transformation of its institutions and of its economy and society. This transformation is based on two major strategic frameworks:

• The Cambodia Digital Economy and Society Policy Framework (2021–2035)
• The Cambodia Digital Government Policy (2022–2035).

Implementing these two policies requires considerable effort by the relevant government bodies, in particular the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications (MPTC), which is spearheading the country’s digital transformation.

The project to support the development of legislation and the regulatory framework in Cambodia was designed to assist the MPTC in strengthening Cambodia’s legislative framework for the digital sector. The twofold aim of this technical and legal assistance programme is to (i) provide the country with a robust regulatory framework, based on best practices and international standards (particularly French and European ones), and (ii) ensure that the framework is appropriate for national realities and regional dynamics within ASEAN.

The programme was launched after several years of dialogue with Cambodian stakeholders to assess needs, identify the parties to be involved, and assess project feasibility.

The project to support legislation and regulatory framework development in Cambodia is helping to establish and develop a legislative framework for the development of a sustainable, people-focused digital government and digital economy in Cambodia.  

The activities carried out will primarily benefit the MPTC, which is responsible for the regulation, development and governance of digital technologies and information and communication systems.

More broadly, the project will contribute to capacity building across all relevant public institutions. It will foster a digital environment that is safer, more transparent and more attractive for citizens and economic stakeholders, with the aim of enhancing Cambodia’s attractiveness and supporting its national economic development.

The project will thus help to:

• strengthen the legal and regulatory framework governing the protection of personal data and establish the conditions needed to implement it;
• speed up the adoption of the ICT Act using a methodology based on experience in France and Europe; and
• strengthen the legal and strategic framework for the development of a human-focused digital government.

The Personal Data Protection Act is currently one of the Cambodian government’s digital legislative projects that has made the most headway. French expertise will assist the authorities in finalising the text and the process to adopt it.

In addition to this legislative support, our actions will help to make the law operational via:

• development of implementation mechanisms;
• institutional capacity building;
• awareness-raising targeting public authorities and the private sector; and
• support for stakeholders in taking ownership of the new legal framework, to ensure its long-term implementation.

This component is a key pillar of the project. Preparatory work is still at a preliminary stage, but its aim is to support the government in developing a comprehensive legislative framework for ICTs.

Drawing on experience from France, Europe and around the world, our support will help set out the principles, governance mechanisms and regulatory provisions needed to provide a framework for developing digital infrastructure, digital services, and their related uses. At the same time, it will promote innovation and economic competitiveness.

Cambodia has already received significant international support in the field of e-government, especially from the Republic of Korea. Building on these initiatives, the Government is seeking to strengthen the legal, regulatory and strategic aspects of its digital transformation.

We will therefore support the authorities in considering and setting out frameworks tailored to the challenges of public data governance, information system interoperability, digital services, government cloud infrastructure and digital inclusion.