សារគន្លឹះ / Key Messages:
- ការអនុវត្តគោលនយោបាយយុទ្ធសាស្ត្រដែលរួមបញ្ចូលគ្នានូវការអភិវឌ្ឍជំនាញវិស្វកម្ម ការពង្រឹងខ្សែចង្វាក់ផ្គត់ផ្គង់ក្នុងស្រុក និងទាក់ទាញការវិនិយោគផ្ទាល់ពីបរទេស (FDI) យ៉ាងសកម្ម នឹងបង្កើតឱ្យមាននិរន្តរភាពប្រព័ន្ធអេកូសេដ្ឋកិច្ចឯករាជ្យនៅប្រទេសកម្ពុជា។
- ការដាក់ឱ្យមានការកាត់បន្ថយពន្ធ និងការឧបត្ថម្ភប្រាក់ឈ្នួលសម្រាប់ក្រុមហ៊ុនក្នុងស្រុកដែលវិនិយោគលើការស្រាវជ្រាវប្រកបដោយនវានុវត្តន៍ និងការផ្តល់ឱកាសការងារដល់និស្សិតបញ្ចប់ការសិក្សាជំនាញបច្ចេកទេស នឹងគាំទ្រដល់ដំណាក់កាលដំបូងនៃការអភិវឌ្ឍឧស្សាហកម្មជឿនលឿននៅប្រទេសកម្ពុជា។
- ផ្ដល់អាទិភាពដល់ការវិនិយោគ ដើម្បីធ្វើឱ្យប្រទេសកម្ពុជាក្លាយជាមជ្ឈមណ្ឌលកម្មន្ដសាលជឿនលឿនក្នុងអាស៊ាន ដោយផ្តោតលើហេដ្ឋារចនាសម្ព័ន្ធទំនើប និងការទទួលយកបដិវត្តន៍បច្ចេកវិទ្យាឧស្សាហកម្មទី ៤។
- តម្រង់កំណែទម្រង់ការអប់រំឱ្យត្រូវតាមតម្រូវការឧស្សាហកម្ម ដោយសង្កត់ធ្ងន់លើការអប់រំផ្នែកវិទ្យាសាស្ត្រ បច្ចេកវិទ្យា វិស្វកម្ម និងគណិតវិទ្យា (STEM) និងការបណ្តុះបណ្តាលវិជ្ជាជីវៈ ដែលឆ្លើយតបនឹងតម្រូវការទីផ្សារការងារដែលកំពុងវិវត្តតាមបច្ចេកវិទ្យា និងគាំទ្រមហិច្ឆតាឧស្សាហកម្មរបស់ប្រទេសកម្ពុជា។
- Implementing a strategic policy that synergises the development of engineering expertise, strengthens local supply chains and actively attracts foreign direct investment (FDI) would create a sustainable, interdependent economic ecosystem in Cambodia.
- Introducing tax breaks and wage subsidies for local companies investing in innovative research and hiring technically skilled graduates would support the nascent stages of advanced industry development in Cambodia.
- Prioritise investments to establish Cambodia as an advanced manufacturing hub within ASEAN, focusing on modern infrastructure and the adoption of Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies.
- Align educational reforms with industry needs, emphasising science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education and vocational training that meets the demands of a technologically evolving job market and support Cambodia’s industrial ambitions.
Laying the Foundations for Cambodia’s Industrial Ascent
Cambodia is on the cusp of a major change as a result of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR). The 4IR, which is made up of physical, digital and biological technologies coming together, gives Cambodia a unique chance to skip traditional industrial stages and move straight into a technology-driven economic future (Schwab, 2016). The 4IR’s potential to overhaul economies globally is great, offering not just enhanced technology integration but also fundamental socioeconomic and environmental changes. Cambodia has relied heavily on agriculture and textiles in the past, but the 4IR offers a chance to diversify the country’s economy. The adoption of new technology by the nation could help with issues like sustainable development, job creation and economic inequality (World Bank, 2020). The 4IR has the potential to upgrade Cambodia’s manufacturing sector with technologies like smart factories and automation, allowing the country to participate more in global supply chains.
Cambodia must also transition to a knowledge-based economy (where intellectual talent, rather than conventional industrial techniques, drives growth) in order to keep up with global advancements (Asian Development Bank, 2019). Given the importance of today’s youth to tomorrow’s labour force, it is imperative that we implement a comprehensive educational system that encourages creativity, critical thinking and technical proficiency.
While traditional industries continue to dominate the Cambodian economy, the technical sector is expanding, particularly in major cities like Phnom Penh (Ministry of Economy and Finance, 2021). However, obstacles such as a lack of financial resources, a restricted domestic market and a deficient infrastructure remain. There is still a large gap between urban and rural communities when it comes to accessing technology, which is slowing down an otherwise exciting field.
A notable concern in Cambodia’s economic landscape is the skills gap in STEM disciplines, which is particularly acute in areas critical for the 4IR, such as engineering and technology (UNESCO, 2020). Many graduates are unprepared for the demands of the present labour market because educational institutions prioritise general education over technical and vocational education that coincides with market needs. Cambodia’s education system, especially in the areas of science and engineering, needs a complete overhaul if it is to play a role in closing this gap. Access to education has improved, but challenges remain in terms of the system’s ability to provide students with a high-quality, up-to-date scientific and engineering education. Modernity and relevance in the curriculum, which are essential for learning advanced scientific and technical ideas, are often lacking.
Digital literacy and STEM education should be at the centre of any education reform in Cambodia. It’s crucial to get youth interested in and prepared for these subjects at a young age. College and university programmes should incorporate internships and other forms of hands-on experience to better prepare students for the workforce upon graduation. It is also important to invest in programmes that provide teachers with the training they need to properly teach complex topics. In addition to boosting Cambodia’s competitiveness in a technology-driven economy, these educational changes are crucial for ensuring the country’s progress is both inclusive and sustainable for all citizens.
Catalysing Cambodia’s Economic Transformation
For Cambodia to enhance its industrial capabilities and achieve its ambitious economic objectives, the formation of industrial clusters is essential. An industrial cluster is a geographic concentration of interconnected businesses, suppliers and associated institutions in a specific field. These clusters are not merely aggregations of enterprises, but represent complex networks of relationships and collaborations among various businesses, vendors, and other organisations. Their strategic geographical positioning is key to stimulating economic development and fostering innovation in targeted areas. The significance of these clusters lies in their ability to cultivate a cooperative environment that is conducive to business growth and expansion within Cambodia. This collaborative atmosphere, intrinsic to industrial clusters, can drive efficiencies, spur creativity and enhance the competitiveness of businesses within the cluster (Porter, 1998).
Cambodia may turn to successful global models like Silicon Valley and Shenzhen to adapt the industrial cluster idea to its particular socioeconomic setting. A strong infrastructure, including dependable transportation, steady utilities and cutting-edge communications, is essential to this kind of adaptability. To fully foster innovation and entrepreneurship, it is imperative to incorporate technology parks and business incubators within these clusters. When it comes to helping new businesses get off the ground, incubators are indispensable (Etzkowitz and Leydesdorff, 2000).
Key to industrial cluster development is the effective integration of human resources, evolving supply chains and strategic foreign direct investment (FDI). To foster an attractive investment climate, essential steps include streamlining administrative processes and offering incentives such as tax relief and intellectual property protection. Implementing policies that encourage partnerships, including joint ventures between local businesses and international enterprises, can enhance Cambodia’s appeal for FDI.
Another critical aspect necessary for attracting FDI is having a skilled workforce capable of enhancing the productivity and creativity of multinational corporations. Beyond merely having a labour force, Cambodia must invest in education and vocational training aligned with the demands of the 4IR to equip its future workforce with advanced technological skills and critical thinking abilities (World Economic Forum, 2020). This trained workforce is not only vital for attracting FDI, but also for ensuring its positive impact on the economy.
Supporting local businesses is crucial, as they form the cornerstone of Cambodia’s economy. For these businesses to remain competitive, they need to embrace new technologies and engage in research and development (R&D). Providing incentives for R&D and access to contemporary technology tools can elevate local industries in the global value chain. Furthermore, fostering collaborations between local industries and higher education institutions can lead to innovation, streamlined processes and a qualified workforce, all of which are essential for economic growth.
More importantly, the interaction between the public and private sectors is integral to advancing Industry 4.0. The public sector’s role in providing infrastructure, legislative frameworks and educational reform is indispensable. Public-private partnerships (PPPs) can effectively distribute the risks associated with investments in advanced technology and infrastructure. These partnerships facilitate information exchange and ensure that government policies are aligned with businesses’ needs.
Cambodian government officials must nurture PPPs by creating conducive legal and regulatory frameworks, establishing funding structures for long-term investments and offering technology transfer incentives. Incentives like tax credits, R&D subsidies and seed funding are critical in promoting growth in the information technology sector, demonstrating Cambodia’s commitment to a high-tech economy (ASEAN, 2019). Such incentives can attract long-term domestic and international investments.
Additionally, improving the educational system and business climate is essential for Cambodia to attract FDI. This includes enhancing regulatory clarity, strengthening intellectual property protections and simplifying new business start-up procedures.
To foster the growth of industrial clusters, Cambodia requires a comprehensive strategy that includes regional planning, the development of physical infrastructure and business support services. This strategy aims to boost Cambodia’s industrial capacity and global competitiveness by promoting collaboration and innovation within these clusters.
These goals and strategies are pivotal as Cambodia strives towards its Vision 2050 of becoming a high-income nation. Cambodia’s potential as a technological leader depends on dedicated efforts and strategic planning. With its young and increasingly tech-savvy population, Cambodia is poised for a significant economic transformation, offering numerous growth opportunities and the potential to redefine its position in the global economic landscape. To emerge as a formidable player in the technology sector, Cambodia must invest in education, infrastructure and an innovation-friendly ecosystem. Realising this ambition requires government policies that align with industry needs, foster human capital development and encourage an entrepreneurial spirit.
References
ASEAN. (2019). ASEAN Investment Report 2019.
Asian Development Bank. (2019). Asian Development Outlook 2019: Strengthening Disaster Resilience.
Etzkowitz, H., & Leydesdorff, L. (2000). The dynamics of innovation: from National Systems and “Mode 2” to a Triple Helix of university-industry-government relations.
Ministry of Economy and Finance of Cambodia. (2021). Cambodia Economic Update.
Porter, M. E. (1998). Clusters and the new economics of competition. Harvard Business Review.
Schwab, K. (2016). The Fourth Industrial Revolution. World Economic Forum.
UNESCO. (2020). Science, Technology and Innovation Policy Review: Cambodia.
World Bank. (2020). Cambodia Economic Update.
World Economic Forum. (2020). The Future of Jobs Report 2020.
