Cambodia has reaffirmed its commitment to industrial innovation grounded in responsible and inclusive artificial intelligence, calling for stronger international collaboration to help developing economies bridge persistent digital and skills gaps. Speaking at the 2025 Tengchong Scientists Forum in Yunnan, China, Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology and Innovation Hul Seingheng said Cambodia is integrating AI into its industrial modernization strategy while prioritizing human-centric governance, according to reporting by Khmer Times.
Addressing scientists, academics and policymakers, Seingheng urged the global research community to ensure that rapid advances in science and AI are guided by fairness, transparency and inclusive values. He said Cambodia views industrial AI not only as a tool for productivity, but as a pathway to shared development if deployed responsibly and supported by collaboration across borders.
A central challenge, Seingheng noted, is workforce readiness. He identified skills shortages as one of the most significant barriers facing developing nations and stressed the need to expand science, technology, engineering and mathematics education alongside AI literacy programs. Such efforts, he said, are critical to ensuring that young people and workers can participate meaningfully in AI-driven economies rather than being left behind.
Seingheng outlined three priorities for international cooperation: advancing joint applied AI research and development, strengthening technology transfer to build local capacity, and establishing inclusive ethical governance frameworks rooted in national innovation ecosystems. Joint research, he added, is essential for narrowing long-term development gaps and promoting shared prosperity.
His remarks come as Cambodia works to diversify its economy beyond traditional pillars such as garment manufacturing. The country is investing more heavily in electronics, agro-processing and high-tech manufacturing, supported by initiatives including the Science, Technology, and Innovation Roadmap 2030, which aims to shift Cambodia toward an innovation-driven growth model.
The Tengchong Scientists Forum, themed “Science-AI Changing the World,” is jointly hosted by the Yunnan Provincial People’s Government and the China Association for Science and Technology. Often described as a “Davos of Science and Technology,” the forum has become a major platform for scientific cooperation in South and Southeast Asia, facilitating significant investment and talent exchange since its launch in 2022, Khmer Times reported.
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