Phnom Penh—The Royal Government of Cambodia unveiled the Digital Platform for Onboarding the Informal Economy this morning under the leadership of Prime Minister Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet.
In his address at the launch ceremony, the Prime Minister highlighted this initiative as a significant milestone in the implementation of the National Strategy for Informal Economy Development 2023–2028. This strategy represents the fourth priority policy program of the 7th legislature of the National Assembly, which the Premier committed to rolling out by the end of 2023.
Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet underscored that the platform demonstrates the Royal Government’s commitment to supporting and empowering citizens involved in the informal economy. By fostering opportunities for these workers and business owners to register, develop, and expand their ventures, the initiative aims to improve their overall quality of life and economic well-being.
The Prime Minister urged informal business operators to register through the platform and instructed relevant authorities to simplify the registration process to ensure accessibility and efficiency. He clarified that the purpose of the registration is to gain a deeper understanding of the informal economy, emphasizing that it is not intended to impose new tax obligations.
H.E. Hem Vanndy, Minister of Industry, Science, Technology and Innovation, and Chairman of the Coordinating Committee for the Development of the Informal Economy, echoed the Prime Minister’s sentiments. He stressed the importance of this initiative in achieving Cambodia’s ambitious vision of becoming an upper middle-income country by 2030 and a high-income country by 2050. Developing the informal economy is critical to enhancing competitiveness, driving economic diversification, reducing poverty, and narrowing social inequality.
The International Labour Organisation (ILO) estimates that Cambodia’s informal economy is extensive, with approximately 88.3 percent of workers engaged in informal employment. By formalizing and supporting this segment of the workforce, the government aims to unlock their potential as a driving force for sustainable economic growth and development.
Source: AKP
