H.E. Hem Vanndy, Minister of Industry, Science, Technology & Innovation (MISTI), met with Ms. Yasmin Siddiqi, the newly appointed Country Director of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for Cambodia, reaffirming a shared commitment to deeper cooperation and accelerated private sector development.
During the meeting, Minister Vanndy congratulated Ms. Siddiqi on her new role and welcomed her commitment to strengthening Cambodia–ADB collaboration. He highlighted ADB’s long-standing partnership with the Ministry, particularly its vital support during key stages of Cambodia’s economic progress—including the pandemic period. He reiterated that MISTI stands ready to work closely with ADB to advance national priorities in industrial modernisation, technological upgrading, and SME competitiveness.
The Minister provided an overview of Cambodia’s ongoing preparations for Least Developed Country (LDC) graduation. He emphasised the urgency of enhancing the capabilities of SMEs, industries, and government institutions to stay competitive amid fast-paced technological change and increasingly complex global markets. Among the areas requiring sustained support, he underlined water-sector reforms and industrial transformation initiatives as essential pillars where ADB’s continued engagement will play a transformative role.
Ms. Siddiqi expressed her appreciation to MISTI and the Royal Government of Cambodia, noting the strong momentum she has observed during her initial meetings with various ministries. She reaffirmed ADB’s commitment to supporting Cambodia through policy-based lending and highlighted that the ADB Board is scheduled to approve the new water-sector programme this week—an important milestone under the updated Country Partnership Programme.
Minister Vanndy stressed that effective coordination remains crucial as Cambodia accelerates efforts to boost private sector development and strengthen national competitiveness. He called for greater mobilisation of financing, technical assistance, and innovative, frontier-focused funding opportunities to support the next phase of Cambodia’s industrial growth.
The meeting concluded with both sides reaffirming their dedication to building a resilient, technology-driven, and investment-friendly industrial ecosystem, aligned with Cambodia’s long-term development vision.
Also read, Cambodia’s Industrial Economy Is Quietly Entering Its Most Promising Phase Yet
