Cambodia is set to host the 20th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Science, Technology and Innovation (AMMSTI-20) in early June 2024, coinciding with its upcoming chairmanship of the ASEAN Committee on Science, Technology and Innovation (COSTI). The event will be held in Siem Reap province, as confirmed during the 84th COSTI (COSTI-84) and related meetings in Bohol, the Philippines, which took place from October 16 to 20.
COSTI-84, organized by the Philippines’ Department of Science and Technology, encompassed a total of 13 meetings, including a COSTI Board of Advisers forum and nine subcommittee meetings. It served as a pivotal opportunity to enhance and optimize strategies for science, technology, and innovation collaboration among ASEAN member states. A press release from the ASEAN secretariat on October 25 also officially announced the June 2024 event in Cambodia.
ASEAN COSTI functions as the sectoral body responsible for overseeing all aspects of science, technology, and innovation cooperation and integration among member states. The Cambodian delegation to the Bohol event was led by Hul Seangheng, the undersecretary of state for the Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology, and Innovation.
During the event, the Cambodian delegation presented updates on the ASEAN technology management hub project, which is led by Cambodia and Indonesia. They also shared the latest developments on the Cambodia-Thailand-ASEAN secretariat-led project aimed at establishing a new “platform for science and technology education.”
Furthermore, the delegation proposed the inclusion of the “Artificial Intelligence (AI) and robotic automation framework for industries” project, which Cambodia has designated as a priority for ASEAN in 2024. They also suggested incorporating the “ASEAN online education platform for industry 4.0,” involving Cambodia, Laos, and Thailand, from 2024 onwards.
Cambodia expressed its readiness to host several important meetings from June 3 to 7, 2024, as part of its role as the ASEAN-COSTI rotating chair. These meetings include COSTI-85, the 16th Board of Advisory Council, the 59th Sub-Committee on Resource and Infrastructure Development of Science and Technology, the 13th ASEAN-Japan Cooperation Committee on Science and Technology, and engagements with other Development Partners.
In addition to these meetings, the 1st ASEAN-UK Dialogue on Science, Technology and Innovation (AUKDSTI-1) took place, along with the 11th Meeting of the ASEAN-EU Dialogue on Science, Technology, and Innovation. These events aimed to strengthen cooperation between ASEAN and its dialogue partners in the realm of science and technology.
Furthermore, the Underwriters Laboratories ASEAN-US Science Prize for Women 2023 awards ceremony and the ASEAN techno-fashion exposition were held. The latter showcased the diverse and rich aesthetics of traditional textiles from various ASEAN member countries.
