Synopsis: Cambodia has called for stronger international cooperation to expand affordable digital infrastructure, strengthen technological skills and develop inclusive artificial-intelligence governance, warning that many developing countries are still unable to benefit fully from rapid technological advances.
Cambodia has urged the international community to strengthen cooperation on digital infrastructure, skills development and artificial-intelligence governance to ensure that developing countries are not left behind by technological change.
Chamreoun Hou, Second Secretary of Cambodia’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations, made the appeal during the UN General Assembly Second Committee’s joint general discussion on information and communications technologies for sustainable development and globalisation and interdependence in New York on October 9.
The discussion formed part of the committee’s ninth plenary meeting of the General Assembly’s 81st session and also covered the UN’s role in promoting development amid globalisation and international migration and development.
Hou said many developing countries continued to face inadequate digital infrastructure, limited skills and unaffordable connectivity, preventing them from benefitting fully from rapidly advancing technologies.
“Many developing countries continue to face gaps in digital infrastructure, skills and affordable connectivity, raising new challenges for governance, safety, trust and equitable access,” he said.
Cambodia proposed stronger international cooperation in three areas, beginning with efforts to close the digital divide.
Hou called for meaningful and equitable access to digital infrastructure, emerging technologies and locally adapted digital tools, particularly in developing countries.
“We call for enhanced cooperation on shared digital infrastructure and open-source solutions to ensure affordability and inclusion,” he said.
Cambodia’s second priority focused on investment in human capital. Hou said technological development could generate progress only when supported by people with the necessary knowledge and skills.
He encouraged greater capacity-building, technical assistance and the establishment of regional centres of excellence to help developing countries strengthen their digital capabilities and participate meaningfully in the digital economy.
The third priority concerned digital governance. Hou called for frameworks that are inclusive, adaptable and transparent, with regulatory mechanisms responsive to the circumstances of developing countries.
“Cambodia supports international efforts to promote safe, secure, trustworthy and inclusive AI that contributes to sustainable development while respecting national priorities,” he said.
During his remarks, Hou also outlined Cambodia’s domestic digital-transformation efforts under the Cambodia Digital Economy and Society Policy Framework and the Digital Government Policy.
He said the government was developing a whole-of-society digital ecosystem to support a secure, inclusive and innovation-driven digital economy.
Hou highlighted VERIFY.GOV.KH as an example of Cambodia’s progress in developing digital public services.
The document-verification platform won the 2026 UN Public Service Award in June under the category of Transparent and Accountable Public Institutions for Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
Launched in 2023, the platform was designed to eliminate document fraud, verify the authenticity of official documents and accelerate the digital transformation of public services.
Hou said the United Nations Development Programme had recognised document verification as the fourth pillar of digital public infrastructure, alongside digital identity, data exchange and digital payments.
He added that Cambodia’s experience with the platform was being shared with several other countries.
Cambodia reaffirmed its commitment to cooperating with UN member states and development partners to use information and communications technologies to advance sustainable development.
“In closing, Cambodia reaffirms its commitment to working with all Member States and partners to leverage ICT for sustainable development, ensuring no one is left behind in the digital age,” Hou said.
