By: Ek Tha
PHNOM PENH, Oct. 18, 2012 (PRU) – Cambodia’s Deputy
Prime Minister His Excellency Dr. Sok An welcomed the Malaysian Minister’s idea
to assist Cambodia’s National Information Communications Technology Development
Authority (NIDA) through more technical training designed to improve the
institutional functions in support of the government in the areas of
information, technology and communication.
In a meeting on Thursday, Honorable Datuk Seri Dr.
Maximus Johnity Ongkili—Minister for Science, Technology and
Innovation—informed His Excellency Dr. Sok An, who is also Minister in Charge
of the Office of the Council of Ministers, that Malaysia is ready to invite
another group of 3 to 5 Cambodian ITC experts to visit Kula Lumpur in the near
future for more training.
“We are happy to host another team from Cambodia for
wireless technological training,” Dr. Maximus Johnity Ongkili informed the
Deputy Prime Minister and His Excellency Chun Vat, Secretary-General of NiDA,
and other concerned officials.
Malaysia will support the technical training that
will be conducted in Kula Lumpur.
Both sides are pleased with the cooperation between
the Malaysian Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation with Cambodia’s
NiDA after they signed an MOU in 2011 that established the principles for
cooperation in developing and exchange ICT.
His Excellency Dr. Sok An informed the Malaysian
delegation that in the near future NiDA will have its own building and facilities,
funded by China, and hoped that the institution will play a greater role in
facilitating the government’s operation in the ITC field.
The Deputy Prime Minister said that the Royal
Government is looking forward to see the Royal Government and the Malaysian
ministry in charge of technology and Innovation cooperating with each other in
order to push NiDA to function more effectively.
Established in 2000 as the National ICT Development
Authority (NiDA), the Royal Government is committed to expanding its
information and communication technology service coverage nationwide, bringing
quality and services up to regional and international standards at affordable prices.
NiDA is responsible for formulating IT promotion and
development policy for the short, medium and long term; for implementing IT
policy with a view to ensuring maximum economic growth; and for monitoring and
auditing all IT-related projects in the Kingdom of Cambodia.
NiDA is both a regulator and a promoter, with the
aim of providing an integrated approach to ensure that the regulatory role is
aligned with development objectives.
In July last year, Malaysia and Cambodia pledged to
expand their cooperation in the field of ITC that will also create a favorable
and attractive environment for foreign investments to Cambodia.
Bothe sides also shared the view that China-ASEAN
cooperation in ITC would also contribute to push NiDA to move at an expedited
pace along with improvement in its functions.
South Korea and China have pledged their technical support
for NiDA as well. End