DAVOS: On January 17, Prime Minister Hun Manet paid a courtesy call on Japan’s Minister of Digital Development, Kono Taro, on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum 2024 in Davos, Switzerland.

At the meeting, the Japanese Minister informed the PM of the importance of data in the digital age

and stressed that the Japanese government has developed an initiative on OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) data that covers many areas and can be used to develop effective policies to promote and improve living standards.

The PM welcomed the meeting with the Minister of Digital Development and his colleagues and emphasized that Cambodia-Japan relations have reached the level of "comprehensive strategic partnership", which is the highest level in the history of Cambodia-Japan relations.

He agreed with the Minister on the importance of digital data for the development of policy frameworks, and said that the Cambodian government considers data as a road map and a compass that will help achieve accurate results.

He further highlighted the development of financial technology in Cambodia, which the National Bank of Cambodia is currently launching through cross-border online payment systems to facilitate investors, traders and business operations of small and medium enterprises.

The PM also recalled his visit to the ASEAN-Japan Memorial Summit in December 2023. During the visit, Cambodia and Japan signed seven cooperation documents, some of which are related to the development of digital technology in Cambodia.

He added that the Royal Government of Cambodia has given priority to digital technology as an important component of promoting new sources of economic growth, as well as achieving the vision of transforming Cambodia into a high-income country by 2050. He thanked the Japanese government and its people for supporting Cambodia to establish peace in the past and develop the country in modern times.