Govt establishes new ICT working group

The Phnom Penh Post
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/

Written by Hor Hab
Tuesday, 19 May 2009

THE government said it has set up a committee focused on information and communications technology (ICT) solutions.

Legislation setting up the new ICT sub-working group states that government members would be joined by private-sector representatives to exchange ideas and rapidly address ICT issues, as well as inform relevant institutions of outcomes. It is headed by Lar Narath, secretary of
state at the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications.

Phu Leewood, secretary general of the government's National ICT Development Authority, said the body - known as the sub-working group on telecommunications and information technology - should help to develop the ICT private sector.

"We are moving on the right track with the government's strategy to develop the ICT sector and its human resources," Phu Leewood said Monday.

But he added that ICT and human-resources development lags behind neighbouring countries because the Kingdom is still recovering from years of social unrest.

Ken Chanthan, president of the private sector ICT Association of Cambodia, said the committee would help the private sector raise its concerns about ICT development and related government policy.

"Now we can send our messages directly to political and technical government officials using the issues raised at monthly meetings within the sub-working group," he said.

Ken Chanthan said that the committee met on May 7.

"The [committee] will provide a greater opportunity for the ICT sector to develop even faster and in the right way since it will allow the government and development partners to better understand the real situation of ICT in Cambodia," he said.

Ken Chanthan added that the private sector faces a number of challenges: ICT policy, infrastructure development, human resources, content and programming, and enterprise quality.