Phnom penh: The Office of the Council of Ministers (OCM) of Cambodia and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) of the United Kingdom have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) focused on Supporting Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) Reform. This collaboration aims to promote smarter lawmaking and stronger institutions, contributing to sustainable socio-economic development in Cambodia.
According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, the MoU was signed on September 11 at the OCM by H.E. Vongsey Vissoth, Permanent Deputy Prime Minister and Minister in charge of the OCM, alongside H.E. Dominic Williams, British Ambassador to Cambodia. H.E. Vongsey Vissoth emphasized that the MoU marks a significant step in the Royal Government's reform agenda. The agreement is intended to improve the drafting of laws, legal frameworks, and other legal documents, build stronger institutions, and create an enabling environment for sustainable, resilient, and climate-friendly development.
He stated that the MoU will enhance the capacity of four ministries and institutions through training for relevant officials and the establishment of e-learning platforms. These initiatives will assess the economic, social, and environmental impacts of draft laws, legal frameworks, and policies. 'RIA reform is designed to ensure consistency in legal document preparation, avoid overlapping mandates and excessive compliance burdens, reduce unnecessary costs, foster a fair and reliable level playing field for business and investment, enhance national competitiveness, generate socio-economic benefits, and improve people's livelihoods,' he stressed.
H.E. Vongsey Vissoth also recalled the establishment of the RIA Working Group in 2016 under the leadership of Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, former Prime Minister and current President of the Senate. He reaffirmed the Royal Government's continued commitment in the 7th Legislature, highlighting the issuance of Royal Sub-Decree No. 170 in July 2024 on the Implementation of Guidelines for Drafting Laws and Legal Documents. This decree mandates that all draft legal texts undergo stakeholder consultations and impact assessments as part of the RIA process.
H.E. Vongsey Vissoth expressed appreciation to the FCDO, the British Embassy in Cambodia, the Economic, Social and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC), the Legal Advisory Council, and the RIA Working Group for their continued support in advancing this reform process.
For his part, H.E. Dominic Williams stated that the RIA initiative serves to protect people, uphold standards, facilitate private sector activities, and ensure fair and effective competition. He emphasized that this reflects stronger bilateral cooperation between Cambodia and the UK. He noted that the UK's involvement is part of its commitment to supporting Cambodia's development, strengthening good governance, and advancing the rule of law.
The British Ambassador highlighted that this three-year partnership will strengthen Cambodia's regulatory framework, improve policymaking, and create a more transparent and investor-friendly business environment. 'Together, we are building smarter laws, stronger institutions, and a better future for all,' he concluded on his official social media platform.