Phnom penh: Cambodia's Committee on Science, Technology and Innovation (COSTI) and its nine sub-committees convened here on Oct. 9 to discuss progress and strengthen collaboration in aligning national priorities with ASEAN's 2035 Vision.
According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, the meeting was held at the Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology and Innovation (MISTI), where COSTI Cambodia reaffirmed science, technology, and innovation (STI) as a key pillar for national and regional growth. Presiding over the meeting, H.E. Dr. Hul Seingheng, Under Secretary of State of MISTI and Chairman of Cambodia's COSTI, emphasized the importance of Cambodia's collective commitment to ASEAN. He stated that the 7th COSTI Cambodia meeting showcases their commitment to advancing STI as a foundation for the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC).
A central topic of the meeting was the dissemination and promotion of the recently ratified ASEAN Plan of Action on Science, Technology and Innovation (APASTI) 2026-2035, adopted at AMMSTI-21 in Jakarta. The new 10-year plan provides strategic guidance for the region and is grounded in the vision of an integrated ASEAN powered by STI, fostering collaboration and competitiveness. The APASTI 2026-2035 emphasizes Cambodia's role in advancing a resilient STI ecosystem and highlights strategic areas such as space, health, food, energy, AI, and technology transfer.
The meeting agenda also featured presentations from the Secretariat about the outcomes of AMMSTI-21 and COSTI-87 sessions, progress updates, and project proposals from the nine Sub-Committees. An overview of the procedures and mechanisms governing the ASEAN Science, Technology and Innovation Fund (ASTIF) was provided. H.E. Dr. Seingheng urged all members to strengthen coordination, highlighting the need for cohesive national efforts and active participation to achieve common STI goals.