AKP Phnom Penh, February 24, 2025 --

The Coordinating Committee on Informal Economy Development (CCIED), in collaboration with the Battambang provincial administration, organised a large-scale public campaign with 3,000 members of Battambang’s informal economy.

The event aimed to promote understanding and boost registration, as part of the government's broader strategy to nurture and integrate informal workers into the formal sector, said the Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology & Innovation (MISTI).

The event was chaired by H.E. Hem Vanndy, Minister of MISTY and Chairman of CCIED, alongside H.E. Uy Ry, President of Battambang Provincial Council, and H.E. Sok Lou, Governor of Battambang province.

H.E. Minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening the informal economy, stating, “The Royal Government prioritises the development of the informal economy to boost participation in supply chains and value-added activities, while contributing directly to reducing poverty and social inequality.”

He emphasised that onboarding allows informal economy actors to access essential support services, including skills development, social security benefits, formal financial services, and social protection.

H.E. Sok Lou said Battambang is one of Cambodia’s largest provinces with over 1.4 million residents. He urged those working and operating in the informal sector to learn about the benefits of joining the platform.

According to MISTI, launched on Dec. 16, 2024, the Digital Platform for Onboarding the Informal Economy provides a streamlined process for informal economy actors to register. The platform integrates advanced technologies, including AI-assisted data entry, CamDigiKey for secure identification, and interoperability with the Cambodia Data Exchange (CamDx) and verify.gov.kh for certificate authentication.

Following a successful campaign in Phnom Penh on Jan. 20, 2025, onboarding efforts have gained significant traction. To date, 18,522 informal economy actors have registered, with Phnom Penh leading in sign-ups. Battambang, currently in 11th place with 394 registrations, aims to accelerate participation through continued outreach efforts.

H.E. Hem Vanndy called on ministries-institutions and capital-provincial administrations to expand outreach efforts at the village, commune, and Sangkat levels to maximise participation. He underscored that onboarding is free, voluntary, and essential for policy making and ensuring effective targeted interventions.

The platform offers multiple onboarding options, including the CAM-IE mobile app, web portal, and nationwide registration points at Wing Bank, ACLEDA Bank, ABA Bank, SME Bank, and ARDB Bank. Target groups include microenterprises, workers and employees of microenterprises, seasonal workers, and self-employed individuals in the informal sector.

AKP