Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet has unveiled a plan to enhance government efficiency by cutting down on bureaucratic structures. This initiative involves the elimination of three general departments and 30 departments from various ministries and state agencies, representing a significant step in the country’s ongoing public administration reform efforts.
During the opening ceremony of the new General Department of Taxation headquarters, Hun Manet outlined the objectives of this restructuring. The primary goals are to boost governmental efficiency, curtail public expenditure, and enable state institutions to keep pace with the rapid advancements in digital technology. The reform is based on evaluations of 16 ministries and aims to bolster institutional performance, refine human resource management, and maximize state resource utilization. Hun Manet emphasized that these changes are geared towards modernizing government operations, not for political agendas.
In line with the modernization drive, several ministries and agencies have initiated specialized units concentrating on digital systems and artificial intelligence. This move is in support of Cambodia’s broader digital transformation ambitions. Deputy Prime Minister Hun Many highlighted that the government’s strategy is to reinforce existing structures rather than expanding them. He pointed out that the Ministry of Public Service and 12 other entities have already downsized various departments and offices, maintaining staffing levels while expanding employee responsibilities to boost productivity.
Despite the government’s efforts, some critics express doubts regarding the pace and effectiveness of these reforms. They argue that for genuine administrative reform, there should be a focus on reducing the size at the highest levels of government and state institutions to achieve more significant savings and improvements in efficiency.
This restructuring initiative is part of Cambodia’s larger strategy to modernize public administration, improve governance, and ensure that government operations are aligned with future economic and technological trends. The government’s commitment to adapting to these changes underscores its resolve to meet the demands of a swiftly evolving digital society.