Message from the National ICT Development Authority

Invitation to participate in a multi-stakeholder consultative process on Cambodia's policy on Information and Communications Technology (ICT) for development.

To formulate an ICT policy and strategy responsive to the needs of the peoples and for the purpose of developing Cambodia without adversely affecting any particular sectors or individuals, a high level steering committee (sub-decree 55) was formed to coordinate and organise the task.

The process was launched on 03 July 2003 at the National Summit on ICT policy and strategy (www.nida.gov.kh/activities/summit) convened under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister.

Out of this National Summit, six technical working groups (Government Decision 50) were assigned to coordinate and to look into the details of the policy & strategy formulation process based on the Digital Opportunity Initiative framework (www.opt-init.org) and under the supervision of the Steering Committee. The working groups are: 1) Policy and Strategy Coordinator, 2) Infrastructure, 3) Human Capacity, 4) Policy Environment, 5) Content & Application, and 6) Enterprise Development.

Subsequently, and in order to inform the policy development process, a team of Cambodian nationals were appointed to conduct research in the aforementioned fields and to provide policy recommendations from their different background perspectives. The research papers and the draft policy recommendations are available at www.nida.gov.kh

In order to benefit from the inputs of stakeholders from the private sector, international organisations and donors, NGOs and other concerned parties, the draft policy recommendations have been made available for public review in order to solicit constructive feedback. The consultative process is open until September 22nd, 2004 . You are kindly requested to submit your input to NiDA either electronically or by mail. All feedback received before the above date will be subjected to review by NiDA. However, not all feedback will necessarily be reflected in the final Cambodian policy on ICT for development.

The National Information Communications Technology Development Authority (NiDA) would like to express its sincere thanks to the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and its Asia Pacific Development Information Program (APDIP) for the assistance in formulating Cambodia's national ICT policy and strategy.