New Capacity Building Programme to Share RoK’s South-South Success in Cambodia

Phnom Penh, Cambodia, 12 June 2017 – The first Workshop on South-South and Triangular Cooperation as Enablers for Development Through Science, Technology and Innovation successfully concluded in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Monday. It provided the opportunity for government representatives to understand how South-South and triangular cooperation can be applied towards achieving the development goals of the Kingdom of Cambodia. The workshop also helped Cambodia to prioritize its actions towards achieving its goals on science, technology and innovation.

H.E. Mr. Chhay Than, Senior Minister for Planning of Cambodia, launched the ‘UNOSSC, Republic of Korea Facility/Programme for Capacity Development through South-South and Triangular Cooperation in Science and Technology (Phase 2)’ during the workshop.

This demand-driven Facility will facilitate the sharing of the experience of the Republic of Korea to build capacity for development in Cambodia.

H.E. Mr. Chhay Than, who also serves as Permanent Deputy to the Prime Minister in the National Science and Technology Council, officiated at the opening alongside Ms. Debora Comini, Resident Coordinator of the United Nations ad interim in Cambodia. The Senior Minister welcomed the collaboration with the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation. He emphasized the need to build resilient development approaches, especially through science and technology, that will lead to sustainability.

Ms. Comini highlighted the progress that Cambodia has made, and noted its achievement of middle lower income status in 2015. She stressed that diversification of development cooperation approaches including South-South and triangular cooperation are appropriate for Cambodia as it moves forward toward accelerating achievement of its national sustainable development goals.

The workshop was organized by the General Secretariat of the National Science and Technology Council, the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (Regional Office in Bangkok) and the Science and Technology Policy Institute of the Republic of Korea representing the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning.

Participants had a chance to review the implementation plans for the Facility presented by Cambodian counterparts and participating Republic of Korea institutions. Inputs from UN Agencies, NGOs, academics and government participants were well appreciated by the National Science and Technology Council, UNOSSC and the participating Republic of Korea Institutions.

About 160 participants from the Government of Cambodia, foreign embassies, the United Nations Country Team, non-governmental organizations and representatives of Republic of Korea institutions took part in the workshop and the launch of the Capacity Building Programme.

United Nations organizations participating at the workshop included the Resident Coordinator’s Office, FAO, UNDP, UNESCO, UNICEF, UNIDO, UNV and WHO.

For more information, or to schedule media interviews, please contact: Mithre J. Sandrasagra, United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (mithre.sandrasagra@undp.org / + 1 646 391 7834).