Phnom Penh, 21 February 2025: Recognising the growing importance of services in global value chains (GVCs), ERIA and Cambodia’s Ministry of Commerce (MOC) co-hosted a policy dialogue Services Global Supply Chains in ASEAN and East Asia: Implications and Opportunities for Regional Integration and Cambodia.

ERIA President Tetsuya Watanabe delivered the welcome remarks, emphasising the crucial role of value-chain activities within supply chains in unlocking the region’s full economic potential. He highlighed the need for a deeper understanding of service GVCs, which the book addresses through its analytical framework, empirical insights, and sector-specific analysis.

President Watanabe also expressed appreciation for the participation of MOC officials in the study, stating, ‘We believe that inviting officials to sit alongside academics is an important way to ensure the messages of our studies are heard and understood.’

in her opening remarks, H.E. CHAM Nimul, Minister of Commerce of Cambodia, noted that ASEAN is undergoing a major structural transformation in GVCs and regional integration, driven by economic liberalisation and technological advancements. She highlighted how digital and autonomous technologies are accelerating the servicification of manufacturing, creating substantial economic opportunities – especially for ASEAN’s least developed countries (LDCs). However, she stressed the need for strategic policies to support sustainable and inclusive development, including human capital and skills development, financial inclusiveness, and SMEs empowerment to enhance participation in GVCs.

Following the speeches, President Watanabe officially presented a copy of the book to H.E. CHAM Nimul. The book was edited by Fukunari Kimura (Senior Research Fellow at ERIA), Shandre Mugan Thangavelu, Christopher Findlay, and Lurong Chen (Senior Economist at ERIA).

Policy Dialogue

The policy dialogue feaured two sessions. The first, ‘Services Global Value Chains and ASEAN’s Next Phase of Growth,’ was chaired by H.E. Dr TAT Puthsodary, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Commerce. Panellists included H.E. Dr Rafaelita Aldaba, Strategic Advisor at the Department of Education Center for AI Research (and former Undersecretary, Department of Trade and Industry, Philippines); Dr Wenxiao Wang, Lecturer in Economics at the University of South Australia; and Dr Cassey Lee, Senior Fellow at ISEAS, Singapore.

The second session, ‘Implications of Services GVCs and Cambodia’s LDC Graduation,’ was chaired by Prof. Shandre Mugan Thangavelu of the Jeffrey Cheah Institute of Southeast Asia, Sunway University, Malaysia. Speakers included H.E. Dr KAN Channmeta, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Industry, Technology and Innovation (MISTI) of Cambodia and Mr MENG Songkheang, Director of the Consumer Protection Competition and Fraud Repression Directorate-General at MOC, Cambodia.

The event concluded with closing remarks by H.E. Dr TAT Puthsodary, who reaffirmed the importance of strengthening services GVCs to enhance regional economic integration and support Cambodia’s development trajectory.