Phnom Penh, 4 March 2025: ERIA President Tetsuya Watanabe participated in the Cambodia Outlook Conference 2025, held under the theme ‘Cambodia’s New Growth Strategy: Priorities for High-Quality and Sustainable Development.’ Hosted by the Cambodia Development Research Institute (CDRI), the conference convened key policymakers and experts from Cambodia and beyond to discuss strategies for the country’s economic future.

The event was inaugurated by Prime Minister Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet, who delivered keynote remarks outlining his vision for Cambodia’s new growth and economic diversification strategy. He underscored the importance of evidence-based and research-driven policymaking in achieving long-term growth and sustainable development.

President Watanabe, who also serves as a CDRI board member, joined the panel for Session 3: Bridging New Growth Vision with Effective Policy Implementation. He stressed the critical role of economic diversification as Cambodia prepares to graduate from Least Developed Country (LDC) status and moves toward its goal of becoming a high-income nation by 2050.

‘Three key megatrends could serve as tailwinds for Cambodia’s economic diversification strategies: supply chain shifts, technological transformation, and climate change,’ he noted. He further emphasised that investing in human capital is crucial for Cambodia to leverage its unique strengths and maintain competitiveness in a rapidly evolving global economy.

President Watanabe also highlighted ERIA’s ongoing initiatives and collaboration with Cambodia’s line ministries and institutions, including CDRI, in supporting the country's economic diversification efforts – aligning with the priorities set by Prime Minister Hun Manet.