Phnom Penh, 2 July 2024: ERIA President Tetsuya Watanabe paid a courtesy visit to the Secretary of State, H.E. Kung Phoak, of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Cambodia. The Secretary of State expressed his gratitude to ERIA for its strong support of Cambodia during its Chairmanship of ASEAN in 2022, as well as its ongoing commitment to the region since its foundation. He highlighted ERIA’s new Digital Innovation and Sustainable Economy Centre (E-DISC), which perfectly aligns with ASEAN’s priorities, as an example of this.

President Watanabe shared an overview of ERIA’s research on the semiconductor sector in ASEAN and India, emphasising that shifting supply chains present a significant opportunity for the region. H.E. Kung Phoak expressed his personal interest in this dynamic sector, agreeing that it holds great potential for the region, including Cambodia. While acknowledging Cambodia’s potential in this sector for the future, he noted that developing the complex semiconductor industry should be treated as a gradual process rather than an immediate goal.

During this courtesy call, President Watanabe introduced the ERIA School of Government and its proposed activities. H.E. Kung Phoak warmly welcomed this initiative, underscoring the need to enhance the skills of government officials to address emerging and complex issues such as energy transition, the digital economy, and trade, making ERIA’s initiative both timely and important.