ADB Joins Cambodia’s Second Digital Trade Forum
ADB’s Law and Policy Reform (LPR) Program collaborated with the Digital Sector office (DIG) to support Cambodia’s second Digital Trade Forum and Online Expo held on 12–13 September 2025 in Phnom Penh. Titled Advancing Cambodia’s Future through Digital Trade, the forum convened policymakers, private sector leaders, digital innovators, and youth representatives to explore opportunities and challenges in the digital sector.
Gretchen Aquino, ADB’s Senior Legal Officer, contributed to the panel session on Policy & Governance Guidance for Code of Conduct for Online Businesses, sharing insights from its technical assistance, regional experience, and international best practices. The discussion highlighted LPR’s key areas of support in Cambodia:
(1) Code of Conduct for E-Commerce Service Providers. Mandated by Cambodia’s Law on Electronic Commerce, this initiative draws on international benchmarks from Greece, the Netherlands, Canada, and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The proposed draft prakas (official proclamation) incorporates provisions on transparency, personal data protection, advertising, intellectual property rights, and the rights and obligations of intermediaries and service providers.
(2) Cambodia E-Commerce Trustmark Scheme (CETS). The proposed CETS is designed to strengthen consumer trust in online transactions by ensuring adherence to security measures, ethical practices, and consumer protection standards. For small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), CETS acts as a credibility marker that signals quality and safety, helping build customer loyalty and expand market reach both domestically and internationally.
(3) E-learning on E-commerce. Hosted on ADB Institute’s e-learning website, these modules aim to raise digital literacy, strengthen transformation skills for government officers, and train officials responsible for e-commerce registration. Courses consisted of the following modules: (a) Introduction to E-Commerce, (b) Rights and Obligations, and (c) Cybersecurity.
ADB expert Nearirath Sreng also joined the panel session on Consumer Trust & Digital Identity—The Role of E-Commerce Trustmarks and emphasized that CETS is a key step toward a transparent and trustworthy e-commerce ecosystem that supports sustainable growth. The draft CETS Implementation Plan prepared by ADB outlines proposed approaches across three areas: legal (prakas and assessment criteria), administrative (processes and standard operation procedures), and institutional (resourcing by the Ministry of Commerce). Its development is informed by global and regional best practices and extensive local consultations to ensure consistency with Cambodia’s e-commerce laws, consumer protection regulations, and strategic commitments under ASEAN and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).
Further, ADB's Digital Development Specialist Carolyn Florey shared DIG’s ongoing collaboration with the Royal Government of Cambodia to accelerate digital transformation. This includes strengthening digital public infrastructure such as digital identification and data exchange systems, integrating secure payment platforms, and developing cyber-resilient digital trade tools that citizens and businesses can trust.
Related link: Digital Trade Forum | dtf.moc.gov.kh