Phnom Penh, Cambodia – January 31, 2024: Returning from the recent ASEAN Startup Roundtable in Jakarta, Mr. Sophearith, a prominent figure in Cambodia's digital landscape and founder of BizKhmer Digital Media and BizKhmer Digital Academy, is buzzing with renewed energy and a wealth of actionable insights. The high-level event, held on January 29th by the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA), brought together key experts from the government, industry, academe, and other international organizations from across the ASEAN region to discuss the challenges and opportunities for building a strong tech startup ecosystem in ASEAN.



Cambodia's Voice Empowered: H.E HUL Seingheng, under-secretary of state of the Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology and Innovation, proudly represented Cambodia, actively contributing key perspectives on strategic frameworks and valuable lessons learned for the Kingdom's ongoing tech development. His presence and engagement underscore Cambodia's unwavering commitment to nurturing a vibrant and innovative tech ecosystem. 

“The Roundtable was a powerful platform for sharing experiences and learning from diverse perspectives of the key experts from various organizations and governments,” remarked Mr. Sophearith. “It was heartening to see the passion and commitment of our ASEAN peers, all working towards a common goal of fostering innovation and entrepreneurial spirit across the region.”


The format of the event, combining high-level policy discussions with keynote presentations on current trends of tech startup landscape in ASEAN, linking tech startups to innovation, markets, and policies, provided a holistic view of the landscape. Mr. Sophearith was particularly inspired by the emphasis on regional collaboration and knowledge sharing.

“Building a strong tech ecosystem in Cambodia, or any ASEAN country for that matter, requires more than individual efforts,” he affirmed. “We need to break down silos and work together to share resources, create mentorship programs, and build cross-border partnerships.”


Some of the key takeaways Mr. Sophearith brought back from the Roundtable include:

a. The importance of fostering an enabling policy environment for supporting startup 
b. Robust digital infrastructure to support tech startup is very crucial. 
c. Access to finance for Tech Startup remains a big issue for most of the countries 
d. Nurturing human capital is one of the critical long-term tech startup success 
e. Lesson learnt from leading startups: Sea Bridge from Thailand, QBO from the Philippines, 
f. Many insightful data from the policies makers 

Beyond a One-Off Event: Mr. Sophearith envisions the High-Level Policy Roundtable as a cornerstone, not a culminating point. He aims to foster a continuous dialogue and knowledge exchange platform within ASEAN, nurturing a collaborative environment where innovation can flourish and tech startups can thrive.

Shaping the Future:  Armed with renewed energy and valuable insights from the ASEAN Startup Roundtable, Mr. Sophearith and BizKhmer Digital Academy are committed to playing a leading role in shaping the future of the Cambodia's marketing skill development landscape, and that will be for the ASEAN region. Through collaborative efforts and knowledge-sharing initiatives, they aspire to create an ecosystem where innovation knows no borders and tech startups can soar, contributing to a more prosperous and interconnected ASEAN.

About BizKhmer Digital Academy:

BizKhmer Digital Academy is a newly established of digital marketing training and skill development programs in Cambodia​ under BizKhmer Digital Media. Founded by Mr. Sophearith, a renowned expert in the field, the Academy offers a comprehensive range of courses designed to equip individuals and businesses with the marketing skills and knowledge needed to succeed in the digital age.