October 27, 2023
PHNOM PENH – Cambodia will host the 20th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Science, Technology and Innovation (AMMSTI-20) and related meetings in early June 2024, as it is set to assume the rotating chairmanship of the ASEAN Committee on Science, Technology and Innovation (COSTI).
The AMMSTI-20 is slated to take place in Siem Reap province, according to the outcomes of the 84th COSTI (COSTI-84) and related meetings, held in Bohol, the Philippines, on October 16-20.
The COSTI-84, hosted by the Philippines’ Department of Science and Technology, featured a total of 13 meetings including a COSTI Board of Advisers forum and nine subcommittee meetings.
“The meeting served as a pivotal opportunity to strengthen and leverage strategies for science, technology, and innovation among the ASEAN member states,” said an October 25 press release from the ASEAN secretariat.
The release also announced the June 2024 event in Cambodia.
ASEAN COSTI is the block’s sectoral body responsible for all aspects of cooperation and integration of science, technology, and innovation among member states.
Hul Seangheng, undersecretary of state for the Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology and Innovation, led the Cambodian delegation to the Bohol event.
According to the ministry, the delegation shared the progress of the Cambodia-Indonesia-led implementation of the ASEAN technology management hub project – as well as the latest developments of the Cambodia-Thailand-ASEAN secretariat-led project to establish a new “platform for science and technology education” – with the attendees.
The delegation also suggested the inclusion of the “Artificial Intelligence (AI) and robotic automation framework for industries” project, which Cambodia has proposed as a 2024 priority for ASEAN, and the inclusion of the “ASEAN online education platform for industry 4.0” of Cambodia, Laos and Thailand from 2024 onward.
“Cambodia announced its readiness to host the AMMSTI-20 in 2024, COSTI-85, the 16th Board of Advisory Council, the 59th Sub-Committee on Resource and Infrastructure Development of Science and Technology, the 13th ASEAN-Japan Cooperation Committee on Science and Technology, and meetings with other Development Partners from June 3-7, 2024, as the ASEAN-COSTI rotating chair,” said the post.
The 1st ASEAN-UK Dialogue on Science, Technology and Innovation (AUKDSTI-1) was also conducted, along with the 11th Meeting of the ASEAN-EU Dialogue on Science, Technology, and Innovation, which aimed to strengthen cooperation between ASEAN dialogue partners in the field of science and technology.
The Underwriters Laboratories ASEAN-US science prize for women 2023 awards ceremony was also held, along with the ASEAN techno-fashion exposition, an event that showcased the wide range of aesthetics of the traditional textiles of the bloc’s members.