Over the last ten years, Cambodia has benefitted from tremendous economic growth, mainly from its agriculture, garment, construction, and tourism sectors. As an economy develops, technology often becomes a catalyst to this growth, which goes to the heart of a recent question from a reader who asked, “How can technology benefit a small, developing country like Cambodia?”
As one of the fastest growing sectors in Cambodia, technology is already benefitting the nation. One out of every six businesses launched in 2011 were part of the information and communications technology (ICT) industry. Mobile phone and Internet use have led this surge. Today, the number of mobile subscriptions in Cambodia exceeds the population. In 2012, Internet usage increased by almost 60 percent, jumping from 1.7 million users to 2.7 million users. The increase of mobile and Internet users in Cambodia means there is enormous potential for business growth and employment opportunities in the technology sector. For Cambodian job seekers, there will be an increased demand for positions that require skills in math, science, and engineering – fields of study currently underrepresented in Cambodia. Filling these higher skilled positions would translate into higher wages and add to Cambodia’s economic growth.
Technology has transformed how people live, learn, and communicate, as well as provided tools for making powerful, lasting changes. Improvements and advancements in technology are now enabling individuals, communities, and businesses to better connect with each other. For example, more and more people are communicating and receiving news through social media, especially here in Cambodia. Technology has an amazing ability to bridge the gaps between people across oceans, markets, languages, and social classes. It also allows people who live in remote locations to let their voices be heard by the rest of the world.
When traveling around Cambodia, have you ever wished you had an up-to-date map to help you navigate a new town or village? Well, Google’s new Map Maker technology is working to address this need by allowing ordinary citizens to contribute and improve maps of their villages with updated and more accurate information about their communities. This technological effort to provide complete, accurate, and robust maps can help promote Cambodia’s tourism, develop infrastructure, facilitate commercial deliveries, and assist in life-threatening emergencies.
Technology can also be a tool to develop a stronger relationship between a government and its citizens. Through a system called “e-government,” citizens can maintain a digital interaction with their governments that enforces transparency and accountability. In South Korea, e-government has been a hallmark to improving transparency, offering automated postal and other government services, and encouraging more participation in political processes. An e-government strategy in Cambodia may assist leaders on the municipal, provincial, and national level to resolve some of the most pressing political, social, and economic issues.
In Cambodia, technology is also enabling people to learn in new ways through mobile applications, social media, and online collaboration.