UNESCO and the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications to cooperate to enhance access to ICTs in Cambodia

UNESCO Country Representative, Mr. Sardar Umar Alam (right) and Minister of Post and Telecommunications of Cambodia, H.E. Vandeth Chea (left) with their teams during the meeting held at the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications in Phnom Penh on 20 October 2020” ©MPTC/2020.

On October 20, the Minister of Post and Telecommunications of Cambodia, H.E. Vandeth Chea, and UNESCO Representative, Mr. Sardar Umar Alam, discussed collaboration to strengthen cooperation in the areas of universal access to information, ICT for education and culture, and the sciences in order to support Cambodia in its transition towards a digital and knowledge society.

Knowledge and information have significant impact on people’s lives. Their association, particularly through Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), has the power to transform economies and societies. Knowledge societies must build on four pillars: freedom of expression; universal access to information and knowledge; respect for cultural and linguistic diversity; and quality education for all. UNESCO works to create inclusive knowledge societies and empower local communities by increasing access to, preservation and sharing of information and knowledge in all of the Organization’s fields of work.

At the meeting, MPT and UNESCO discussed technical assistance in supporting policies and programmes to ensure that all citizens in Cambodia can benefit from equal access to information and knowledge through ICTs, which will contribute to reducing inequalities, facilitating access to quality education for all, and ultimately to the sustainable social and economic development of the country.