Kristiina Kuvaja-Xanthopoulos, the newly appointed Finnish Ambassador to Cambodia, Wednesday pledged to provide technical assistance in the digital, trade, investment and business sectors aimed at creating an innovation ecosystem for small and medium enterprises (SMEs).
Leading a delegation, the Finnish Ambassador based in Bangkok paid a courtesy call to Prime Minister Hun Manet to strengthen bilateral cooperation at the Peace Palace in the capital.
Ambassador Kristiina expressed deep appreciation for the Kingdom’s progress across various sectors and congratulated the Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC) on its numerous achievements over the past two decades.
She praised the strong relations between Finland and Cambodia and voiced satisfaction with their cooperation in various sectors including mine clearance, agriculture and land registration.
Mr Hun Manet congratulated Ambassador Kristiina on her appointment as the Ambassador of Finland to Cambodia and conveyed his deep gratitude to the government and people of Finland for their contributions to the Kingdom’s socio-economic development.
He praised the strong, 55-year-long relations between the two countries and expressed confidence that the new Ambassador would further contribute to enhancing and expanding their cooperation.
The Premier also highlighted RGC implementation of policies and measures aimed to improve citizens’ livelihoods and well-being by strengthening the health sector, education, vocational training, and job creation, while promoting digital connectivity and sustainable development.
During the meeting, both sides discussed potential cooperation in the areas of digitalisation, environment, trade, investment and business, emphasising the importance of innovation and building an ecosystem to support SMEs development.
Mr Hun Manet asked the Ambassador to maintain close engagement and collaboration with relevant ministries and institutions to further strengthen cooperation between Cambodia and Finland.
Later in the day, Ambassador Kristiina met Kong Marry, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Economy and Finance, to discuss digital transformation and the digital economy in the Kingdom, as well as to explore the possibility of providing technical assistance for the electronic delivery of public services.
Ambassador Kristiina yesterday also held talks with Eat Sophea, Permanent Secretary of State of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MFAIC), on potential areas for further cooperation between the two nations, along with regional and global issues of mutual interest and concern.
Speaking to Khmer Times, Seun Sam, a policy analyst at the Royal Academy of Cambodia, highlighted that Finland has been a member of the European Union since 1995 and is a well-developed country in terms of technology and economy.
Finland is considered one of the most peaceful and stable countries in the world, known for its high levels of accountability and transparency, he said.
Sam acknowledged that technical assistance from Finland is crucial to Cambodia’s investment, business, and digital transformation. “More importantly, RGC has also introduced policies and initiatives to modernise both public and private institutions,” he added.
He said that receiving assistance from experts with extensive experience in the relevant fields will reduce time, budget, and effort, enabling projects to be completed more efficiently.
