SpaceX and Starlink, the two major tech companies founded by Elon Musk, Friday evinced interest in modernising digital services in Cambodia.
A delegation led by Rebecca Hunter, Marketing Director of SpaceX and Starlink, met Chea Ratha, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Commerce (MoC) and discussed the possibility of expanding investment in the Kingdom.
According to an MoC announcement yesterday, both sides discussed potential investments in public service delivery, with a focus on enhancing the ministry’s e-commerce platform.
Earlier, during a meeting with Prime Minister Hun Manet at the Peace Palace on Thursday, Hunter emphasised the Kingdom as a priority investment destination to establish strong relations with the Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC).
Hunter apprised the Premier on SpaceX and Starlink’s future operations and services in the Kingdom.
She also informed him that the delegation would be holding a series of meetings with relevant ministries and institutions to explore potential investment opportunities in the Kingdom.
Welcoming the SpaceX and Starlink’s interest in expanding investments and fostering strong relations with the Royal Government, Mr Hun Manet reaffirmed the government’s commitment to advancing the technology sector to keep pace with rapid global developments.
The Premier also encouraged Hunter to engage with relevant ministries and institutions to explore and promote investment opportunities throughout the country.
Later in the day, Hunter led the delegation to meet with Sun Chanthol, Deputy Prime Minister and First Vice-Chairman of the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC), to learn about the investment environment and explore new opportunities in the technology and modernisation sectors.
According to CDC announcement on Friday, Hunter stated that Cambodia is one of the top destinations for investment this year.
Chanthol responded by emphasising RGC’s policy on developing the technology sector which is one of the five key priorities under the ‘Pentagonal Strategy – Phase One’ to address the rapid development of current technologies.
The delegation’s visit to Cambodia was at the invitation of Chanthol during his trip to SpaceX headquarters in Hawthorne city on September 24 last year.
Speaking to Khmer Times, Seun Sam, a policy analyst at the Royal Academy of Cambodia, expressed surprise at the direct visit of a delegation from SpaceX and Starlink to the Kingdom, particularly as they have shown interest in investing in key sectors under the Trump administration.
Sam noted that SpaceX and Starlink are major US-based companies founded by Elon Musk, the world’s richest man with assets exceeding $400 billion. Under the Trump administration, Musk serves as the Administrator of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
“Whether the investment plan originates from the US government or the companies themselves, it will have a significant impact on local businesses and Cambodia’s socio-economic growth,” he said.
