(Phnom Penh): On 13 August 2025, Hem Vanndy, Minister of Industry, Science, Technology & Innovation (MISTI) and Chairman of the Khmer Enterprise (KE) Board of Trustees, presided over the 18th Board of Trustees Meeting to review and evaluate the key achievements from the first half of 2025 and to set strategic directions responding to current economic trends and future vision for promoting and strengthening our entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Highlights were the approvals of several forward-looking programs aimed at addressing local economic demands, which include:
● The 13th Khmer Enterprise Assistance Package continues to open applications and provide financial support to local entrepreneurs nationwide, focusing on product development and market expansion.
● The HighschoolPreneur and UniPreneur programs have expanded in scope and intensified competitiveness across the country. Through these two initiatives, Khmer Enterprise has directly fostered an entrepreneurial mindset among more than 8,300 students who have submitted their business ideas this year.
● Upcoming Entrepreneurial Campaigns are also set to inspire and energize the entrepreneurial community. These campaigns will include 1) national-level awards recognizing outstanding entrepreneurs across sectors—from high school to micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs); 2) local entrepreneur gatherings aimed at increasing sharing knowledge to access to investment opportunities from both domestic and international investors; 3) building network between ecosystem builders across Asia; and 4) business matching events with many local supermarket representatives.

Speaking at the meeting, Hem Vanndy emphasized: “Khmer Enterprise’s initiatives have proven highly effective in supporting local entrepreneurs and generating employment opportunities. Khmer Enterprise continues to safeguard core programs, strategically expand existing projects, and serve as a vital bridge between SMEs and large corporations for better integration, resilience, and sustainability. To further strengthen our ecosystem, we need to cultivate entrepreneurial mindsets. Startups and SMEs should organize into collaborative clusters as a power of aggregation to promote innovation, learning, and growth.”

Chhieng Vanmunin, Delegate of the Royal Government in charge as Chief Executive Officer of Khmer Enterprise, affirmed that: “ Khmer Enterprise is a force in driving economic growth through the creation of innovative products and services that meet market demands. In the current economic context, promoting startups to adapt and adopt technologies and innovations is a crucial step to ensure sustainable growth, adaptability, and resilience. Moreover, linking small and medium enterprises (SMEs) with skilled professionals is a top priority to generate job opportunities and competitiveness.”

The Board of Trustees expressed its continued support for Khmer Enterprise's vision of fostering innovation, supporting business growth, and strengthening partnerships with development agencies and stakeholders within the entrepreneurial ecosystem to create a vibrant environment for startups and SMEs in Cambodia.
=FRESH NEWS