The Office of the Council of Ministers (OCM) of Cambodia and the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) of the United Kingdom have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Supporting Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) Reform to promote smarter lawmaking and stronger institutions in contribution to sustainable socio-economic development in Cambodia.
The MoU was signed on Sept. 11 at the OCM by H.E. Vongsey Vissoth, Permanent Deputy Prime Minister and Minister in charge of the OCM, and H.E. Dominic Williams, British Ambassador to Cambodia.
H.E. Vongsey Vissoth said the MoU marks an important step in the Royal Government’s reform agenda, aimed at improving the drafting of laws, legal frameworks, and other legal documents; building stronger institutions; and creating an enabling environment for sustainable, resilient, and climate-friendly development.
He underlined that the MoU will help strengthen the capacity of four ministries and institutions through training for relevant officials and the establishment of e-learning platforms to assess the economic, social, and environmental impacts of draft laws, legal frameworks, and policies.
“RIA reform is designed to ensure consistency in legal document preparation, avoid overlapping mandates and excessive compliance burdens, reduce unnecessary costs, foster a fair and reliable level playing field for business and investment, enhance national competitiveness, generate socio-economic benefits, and improve people’s livelihoods,” he stressed.
The Permanent Deputy Prime Minister also recalled the establishment of the RIA Working Group in 2016 under the leadership of Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, former Prime Minister and current President of the Senate, reaffirming the Royal Government’s continued commitment in the 7th Legislature. He highlighted the issuance of Royal Sub-Decree No. 170 in July 2024 on the Implementation of Guidelines for Drafting Laws and Legal Documents, which requires all draft legal texts to undergo stakeholder consultations and impact assessments as part of the RIA process.
H.E. Vongsey Vissoth expressed appreciation to the FCDO, the British Embassy in Cambodia, the Economic, Social and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC), the Legal Advisory Council, and the RIA Working Group for their continued support in advancing this reform process.
For his part, H.E. Dominic Williams said the RIA initiative serves to protect people, uphold standards, facilitate private sector activities, and ensure fair and effective competition—reflecting stronger bilateral cooperation between Cambodia and the UK.
He stressed that the UK’s involvement in this initiative is part of its commitment to supporting Cambodia’s development, strengthening good governance, and advancing the rule of law.
“This collaboration (three-year partnership) will strengthen Cambodia’s regulatory framework, improve policymaking, and create a more transparent and investor-friendly business environment. It supports Cambodia’s efforts to promote sustainable economic growth and prepare for graduation from Least Developed Country status,” the British Ambassador said on his official social media platform. “Together, we are building smarter laws, stronger institutions, and a better future for all.”
