William E. Todd is U.S. Ambassador to the Kingdom of Cambodia
"Over the last ten years, Cambodia has benefitted from tremendous economic growth, mainly from its agriculture, garment, construction, and tourism sectors. As an economy develops, technology often becomes a catalyst to this growth, which goes to the heart of a recent question from a reader who asked, “How can technology benefit a small, developing country like Cambodia?”
As one of the fastest growing sectors in Cambodia, technology is already benefitting the nation. One out of every six businesses launched in 2011 were part of the information and communications technology (ICT) industry. Mobile phone and Internet use have led this surge. Today, the number of mobile subscriptions in Cambodia exceeds the population. In 2012, Internet usage increased by almost 60 percent, jumping from 1.7 million users to 2.7 million users. The increase of mobile and Internet users in Cambodia means there is enormous potential for business growth and employment opportunities in the technology sector. For Cambodian job seekers, there will be an increased demand for positions that require skills in math, science, and engineering – fields of study currently underrepresented in Cambodia. Filling these higher skilled positions would translate into higher wages and add to Cambodia’s economic growth.
In my discussion on media freedom last week, I mentioned that the free flow of information builds an effective and prosperous society. Technology enhances this information flow and contributes to a healthy and vibrant environment that supports the exchange of ideas. Singapore is an example of a small country that has leveraged technology and the free flow of ideas to advance its economy. Its investments to promote research, innovation, and enterprise development have significantly contributed to its position as a leading Asian economy. With Cambodian youth enthusiastically embracing technological advancements, some additional investment in technology would play an increasingly important role in shaping the country’s future.
Technology has transformed how people live, learn, and communicate, as well as provided tools for making powerful, lasting changes. Improvements and advancements in technology are now enabling individuals, communities, and businesses to better connect with each other. For example, more and more people are communicating and receiving news through social media, especially here in Cambodia. Technology has an amazing ability to bridge the gaps between people across oceans, markets, languages, and social classes. It also allows people who live in remote locations to let their voices be heard by the rest of the world(...)."