5th Mekong ICT Camp
Opening Speech
H.E. Mr. OUK Kimseng, under-Secretary of State,
Cambodia’s Ministry of Information
September 4 to 8, 2017, Siem Reap,Cambodia
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Ms. Pissamai khanobdee
Ms. Misako Ito
Mr. Norbert Klein
Today, I have the honor to grace this important event, gathering people with ICT knowledge by either profession or by end-use for the good of all countries named in the Mekong sub-region.
Let me recall my ever first participation in this regional efforts to get people together and let them share experiences pertaining to the rapid growing of information and communication technology in the world, especially in South East Asia and/or in Mekong sub-region, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam. It was Mekong ICT Camp2 in June, 2010 held in Thailand’s Chiang Mai province. I was one among online applicants assessed and accepted for the function. I hope some of you may acknowledge this recall.
Let me extend my heartfelt appreciation to the Thai Fund Foundation for having thus far made this professional gathering possible.
As we are discussing and sharing ideas for Social Innovation for development in the region, I would like to bring to your attention the number of media outlets in Cambodia in addition to the social media platforms, like facebook, telegram, etc..
With a population of 15.9 million , Cambodia has over 30 terrestrial analogue and digital TV stations and around 122 cable or paid TV stations across the country. Radio broadcast is also a growing industry. There are around 180 radio stations.
By the first half of this year there are around 7,160,000 active internet users,4,800,000 of whom are reportedly confirmed to be social media users.
I understand that media can play important roles to promote ideas for development.
Establishing people-to-people bonds could be one of the most challenging tasks of any media. The present day youths, as leaders of tomorrow, can enhance people-to-people connectivity to develop ideas for any innovations for development among nations in the region.
The Mekong ICT Camp , as a matter of fact, can help open doors to connectivity and also have a better understanding of cultures, history, and the social patterns of the people outside of one’s realm. It should rightfully play its role in fostering deeper mutual understanding among participants of different nationalities from this sub-region.
However, secured connectivity must be made available and accessible to people involved in projects as designed for the Mekong ICT Camp 2017 theme, including Government transparency, Environmental and Climate Change, Resilience and smart city, Community wifi, Internet security and privacy, Online training, and technology projects to support Social Development.
Through gatherings forged, all participants, particularly youths can capture insights into different paths of development taken by their respective countries, as well as each country’s unique foreign policy, culture, and way of life.
Over the years, we’ve learned the importance of media in our professional and personal lives. It is after all a revolution of itself. From improving governments to socializing businesses to improving collaboration and learning to investing in personal or people to people development, experiences and lessons that will emerge from this gathering may influence and reshape current needs for respective, national development plans.
Nowadays, we live in the information age where every individual has easy and quick access to a variety of information sources., either through the touch of a button, a glimpse at the morning daily news on smartphones and tablets or notebooks.
The advantages of information and communication technology are omnipresent and cannot be underestimated.
As per my personal notes on agendas and activities planned in the function timetable, you all will undergo chains of expertise and know-hows provided by professionals and experts, invited to share the most with you pertaining to the theme. Topics will cover from design thinking, working with community, information security, anthropological tools for development work, building secure community information network, digital media tools for development, privacy and security for field data collection and usage, community mapping, social entrepreneurship, crowd funding to public awareness of internet and data privacy.
I am convinced that all participants will obtain and make use of all advantages prevailing in this event.
I wish you all the best and I announce the opening of the Mekong ICT Camp 2017 in this land of wonder of the Kingdom of Cambodia, ANGKOR WAT !
Thank you
