Cambodia Pushes Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) Reform to Mitigate Negative Economic and Social Effects

Cambodia is strengthening its reforms concerning Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) to mitigate potential negative effects of legal regulations on economic activities, society, and citizens' lives. On July 31, 2026, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister in Charge of the Council of Ministers, Vongsey Vissoth, chaired a meeting of the Steering Committee for RIA Reform. The meeting reviewed the progress of the RIA project undertaken by the Council of Ministers and set future work directions. Deputy Prime Minister Vongsey Vissoth stated that in the past, some legal regulations have caused adverse impacts on businesses, the economy, society, and citizens due to the lack of thorough and comprehensive RIA beforehand. RIA is a crucial tool to ensure that government decisions, through the issuance of various legal regulations, are of high quality, supported by evidence, and minimize negative impacts by establishing necessary measures and structuring the work system. He further noted that the implementation of RIA has been scattered and lacked a clear framework. Therefore, it is necessary to review and establish a strategic RIA management system with a clear framework, integrating RIA as part of the policy and regulation drafting process for ministries and institutions. The Deputy Prime Minister emphasized that overly strict laws can hinder development and individual freedom, while a lack of laws can lead to anarchy. Thus, RIA should be used as an effective mechanism to balance state control (Visible Hand) and market mechanisms (Invisible Hand). To expedite this RIA reform for timely and effective progress, the Deputy Prime Minister provided several directives: establishing a Project Management Unit (PMU), forming two special Task Forces, preparing strategic and action plans, and a budget plan for RIA program implementation. Additionally, he called for the creation of mechanisms for leadership and coordination to monitor, inspect, and promote the efficient and effective preparation and implementation of this work. These reforms are expected to benefit the economy and society, particularly in terms of investment, business, and people's livelihoods. Source: CPP Cambodia