Cambodia's National Institute of Statistics Breaks Ground for New 8-Story Building

On June 29, 2026, Cambodia's Ministry of Planning broke ground for the construction of a new building for the National Institute of Statistics. The 8-story building, located in the Russey Keo district of Phnom Penh, is slated for completion within three years and is seen as a crucial step towards modernizing and strengthening Cambodia's national statistical system. Presiding over the groundbreaking ceremony, Minister of Planning Bin Trachay, along with other senior officials from the ministry and the National Institute of Statistics, highlighted the significance of the project. Minister Bin Trachay emphasized that the new building is more than just a physical structure; it is a "symbol of investment in knowledge, data, evidence, and the future of national development." The facility is envisioned to become a modern statistics center equipped with the latest digital infrastructure and technology to support the production, management, and dissemination of official statistical data, thereby reinforcing Cambodia's national statistical system. The Minister stated that the new building will serve as a solid foundation for building a society that makes decisions based on data and concrete evidence. He provided three key recommendations to the National Institute of Statistics and relevant parties: First, to continuously strengthen and develop the National Institute of Statistics into an efficient and effective core institution for producing, managing, using, and sharing official statistical data to support evidence-based national development. Second, to drive digital transformation and build an integrated national data system connecting government agencies at all levels. Furthermore, to enhance the quality and efficiency of data production by promoting the use of administrative data, geospatial data, big data, and artificial intelligence technologies. Third, to continue investing in human resource development and improving the working environment, utilizing the new building as a national center for statistical innovation and excellence to support effective and sustainable public policy formulation and implementation. This project aligns with the vision and strategy of the current government's "Strategic Pentagon Phase 1," led by Prime Minister Hun Manet, and is expected to mark the beginning of a new phase in the development of the national statistical system.