Cambodian Interior Minister Urges Civil Society to Continue Contributing to National Development

During the closing ceremony of the 7th Government-Civil Society Partnership Forum held on the morning of July 28, 2026, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, Sar Sokha, urged all civil society organizations, associations, and development partners to continue collaborating with the government to promote sustainable national development. He stated that the forum, now in its seventh iteration, demonstrates the Cambodian government's strong commitment to maintaining and strengthening a systematic dialogue mechanism between state institutions and civil society organizations to jointly address challenges and find common solutions in the spirit of true partnership. The Deputy Prime Minister added that the government continues to regard civil society organizations as important strategic partners who have actively contributed to the restoration and development of the nation across all sectors. As of June 2026, the total number of registered domestic civil society organizations stands at 6,597, comprising 3,001 associations and 3,596 non-governmental organizations (NGOs). From the forum, Sar Sokha also instructed all associations and NGOs to operate in accordance with current laws, ensure financial transparency, and use digital systems responsibly. He also urged sub-national administrations to facilitate regular consultative forums and take measures to prevent fraudulent activities at the local level. Regarding the various challenges raised during the forum, the Minister of Interior considered them valuable inputs for finding solutions and streamlining administrative procedures to be more convenient. Specifically, he mentioned promoting digital mechanisms to reduce complexity and respond to the requests of associations and NGOs in a timely and effective manner. Source: Kampuchea Thmey Local