Cambodia Accelerates Legal Reforms Through National Workshop on Regulatory Impact Assessment and Good Practice Regulation

• Proeksa Meas
• 7 September 2026
• Local News
• 81 Views

Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Vongsey Vissoth leads multi-agency session with British experts to refine regulatory drafting and enhance economic competitiveness

Phnom Penh: Modernizing Cambodia’s legal ecosystem and improving the efficiency of regulatory frameworks achieved a key institutional benchmark aimed at strengthening public administration and fostering a predictable business environment. On August 25, 2026, the Office of the Council of Ministers hosted a national workshop titled “Regulatory Impact Assessment and the Implementation of Legal Norms” in Phnom Penh. The session was presided over by Permanent Deputy Prime Minister and Minister in Charge of the Office of the Council of Ministers H.E. Vongsey Vissoth, with attendance from Ms. Abigail Fryer, representing the British Embassy in Cambodia, and delegates from line ministries, the Council of Lawyers, the Economic, Social and Cultural Council, the Legal Reform Steering Committee, the Khmer Language Committee, and senior officials from the Council of Ministers also actively participated.

The workshop featured specialized presentations by British international consultants, senior British regulatory reform officials, and representatives from the Economic, Social, and Cultural Council. Expert speakers shared practical insights and technical methodologies to build institutional capacity across government bodies in preparing Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) reports and executing Good Practice Regulation (GPR) principles. Discussions highlighted the importance of conducting systematic impact analyses during the early stages of legal drafting, ensuring that proposed regulations are evidence-based, transparent, and aligned with public policy goals.

The active engagement of sectoral representatives, including public works and transport officials, underscores an inter-ministerial commitment to institutionalizing standardized regulatory evaluations across state administration. Rigorous ex-ante impact assessments enable policymakers to eliminate regulatory redundancies, reduce compliance costs for enterprises, and mitigate potential administrative conflicts, thereby boosting investor confidence and expanding Cambodia’s national economic competitiveness.

The purposes of the national workshop on Regulatory Impact Assessment and Good Practice Regulation mark a vital advancement in Cambodia’s broader legal and institutional reform roadmap. By institutionalizing data-backed regulatory evaluation processes, the Royal Government of Cambodia reinforces the rule of law, protects civic interests, and lays a durable foundation for inclusive, long-term socio-economic growth.

   

• Laws and Regulation
• Policy and Strategy
• RIA
• GPR