Cambodia 2040

227 Pages·2019·17.178 MB·English

by  DETH Sok Udom, Bradley J. Murg, OU Virak, Michael Renfrew

CAMBODIA 2040
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Edited by
DETH SOK UDOM
BRADLEY J. MURG
OU VIRAK
MICHAEL RENFREW

Acknowledgements
Acknowledgements
This project would not have been possible without the support of Future
Forum’s partners at the Swedish International Development Cooperation
Agency and the Open Society Foundation. The editors would also like to thank
those who have supported the discussion and development of this project
throughout the last year including:
Nick Beresford, Tassilo Brinzer, David Chandler, CHEA Sophak, CHHORN
Chhayyuth, Joseph Curtin, EANG Bunthan, HAK Mao, HENG Sougech, Robert Hör,
KEO Piseth, KHOUN Theara, LIMSOK Chanlina, Richard Marshall, Duncan
McCargo, Bridget McIntosh, Marcus Mohlin, PAK Kimchoeun, Daniel
Schmücking, Camile Tijamo, and Tineke Waters.
Finally, we would like to extend our appreciation to ING Phousera (Séra), for his
creative vision and talent in creating the accompanying illustrations, and Dani
Gill, for her expertise formatting the volume.

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The Organizations
The Organizations
Future Forum
Founded by Ou Virak in late 2015, Future Forum is an independent think tank
that focuses on research, analysis, and public policy, representing a dynamic
response to an identified “policy gap” in Cambodia.
While there are various civil society actors in Cambodia engaged with a wide
variety of issues, Future Forum takes a broader view and adopts a more
measured, analytical and considered approach that identifies underlying trends
and employs rigorous research, and creative and principled policy
recommendations to help shape Cambodia’s policy discourse.
Rather than simply identifying problems, Future Forum adopts a solution-
oriented approach, and uses its research to equip key decision-makers with
detailed, specific, constructive policy solutions to Cambodia’s issues. Future
Forum remains closely connected to youth and grassroots civil society networks
such that it can provide local communities with the benefit of policy, analysis
and technical assistance.
Konrad Adenauer Stiftung
Freedom, justice and solidarity are the basic principles underlying the work of
the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS). The KAS is a political foundation, closely
associated with the Christian Democratic Union of Germany (CDU). As co-
founder of the CDU and the first Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany,
Konrad Adenauer (1876-1967) united Christian-social, conservative and liberal
traditions. His name is synonymous with the democratic reconstruction of
Germany, the firm alignment of foreign policy with the trans-Atlantic community
of values, the vision of a unified Europe and an orientation towards the social
market economy. His intellectual heritage continues to serve both as our aim as
well as our obligation today. In our European and international cooperation
efforts we work for people to be able to live self-determined lives in freedom
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The Organizations
and dignity. We make a contribution underpinned by values to helping Germany
meet its growing responsibilities throughout the world.
KAS has been working in Cambodia since 1994, striving to support the
Cambodian people in fostering dialogue, building networks and enhancing
scientific projects. Thereby, the foundation works towards creating an
environment conducive to economic and social development. All programs are
conceived and implemented in close cooperation with the Cambodian partners
on central and sub-national levels.
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The Contributors
The Contributors
The Editors
DETH Sok Udom is Associate Professor of International Relations and Rector of
Paragon International University (formerly Zaman University). Dr. Deth received his
bachelor’s degree with High honor’s in Sociology from Boĝaziçi University (Turkey), a
master’s degree in Southeast Asian Studies from Ohio University (USA), and a Ph.D.
in Southeast Asian Studies from Humboldt University of Berlin (Germany). He is a
member of the Board of Academic Advisors of Future Forum and a Senior Fellow at
the Cambodian Institute for Cooperation and Peace (CICP). Dr. Deth is credited with
several academic publications and has been invited to give guest lectures at various
institutions/universities. Occasionally, he shares his insights on local and regional
media about Cambodian and regional affairs as well.
Bradley J. Murg is Assistant Professor of Political Science and Asian Studies and
Director of Global Development Studies at Seattle Pacific University and Director of
Research at Future Forum. Additionally, Dr. Murg also holds positions as Affiliate
Professor at the Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies at the University of
Washington, Senior Visiting Research Fellow at the Cambodian Institute for
Cooperation and Peace, Distinguished Fellow at the Royal University of Law and
Economics, Visiting Professor at Paragon International University, and lead editor of
the Journal of Greater Mekong Studies. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Emory
University with a B.A./M.A. in philosophy, received a M.Sc. in economic history from
the London School of Economics, and his M.A. and Ph.D. in political science from the
University of Washington.
OU Virak is the founder and president of Future Forum. He is one of Cambodia’s
most prominent and principled political analysts and human rights activists, with
proven expertise in strengthening grassroots movements, conducting political
economy analyses, spearheading organizational development and directing risk
assessments. Prior to founding Future Forum in late 2015, Virak led the Cambodian
Center for Human Rights, one of Cambodia’s premier human rights organizations,
where he turned the organization around and rebuilt it from the ground up after
significant losses in both staff and funding. He has led successful campaigns to free
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The Contributors
human rights activists and tackled some of the most controversial issues in
Cambodia: rule of law, freedom of expression, racism, LGBT rights, forced evictions
and more. He holds an MA in Economics from California State University of San Jose.
Michael Renfrew is a PhD candidate with the University of Glasgow working on
international trade and trade agreement characteristics, with a focus on the ASEAN
region. Michael works with Future Forum as the Program Manager for Cambodia
Outlook, the think-tanks publication and output arm. He holds a master’s degree in
economic development from the University of Glasgow (Scotland), alongside an
honor’s degree in international business and economics from the University of
Strathclyde (Scotland). He began his association with Cambodia in 2016 as the
Communications Volunteer at local youth-development NGO Youth Star Cambodia,
of which he is currently chairperson.
The Authors
Ms. Maureen Boyle
Current Position: Senior Policy Officer at South Australian Council of Social
Services in Adelaide.
Education: Doctoral candidate at Curtin University; BA in Sustainable
Development (energy studies) from Murdoch University; and MA in International
Relations from Flinders University.
Research Interests: Energy transitions and the influence of industrialization on
development pathways.
Mr. CHEAN Sithykun
Current Position: Former senior economist, macroeconomic and fiscal policy
department, at Ministry of Economy and Finance.
Education: Master of Public Policy in Economic Policy, The Australian National
University, 2017; Master of Business Administration, the Royal University of Law
and Economics, 2013; bachelor’s degree in economic sciences, the Royal
University of Law and Economic, 2005.
Research Interests: Energy Economics and Tax Policy.
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The Contributors
Mr. DARAVUTH Sithy Rath
Current Position: Lecturer of International Affairs at the Department of
International Studies of RUPP, and an affiliate policy researcher at the Institute
for the Future Economy (IFE) in Malaysia.
Education: Currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Public Policy at the University
of Warwick in the United Kingdom as a recipient of the Chevening Scholarship
(2019 – 2020). Other degrees include a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies
(with honors) from the Royal University of Phnom Penh (RUPP), and a Bachelor
of Arts in Economics (with honors) from Pannasastra University of Cambodia
(PUC).
Research Interests: Southeast Asian/ASEAN regional affairs, the impacts of
technological and social disruptions on public policies, and youth development
in the context of intergenerational equity.
Dr. HENG Pheakdey
Current Position: Founding chairman of Enrich Institute.
Education: Ph.D from VU University (Amsterdam) and a master’s degree from
the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (Singapore).
Research Interests: Private sector engagement, public sector governance,
digital economy, and green growth.
Ms. KRUY Narin
Current Position: Special Appointee at the International Monetary Fund (IMF)
and Deputy Director of General Department of Policy at Cambodia’s Ministry of
Economy and Finance.
Education: Master’s degree in International Development Program from
International University of Japan, and graduate study at Michigan State
University.
Research Interests: Economic analysis and forecasting, economic monitoring,
policy dialogues with key domestic and international partners and economic
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The Contributors
policy and strategy formulation such as Revenue Mobilization Strategy,
Macroeconomic Framework, Medium-Term Fiscal Framework.
Mr. OUNG Ty Keithya
Current Position: Freelance researcher
Education: Dual-higher educations in Master of Public Administration (MPA)
from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs of Syracuse University
(SU) and Master of Professional Studies in Environmental Policy from the State
University of New York - College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY-
ESF).
Research Interests: Environmental policy, climate change, and sustainable
development.
H.E. Dr. PHU Leewood
Current Position: GCIO and Advisor to the Royal Government of Cambodia.
Education: Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from Gonzaga
University, Spokane, Washington and Honorary Doctorate degree in Engineering
from Woosuk University, Republic of Korea.
Research Interests: Software engineering; e-Government policy &
development and project management.
Mr. SOK Kha
Current Position: Development consultant and researcher, and trade
facilitation advisor for ASEAN–EU project ARISE Plus.
Education: Master’s degree and Certificate of Completion of Doctoral Program
in Economics, from Kyoto University, Japan.
Research Interests: Trade policy, trade facilitation, and regional cooperation
mechanism in the Mekong Subregion and Southeast Asia.
Mr. VRAK Thanit
Current Position: Full-time lecturer at the Department of International Studies
at the Royal University of Phnom Penh (RUPP).
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