Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet has unveiled a strategic plan aimed at enhancing government efficiency by downsizing its bureaucratic framework. The reform will see the reduction of three general departments and 30 departments across various ministries and state agencies. This initiative is part of a broader effort to reform public administration, seeking to make government operations more streamlined and cost-effective.
During the opening ceremony of the General Department of Taxation’s new headquarters, Hun Manet detailed that this restructuring effort is designed to enhance government functionality, cut down on public expenditure, and better align state operations with the demands of a fast-evolving digital landscape. The reform comes after comprehensive reviews of 16 ministries and institutions, as the government sets its sights on improving institutional performance, optimizing human resource management, and ensuring state resources are utilized efficiently. Hun Manet emphasized that the primary goal of these changes is to modernize governmental functions, not for political maneuvering.
In line with these modernization efforts, several ministries and agencies have begun developing specialized units dedicated to digital systems and artificial intelligence, supporting Cambodia’s digital transformation agenda. Deputy Prime Minister Hun Many highlighted that the focus has been on reinforcing existing structures rather than expanding them. He pointed out that the Ministry of Public Service along with 12 other institutions have already undertaken steps to reduce departments and offices, all while keeping staffing levels steady and enhancing employee roles to boost productivity.
Despite these advancements, some observers express skepticism regarding the speed and effectiveness of the reforms. Critics argue that genuine administrative reform should prioritize reductions at the highest tiers of government and state institutions to achieve more significant savings and efficiency. Nevertheless, this restructuring initiative underscores Cambodia’s broader ambitions to modernize its public administration, improve governance, and ensure government operations are in sync with future economic and technological advancements.