Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet has unveiled a plan to restructure the government by cutting three general departments and 30 departments across various ministries and agencies. This initiative is part of an ongoing reform program aimed at enhancing public administration. During the inauguration of the new General Department of Taxation headquarters, Hun Manet emphasized that this restructuring is intended to boost efficiency, cut public expenditure, and align state institutions with the demands of a rapidly changing digital era.
The reform strategy emerged from detailed reviews of 16 ministries and institutions. Hun Manet outlined the primary goals, which include strengthening institutional performance, improving human resource management, and optimizing the use of state resources. He stressed that the changes are designed to modernize government operations rather than fulfill political motives. Reflecting this modernization drive, several ministries and agencies have established specialized units focusing on digital systems and artificial intelligence, supporting Cambodia’s digital transformation agenda.
Deputy Prime Minister Hun Many echoed the sentiment of reform, stating that the government’s approach is concentrated on reinforcing existing structures instead of expanding them. He pointed out that the Ministry of Public Service and 12 other institutions have already reduced numerous departments and offices, while maintaining staffing levels. This move has also involved increasing employee responsibilities to drive productivity improvements.
Despite these efforts, some observers express skepticism about the reform’s pace and potential impact. Critics argue that genuine administrative reform should prioritize reductions at the highest levels of government and state institutions to achieve significant savings and efficiency. Nonetheless, the restructuring initiative is a part of Cambodia’s broader goals to modernize public administration, improve governance, and prepare government operations for future economic and technological challenges.
