Battambang, February 23, 2025 – The Coordinating Committee on Informal Economy Development (CCIED), in collaboration with the Battambang Provincial Administration, organized a large-scale public campaign with 3,000 members of Battambang’s informal economy. The event aimed to promote understanding and boost registration, as part of the government's broader strategy to nurture and integrate informal workers into the formal sector.

The event was chaired by H.E. Hem Vanndy, Minister of Industry, Science, Technology & Innovation and Chairman of CCIED, alongside H.E. Uy Ry, Chair of the Provincial Board of Battambang Province, and H.E. Sok Lou, Governor of Battambang Province.

Minister Vanndy reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening the informal economy, stating, “The Royal Government prioritizes the development of the informal economy to boost participation in supply chains and value-added activities, while contributing directly to reducing poverty and social inequality.”

He emphasized that onboarding allows informal economy actors to access essential support services, including skills development, social security benefits, formal financial services, and social protection.

H.E. Sok Lou said Battambang is one of Cambodia’s largest provinces with over 1.4 million residents. He urged those working and operating in the informal sector to learn about the benefits of joining the platform.

Launched on December 16, 2024, the Digital Platform for Onboarding the Informal Economy provides a streamlined process for informal economy actors to register. The platform integrates advanced technologies, including AI-assisted data entry, CamDigiKey for secure identification, and interoperability with the Cambodia Data Exchange (CamDx) and verify.gov.kh for certificate authentication.

Following a successful campaign in Phnom Penh on January 20, 2025, onboarding efforts have gained significant traction. To date, 18,522 informal economy actors have registered, with Phnom Penh leading in sign-ups. Battambang, currently in 11th place with 394 registrations, aims to accelerate participation through continued outreach efforts.

Minister Hem Vanndy called on ministries-institutions and capital-provincial administrations to expand outreach efforts at the village, commune, and Sangkat levels to maximize participation. He underscored that onboarding is free, voluntary, and essential for policy making and ensuring effective targeted interventions.

The platform offers multiple onboarding options, including the CAM-IE mobile app, web portal, and nationwide registration points at Wing Bank, ACLEDA Bank, ABA Bank, SME Bank, and ARDB Bank. Target groups include microenterprises, workers and employees of microenterprises, seasonal workers, and self-employed individuals in the informal sector.