The Royal Government of Cambodia received the Institutional Capability Development Plan for the National Productivity Centre of Cambodia (NPCC) during a ceremony at the Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology and Innovation (MISTI) in Phnom Penh on 22 July 2026. The plan was presented by Dr. Indra Pradana Singawinata, Secretary-General of the Asian Productivity Organization (APO), to H.E. Hem Vanndy, Minister of Industry, Science, Technology and Innovation. This initiative aims to strengthen the NPCC, Cambodia’s national productivity institution, to support the country's goal of sustaining competitiveness through productivity and innovation as it prepares to graduate from least developed country status in 2029.

The Institutional Capability Development Plan (ICDP) provides a structured pathway for enhancing the NPCC's institutional capability. It builds on the National Productivity Master Plan developed in 2018 with APO support, shifting focus from strategy development to institutional implementation. The plan addresses the need for the NPCC to translate national productivity priorities into practical services and measurable results for enterprises and public institutions.

Strategic Objectives and Reform Categories

The ICDP outlines three mutually reinforcing reform categories supported by 10 reform actions and a three-year capability pathway. The categories are:

• Strengthening institutional and governance foundations.
• Strengthening organizational systems and human capabilities.
• Enhancing service effectiveness, stakeholder engagement, and results-based management.

The plan emphasizes that productivity improvement requires more than activity expansion. It calls for a clearer institutional purpose, stronger governance systems, a demand-responsive service model, deeper technical capabilities, and a shift from measuring activities to demonstrating productivity results.

Implementation and Stakeholder Roles

APO Secretary-General Dr. Indra Pradana Singawinata highlighted that the plan's value depends on implementation. He noted that sustained leadership from MISTI, strong ownership by the NPCC, adequate resources, and disciplined monitoring are essential for the NPCC to contribute to Cambodia's long-term competitiveness. H.E. Hem Vanndy emphasized that the ICDP would strengthen Cambodia’s productivity ecosystem by enhancing the NPCC's capacity to support government agencies and enterprises in improving productivity and operational efficiency.

Um Serivuth, Director of the NPCC, stated that the plan provides a clearer pathway for strengthening institutional systems and partnerships. The APO reaffirmed its readiness to support Cambodia through technical cooperation and knowledge exchange as the development plan moves toward implementation.