The Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA) organized a Public Private Partnership (PPP) Technical Workshop with the theme of "Toward Tailored Approach to Establishing PPP Guidelines in South East Asia" at Phnom Penh Hotel, Phnom Penh, Cambodia on August 21, 2014 with special support from the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC).

The Workshop is the third and last in a series of ERIA PPP Technical Workshops held in Myanmar, Lao PDR, and Cambodia in August 2014.

In his opening remarks, H.E. Sok Chenda Sophea, Minister attached to the Prime Minister and Secretary General of CDC, stressed the importance of human resource development, which is included as one of the priorities in the national development plan, for both private and public sectors in the implementation of PPP in Cambodia but noted that the concept and experience of PPP itself is not totally new. He expressed his hope that this Workshop will be an opportunity to think forward for supporting the Law on Concession promulgated in 2007 which requires further explication in terms of implementation or understanding among stakeholders.

Throughout the presentation and discussion sessions, the distinguished speakers and participants numbering around 80 and representing the public and private sectors as well as academia in and outside Cambodia actively took part. H.E. Victor Jona, Director General of Mines and Energy, mapped the future power development plan and highlighted PPP as a new scheme to achieve the target. Mr. Pen Thirong, Deputy Director General of Budget, Ministry of Economy and Finance, shared the recent efforts and future roadmap in the establishment of the PPP mechanism in the ministry. Mr. Nou Vaddanak, Deputy Director General of Public Works, Ministry of Public Works and Transport, introduced the road development strategy and cases of BOT projects in the sector. Representing the business sector, meanwhile, Mr. Lim Visal, Assistant to the Chairman of L.Y.P Group Co., Ltd, Cambodia, and Mr. Shuichiro Murakami, Deputy General Manager of Overseas Department, Mitsui & Co., Ltd Japan, both shared the private sector's perspectives on PPP, saying, for instance, that a robust PPP contract is always critical for private parties.

Other speakers include: Dr. Chap Sotharith, Cambodian Institute for Cooperation and Peace, Cambodia; Dr. Michael Regan, Professor of Bond University, Australia; Dr. Ibnu Syabri, Associate Professor of Bandung Institute of Technology, Indonesia; Mr. Nik Nasir Majid, Independent Consultant of Malaysia; Dr. Fauziah Zen, Economist, ERIA; Mr. Im Sokthy, Deputy Chief of Division, Supreme National Economic Council; and Mr. Bretton G. Sciaroni, Senior Partner of Sciaroni and Associates, and Chairman of the International Business Chamber of Cambodia (IBC). For the panel discussion, the panelists shared their experiences and views on the current Concession Law, independent central body for PPP, the effort for Public-Private Dialogue, cost of feasibility study, and risks associating with PPP projects.

Finally, Mr. Yasushi Iwata, General Manager of ERIA, concluded the Workshop with his deep gratitude to CDC for coordinating the Workshop and with the following note, "I believe that funding will come for Cambodia once she formulates a better PPP framework. ERIA will keep on updating activities and studies on PPP to contribute to this process."

Please click the following link to get the agenda of the event:

PPP Workshop Agenda_August 21 2014