Kingdom seeks EU support for census

MINISTER of Planning Bin Trachhey has requested assistance from the EU for Cambodia’s 2024 census and survey tasks.

He met with EU ambassador to Cambodia Igor Driesmans on February 19, in a meeting held to discuss joint efforts to support the first phase of the government’s Pentagonal Strategy, according to a February 20 social media post from the ministry.

Trachhey noted the EU’s “important contributions” to the nation’s development, and shared his intention to digitise the census and survey process.

“We have requested that the EU provide increased support for the 2024 census, in the form of information and communications technology [ICT] assistance,” he said.

According to the post, Driesmans welcomed the request and would examine the possibility of supporting the census.

The ambassador also highlighted that since the Covid-19 pandemic, the EU has played an important role in support of the Cambodian government. He specifically mentioned the EU’s assistance in identifying vulnerable populations.

“This support contributed to the government’s efforts to distribute social security payments, and return the livelihoods of the Cambodian people to normal,” he said.

The ministry also announced that the EU will contribute to a capacitybuilding

project for the National Institute of Statistics (NIS).

This project aims to enhance workflow processes, with a focus on quality control of official statistics, improvement of the coherence of data collection methods, and enhanced training systems for officials within the institute.

Am Sam Ath, operations director at rights group LICADHO, said on February 20 that the request for census support

aligns with the current modernisation reforms, and is likely to enhance the quality and reliability of census systems.

“The world has entered the digital age, and Cambodia needs more technical assistance to speed up the census and implement its plan for 2024,” he added.

Cambodia conducted censuses in 1921, 1962, 1998, 2008 and 2019. The most recent census recorded a population of 15.55 million.

PLANNING MINISTRY Planning minister Bin Trachhey (left) shakes hands with EU ambassador to Cambodia lgor Driesmans during their meeting to discuss census support on February 19.