AKP Phnom Penh, October 14, 2025 -- The National Standards Council marked Cambodia’s first-ever celebration of World Standards Day under the theme “Shared Vision for a Better World: SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals.”

Presiding over the ceremony, H.E. Hem Vanndy, Minister of Industry, Science, Technology & Innovation and Chairman of the National Standards Council, emphasised that standards play a vital role not only in global trade but also in strengthening Cambodia’s domestic industries and promoting the competitiveness of local products.

“For Cambodia, standards are not just technical documents—they are tools for national competitiveness,” Minister Vanndy said. “By adopting and applying standards, our local producers can improve product quality and safety, gain consumer confidence, and open access to regional and global markets.”

The use of standards is crucial as Cambodia strengthens its production capacity, improves productivity, and diversifies its industries toward high value-added and quality products.

According to the Ministty of Industry, Science, Technology & Innovation (MISTI), Cambodia has so far adopted 1,153 national standards, including 21 new ones approved by the National Standards Council in September 2025.

Minister Vanndy urged all enterprises, industries, and service providers to actively implement national and international standards and strive for the highest level of compliance possible.

“Standards are the foundation of safety, innovation, and consumer trust. Please consider standards not as a burden, but as a passport for your products to compete in both domestic and international markets,” he added.

The International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) approved Cambodia’s application to elevate its membership from “Correspondent Member” to “Full Member” on Oct. 8, 2025 during its 47th General Assembly in Rwanda — marking another important milestone for Cambodia.

H.E. Chan Sopha, Director General of the Institute of Standards of Cambodia, emphasised that as a full member, Cambodia will now have the right to participate in ISO’s technical committees, contribute to global standard development, and protect national interests in the international standards arena.

“This upgrade allows Cambodia to have a voice in shaping international standards that affect our industries and trade,” he noted. “It also opens opportunities for our public and private sectors to collaborate in developing standards that reflect Cambodia’s priorities.”

The event brought together members of the National Standards Council, technical committees, representatives of relevant ministries-institutions, private-sector, and national and international partners, reaffirming Cambodia’s commitment to advancing quality, safety, and sustainable industrial growth through standards.

AKP-MISTI