AKP Phnom Penh, May 25, 2025 --

Minister of Industry, Science, Technology & Innovation H.E. Hem Vanndy, Chairman of the Coordinating Committee on Informal Economy Development (CCIED), on May 24 launched a street food hygiene pilot project in Kampong Thom province as part of a national campaign to raise awareness and onboard the informal economy.

The initiative is outlined in the National Strategy for Developing the Informal Economy and was proposed to the CCIED by H.E. Nuon Pharath, Kampong Thom Provincial Governor, to support street food vendors in improving hygiene practices, thereby promoting public health and enhancing tourism in the province, the Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology & Innovation (MISTI) pointed out in a news release.

Addressing some 3,000 participants at the fifth campaign event, H.E. Hem Vanndy said, “By adopting some simple practices like personal hygiene, cleaning, proper storage of meat and vegetables, and waste collection, you're protecting your consumers, opening new opportunities for business growth, and helping to build a strong reputation for Kampong Thom."

The project will deploy food hygiene experts from MISTI to work closely with local authorities and a select group of street food vendors in the province to provide training and implement good hygiene practices.

H.E. Minister took the opportunity to explain the full range of benefits available for onboarding, such as having a formal certificate of identity, tax exemption and relief, access to training, National Social Security Fund (NSSF) and social protection schemes, and formal financial and business support services.

During the campaign event, Governor Nuon Pharath highlighted the province’s recent achievements, from tackling public land encroachment and advancing land titling, to enhancing infrastructure, smart agriculture and city beautification to attract visitors and investors.

Situated in the centre of Cambodia, Kampong Thom is the second-largest province by land area and has a population of nearly 900,000. Home to an economy rooted in agriculture, tourism, and roadside services, Kampong Thom stands to benefit from cleaner, safer street food—especially as it grows in popularity as a stopover between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap.

As of May 21, 2025, the Digital Platform for Onboarding the Informal Economy has received 70,770 applications, with Kampong Thom ranked eighth nationwide, according to MISTI.

AKP