Pakistan and Cambodia explore innovation-led cooperation in technology and research

Cambodia has expressed strong interest in expanding cooperation with Pakistan in digital infrastructure, research exchange, and technology transfer, highlighting the two countries’ growing economic partnership.

Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan and Cambodia’s Minister of Commerce Cham Nimul visited the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST) and its National Science and Technology Park (NSTP) in Islamabad to explore collaboration in technology, innovation, and industry-led research.

Air Marshal Rizwan (Retd.) and NUST senior management briefed the ministers on the university’s integrated academia–industry–government model. The delegation was presented with NUST’s vision for a comprehensive innovation ecosystem linking education, research, commercialisation, and industrial partnerships.

The Cambodian minister praised NSTP’s ecosystem as “impressive and forward-looking,” noting that the platform provides a practical blueprint for emerging economies to modernise digital and industrial capabilities.

The delegation was shown projects in artificial intelligence, semiconductor design, robotics, aerospace engineering, biotechnology, smart city systems, and digital infrastructure, and learned about Pakistan’s growing indigenous capabilities in chip design, high-performance computing, and AI solutions.

Kamal commended NUST and NSTP researchers, startups, and industry partners for strengthening Pakistan’s knowledge economy. He emphasised that technology-driven growth will position Pakistan not only as a trading nation but also as a technology-producing and exporting economy.

Discussions included export potential, joint ventures, and structured facilitation for scaling high-growth startups internationally. Both ministers reaffirmed their commitment to deepening Pakistan–Cambodia relations through innovation, research collaboration, and private-sector engagement.