On August 22, recently sworn-in lawmakers in the Cambodian National Assembly approved the new list of deputy prime ministers, senior ministers, and heads of ministries. The new government convened two days later for the first Plenary Session of the Council of Ministers, where Prime Minister Hun Manet officially launched the first phase of the “Pentagon Strategy.” The strategy, which serves as Cambodia’s roadmap to becoming a high middle-income country by 2030 and a high-income country by 2050, revolves around five key areas: economic growth, job creation, equity, efficiency, and sustainability.
New ministerial postings include officials who are markedly younger than their predecessors, with a number of incoming ministers succeeding their parents. Like Prime Minister Hun Manet, many of the new ministers are also Western-educated. As such, it remains to be seen how the incoming government will address the focus areas of the Pentagon Strategy and whether their approach will differ from that of the outgoing generation of leaders. Details on members of the new government can be found below.
Prime Minister:
Hun Manet
- Manet is the second-eldest son of former Prime Minister Hun Sen. He previously served as Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) and Commander of the Royal Cambodian Army.
- He received his BA in Economics at the United States Military Academy at West Point, becoming the first Cambodian graduate of the academy. He later received his MA in Economics from New York University and his PhD in Economics from the University of Bristol in the United Kingdom.
Ministers (new ministers denoted by an asterisk):
*H.E. Thor Chetha – Minister of Water Resources and Meteorology
- Chetha previously served as Secretary of State of Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology.
*H.E. Net Pheaktra – Minister of Information
- Pheaktra was previously a managing editor for the Phnom Penh Post’s Khmer-language edition, where he was also a journalist.
H.E. Kert Rith – Minister of Justice
- Rith has served as Minister of Justice since 2020. He holds a Master’s degree in Criminal Law from the University of Lyon in France.
*H.E. Huot Hak – Minister of National Assembly Senate Relations and Inspection
- Hak previously served as Secretary of State for the Ministry of Inspection (the predecessor of the Minister of National Assembly Senate Relations and Inspection).
H.E. Chea Vandet – Minister of Posts and Telecommunications
- Vandet has served as Minister of Posts and Telecommunications since 2020. He holds an Executive Master of Business Administration from Nanyang Technological University in Singapore.
*H.E. Chheang Va – Minister of Health
- Va is the former Director General of state-run Calmette Hospital.
*H.E. Peng Pounea – Minister of Public Works and Transport
- Pounea is the son of former Deputy Prime Minister Men Sam An.
Lok Chomteav. Poerng Sakona – Minister of Culture and Fine Arts
- Sakona has served as Minister of Culture and Fine Arts since 2013. She is the daughter-in-law of Chheng Phon, who held the same position. She holds a PhD in Food Science from the University of Burgundy in France.
*H.E. Sok Soken – Minister of Tourism
- Soken previously served as Secretary of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. He is the son of the late Minister of the Council of Ministers Sok An and the brother-in-law of the new Minister of Commerce Chorm Nimol. He holds a Master of Public Administration from the National University of Singapore.
*H.E. Chay Born – Minister of Cult and Religion
- Born was previously Secretary of State at the Ministry of Cult and Religion.
Lok Chomteav. Oeung Kathaphavy – Minister of Women’s Affairs
- Kathaphavy has served as Minister of Women’s Affairs since 2004. She is the daughter of Ing Keat, the former Minister of Public Works and Transport. She received her MD from Pierre and Marie Curie University and her MPA from the École nationale d’administration, both in France.
*H.E. Heng Sour – Minister of Labor and Vocational Training
- Sour has previously served as the spokesperson for the Ministry of Labor.
*H.E. Hun Mani – Minister of Civil Service
- Mani has previously served as a member of the National Assembly. He is the son of former Prime Minister Hun Sen and the brother of Prime Minister Hun Manet. He holds a Master of Arts from the University of Melbourne and a Master of Arts from the National Defense University in Washington, DC.
H.E. Mao Havannal – Minister in charge of the Secretariat of State for Civil Aviation
*H.E. Lam Chea – Minister in charge of the Secretariat of State for Border Affairs
*H.E. Vongsy Visoth – Minister in charge of the Council of Ministers
- Visoth has previously served as Permanent Secretary of State and Minister attached to the Prime Minister. He has led policies relating to public-private partnerships, international cooperation, and entrepreneurship promotion. He holds a master’s degree from the Moscow Institute for International Relations and served as a private sector executive prior to joining the government.
*H.E. Sor Sokha – Minister of Interior
- Sokha previously served as Secretary of State at the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport between 2018 and 2023. He holds the rank of general and is the son of former Minister of Interior Sor Kheng, whom he is replacing.
*H.E. Tea Seyha – Minister of National Defense
- Seyha previously served as Governor of Siem Reap province between 2018 and 2023. He holds the rank of general and is the son of former Minister of National Defense Tea Banh, whom he is replacing.
*H.E. Sok Chendasorphea – Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation
- Chendasorphea previously served as Secretary-General of the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC) between 1997 and 2023. The CDC is responsible for managing investment activities in Cambodia. He completed his tertiary education in economics in France, where he subsequently worked for the private sector before joining the government.
H.E. Aun Pornmonyroth – Minister of Economy and Finance
- Pornmonyroth has served as Deputy Prime Minister since 2018 and Minister of Economy and Finance since 2013. He holds a PhD in Social and Political Sciences from Moscow State University.
H.E. Dit Tina – Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
- Tina previously served as Secretary of State for the Ministry of Mines and Energy between 2014 and 2022. He is the son of former Supreme Court President Dit Munty. He holds a Master of Science from Paris-Sud University.
*H.E. Chhay Rithysen – Minister of Rural Development
- Rithysen has served as the Director General of the General Department of Land Management. He is the son of former Minister of Planning Chhay Than.
*Lok Chumteav. Chorm Nimol – Minister of Commerce
- Nimol has previously served as Secretary of State at the Ministry of Commerce. She is the daughter of former Minister of Industry, Science, Technology and Innovation Chorm Prasidh.
*H.E. Hem Vanndy – Minister of Industry, Science, Technology and Innovation
- Vanndy previously served as Secretary of State at the Ministry of Economy and Finance. He holds a Master of Public Administration from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government.
*H.E. Keo Ratanak – Minister of Mines and Energy
- Ratanak previously served as Managing Director of state-owned electricity company Électricité du Cambodge. He holds master’s degrees from Columbia University and the International University of Japan.
*H.E. Ben Trochhai – Minister of Planning
- Trochhai is the son of Ben Chhin, outgoing Minister for the Council of Ministers.
H.E. Hang Chounnarong – Minister of Education, Youth and Sports
- Chounnarong has served as Minister of Education, Youth and Sport since 2013. He holds a PhD in International Economics from the Moscow State Institute of International Relations and a PhD in Educational Administration from Chulalongkorn University in Thailand.
*H.E. Chea Somethy – Minister of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation
- Somethy has previously served as a Deputy National Police Chief, head of the Ministry of Interior’s anti-economic crime department, and Governor of Prey Veng province. He is the son of the late President of the Cambodian People’s Party Chea Sim.
*H.E. Say Sam Al – Minister of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction
- Sam Al previously served as Minister of Environment from 2013 to 2023. He holds a PhD from the School of Biological Sciences at Monash University in Australia.
*H.E. Arng Sophaleit – Minister of Environment
- Sophaleit previously served as Secretary of State at the Ministry of Environment. He is the son-in-law of outgoing Minister of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction Chea Sophara. He holds a PhD from the University of Calgary in Canada.
Deputy Prime Ministers:
H.E. Net Savoeurn
- Savoeurn previously served as National Police Chief between 2008 and 2023. He holds the rank of general.
H.E. Aun Pornmonyroth
- Pornmonyroth has served as Deputy Prime Minister since 2018 and Minister of Economy and Finance since 2013. He holds a PhD in Social and Political Sciences from Moscow State University.
H.E. Sun Chanthol
- Chanthol previously served as Minister of Public Works and Transport between 2016 and 2023 and as Minister of Commerce between 2013 and 2016. He holds a Master in Public Administration from Harvard University and worked for General Electric Company for 16 years in various executive positions.
H.E. Hang Chounnarong
- Chounnarong has served as Minister of Education, Youth and Sport since 2013. He holds a PhD in International Economics from the Moscow State Institute of International Relations and a PhD in Educational Administration from Chulalongkorn University in Thailand.
H.E. Say Sam Al
- Sam Al has also been appointed Minister of Land Management and previously served as Minister of Environment from 2013 to 2023. He holds a PhD in Philosophy from the School of Biological Sciences at Monash University in Australia.
H.E. Sor Sokha
- Sokha has also been appointed Minister of Interior and previously served as Secretary of State at the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport between 2018 and 2023. He holds the rank of general and is the son of former Minister of Interior Sor Kheng.
H.E. Tea Seyha
- Seyha has also been appointed Minister of National Defense and previously served as Governor of Siem Reap province between 2018 and 2023. He holds the rank of general and is the son of former Minister of National Defense Tea Banh.
H.E. Kert Rith
- Rith has served as Minister of Justice since 2020. He holds a Master’s degree in Criminal Law from the University of Lyon in France.
H.E. Sok Chendasorphea
- Chendasorphea has also been appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and previously served as Secretary-General of the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC) between 1997 and 2023. The CDC is responsible for managing investment activities in Cambodia. He completed his tertiary education in economics in France, where he subsequently worked for the private sector before joining the government.
H.E. Vongsi Visoth
- Visoth has previously served as Permanent Secretary of State and Minister attached to the Prime Minister. He has led policies relating to public-private partnerships, international cooperation, and entrepreneurship promotion. He holds a master’s degree from the Moscow Institute for International Relations and served as a private sector executive prior to joining the government.
Senior Ministers:
H.E. Kun Kim
- Kim previously served as Deputy Supreme Commander of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) and Chief of the RCAF Mixed General Staff until 2018. He holds the rank of general.
H.E. Hour Sithy
H.E. Ouk Rabun
- Rabun previously served as Minister of Rural Development between 2016 and 2023 and served as Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries between 2013 and 2016.
H.E. Orm Yinteang
- Yinteang has served as a senior minister since 2008. His work has focused on human rights, anti-corruption, and legal reforms.
H.E. Eang Moly
- Moly has previously served as Chairman of the National AIDS Authority.
H.E. Pech Sorphorn
- Sorphorn has previously served as Secretary of State at the Ministry of Labor and Vice Chairman of the Cambodian Board of Engineers.
H.E. Prom Sokha
- Sokha has previously served as Minister of Civil Service.
H.E. Sork Setha
- Setha has previously served as Secretary of State at the Ministry of Interior and Chairman of the Civil Administration Anti-Corruption Unit.
H.E. Osman Hazan
- Hazan has also served as Chairman of the Cambodian Muslim Development Fund.
H.E. Ly Thuch
- Thuch has also served as President of the National Committee for Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific and Vice-President of the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority (CMMA). He holds an MBA degree from the Southern California University for Professional Studies.
H.E. Chhem Keatrithy
- Keatrithy is a medical doctor who has served as Chair of the Radiology and Nuclear Medicine Department at the University of Western Ontario.
