Cambodia Investment Review
When it comes to the dictionary of Francophonie and FrancoTech, everyone will ask the question, “What does it refer to?” Why does Cambodia have to host it? What are the benefits that Cambodia can get?
The term “Francophonie” refers to both a literary and geographical concept that originated in the late 19th century. It took place before it developed into a significant institutional and political movement in the wake of decolonization. This word was first used by Onésime Reclus in 1880 and, he used the phrase in a strictly linguistic and geographical sense to refer to all the nations and peoples that spoke French to varied degrees around the world.
Furthermore, following the independence of several African and Asian countries in the 1960s, a number of leaders of these newly independent nations, proud to speak French, envisioned the establishment of a framework for collaboration. Samdech Preah Norodom Sihanouk, the former king of Cambodia; Habib Bourguiba, the president of Tunisia; Léopold Sédar Senghor, the president of Senegal; and Hamani Diori, the president of Niger, are considered the “founding fathers” of institutional La Francophonie.
Notably, Vietnam has hosted this event in 1997 the so-called (Hanoi Submit) by creating the office of Secretary-General of La Francophonie. Former UN Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali of Egypt was the first to occupy the role. Afterward, the Agency for Cultural and Technical Cooperation (ACCT) changed its name to the International Organization of La Francophonie (OIF).
Almost 30 years after the historic Hanoi Submit in Vietnam in 1997, Cambodia will be the second Asian nation to hold the Francophonie Summit.
With the official theme “Reinvest in Peace for Shared Prosperity and Sustainable Stability” the Kingdom is getting ready to host the 20th Francophonie Summit in Phnom Penh from November 14 to 16, 2026. As major side events, the Kingdom is also getting ready to host the Francophonie Village and the FrancoTech digital innovation summit.
What is FrancoTech?
Originally, FrancoTech was the first significant innovation fair for the French-speaking world, held in Paris in 2024. Therefore, FrancoTech 2026 in Cambodia is the second worldwide edition of the event, rather than an earlier Cambodian custom.
Furthermore, in collaboration with Business France and the Alliance des Patronats Francophones (APF), the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs established FrancoTech through the Secretariat General of the Francophonie Summit. It took place on October 3–4, 2024, concurrently with the 19th Francophonie Summit in Villers-Cotter, at Station F, Paris’s main startup campus.
The goals were to foster innovation “in French” improve economic relations between Francophone nations, and open up commercial prospects for governmental institutions, entrepreneurs, investors, and businesses. FrancoTech was positioned as the event’s technology and entrepreneurial component by the summit theme, “Create, innovate and undertake”, in French.
What Can Benefit Cambodia?
The Ministry of Post and Telecommunications (MPTC) co-hosts this event, which focuses on digital topics. Through this great opportunity, the MPTC will bring together digital experts from both domestic and international backgrounds to discuss digital transformation.
At the same time, more digital startups and businesses will come together for this event to demonstrate the advancements in the development of digital technology. More significantly, over 200 exhibitors from 90 countries, including startups, businesses, investors, governments, and academic institutions, will be present this year. “One Francophone Community, One Digital Future” is its central topic.
This event will focus mainly on the matter such as: 1. (Artificial intelligence), 2. (Government Digital), 3. (FinTech), 4. (AgriTech), 5. (La French Tech), 6. (Women in Innovation), 7. (Tourism and Cultural Technology) and 8. (Creative Industries).
To sum up, attendees will have the chance to exhibit goods and technology solutions, share experiences, look for collaborations, and link innovation with investment prospects. Hosting the FrancoTech 2026 exhibition in Cambodia presents a significant opportunity to showcase the country’s potential, progress, and commitment to digital transformation, technological advancement, and innovation, while also marketing Cambodia as a desirable location for investment and business connectivity in Southeast Asia and beyond.
Heang Ratha is a deputy chief of the bilateral cooperation bureau in the International Cooperation Department of the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications (MPTC).
