Malaysian telecommunications firm Axiata Group Berhad announced Wednesday the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications of Cambodia (MPTC), solidifying a strategic collaboration aimed at significantly enhancing Cambodia’s cybersecurity landscape, and fostering a new generation of digital talent.

Axiata said in a statement that this partnership underscores the shared commitment of both parties to building a robust, secure, and resilient digital ecosystem in Cambodia, recognizing cybersecurity as a critical enabler for the nation’s digital aspirations.

The MoU outlines comprehensive areas of cooperation, including cyber threat intelligence and incident response; capacity building; knowledge exchange and collaboration.

The duo will establish a common platform for exchanging information on cyber threats and strategies to increase the effectiveness of incident response, alongside cooperation to respond to and mitigate cross-border incidents that affect both organizations.

They will jointly develop and implement capacity building programs to enhance the skills and expertise of cybersecurity professionals within both Axiata and the MPTC.

They will also promote bilateral cooperation through the exchange of information, provision of specialists for knowledge sharing, and organize joint trainings, seminars, study visits, conferences, and forums, including those focused on professional certification under Global ACE Certification.

According to the statement, this partnership will be supported by Axiata’s Cambodian operating company, Smart Axiata, leveraging its deep local market understanding and established cybersecurity initiatives.

The Axiata Cyber Fusion Center, unveiled in August 2022, will be instrumental in this partnership, leveraging its real-time threat monitoring, proactive hunting, and robust protection capabilities to support the MPTC’s objectives.

“This partnership reflects our shared interest in exploring collaborative opportunities to strengthen cybersecurity and digital resilience. We welcome this partnership with Axiata as a step toward mutual learning and engagement in support of Cambodia’s broader digital aspirations,” said Chea Vandeth, Cambodian Minister of Post and Telecommunications.

Meanwhile, Vivek Sood, Group Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of Axiata, said in an increasingly digital world, robust cybersecurity is not just a necessity but a foundational element for sustainable economic growth and societal well-being.

“This memorandum signifies our deep commitment to advancing Asia’s digital frontier by leveraging Axiata’s extensive expertise, particularly through the Axiata Cyber Fusion Centre,“ he added.

Sam Sethserey, Director General of General Department of ICT, Ministry of Post and Telecommunications, said this MoU with Axiata Group Berhad marks a new milestone in the ministry’s ongoing efforts to strengthen cybersecurity in Cambodia focusing on cybersecurity human resources development, cyber threat response, and cybersecurity resilience through a public-private partnership mechanism.