Cambodia launches WEE-DC with four strategic programmes for women’s economic and entrepreneurial development

WEE-DC is the abbreviation for the Women’s Economic and Entrepreneurship Development Centre, officially inaugurated on the morning of December 3, 2025, under the presidency of Dr Pich Chanmony Hun Manet, Cambodia’s First Lady. Organised by the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, the ceremony involved approximately 2,000 participants: 500 attended in person and 1,500 joined online via Zoom. Representatives of women leaders in the Preah Sihanouk provincial administration also attended the centre’s official inauguration. The Women’s Economic and Entrepreneurship Development Centre (WEE-DC) was established as a driving force and mechanism to help young entrepreneurs, students and business operators develop skills needed to improve their economic prospects. It has four strategic programmes: 1. Developing women’s economic capabilities through training, coaching and mentoring in areas such as entrepreneurship, economic leadership and digital skills. 2. Supporting business startups and development, particularly for young women and women business operators. 3. Research and innovation focused on needs and emerging trends in economics and gender. 4. Expanding domestic, regional and global networks and markets for women entrepreneurs and business operators. Dr Pich Chanmony Hun Manet also made five recommendations for WEE-DC to provide advice and guidance to women seeking to become entrepreneurs and begin their careers. First, she asked women entrepreneurs and all relevant partners to strengthen and expand women’s entrepreneurship and business networks domestically, regionally and globally, creating platforms for sharing experience, capacity building and wider market connections. Second, she asked the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, through WEE-DC and its partners, to review priorities in responding to emerging social trends, especially economic issues involving the promotion of well-being. Third, she encouraged financial institutions and financial-technology institutions to work with WEE-DC and relevant partners to expand financial measures and programmes, giving women entrepreneurs, particularly those in rural areas, opportunities and the means to participate fully in economic activities. Fourth, she asked WEE-DC to give further consideration to serving as an advisory centre for women wishing to become entrepreneurs and start their careers. Such advice is important to society and the economy, in which women make a substantial contribution to Cambodia’s growth; it also cultivates entrepreneurial thinking and reduces hesitation about pursuing careers and starting new ventures. Fifth, she asked WEE-DC to incorporate digital capacity building and innovation into all its programmes, enabling women to use digital tools and technology to sell products, manage finances and connect with new markets, as well as in their businesses and commercial activities. Text: ង៉ែត ពិសាន្ត Photos: Teav Vichat