Expert urges stronger workforce and supply chains amid global rivalry

PHNOM PENH, Mar 24, 2026 (KPT) — Cambodia must strengthen its labour force and develop domestic raw materials to remain competitive in an increasingly fragmented global economy, economist Ky Sereyvath has warned.

Speaking at a roundtable discussion, Sereyvath said oil shocks, tariff disputes and geopolitical rivalries have exposed vulnerabilities for countries dependent on external inputs.

“Each country, including Cambodia, must strengthen its own supply chain and raw materials,” he said, adding that domestic production would be key to building a resilient export sector.

Without such measures, he cautioned, Cambodia’s industrial base could struggle to sustain growth.

Sereyvath also highlighted the disruptive potential of Artificial Intelligence. While AI offers productivity gains by allowing companies to produce more at lower cost with fewer workers, he warned that unskilled labour could face job shortages if training and adaptation are neglected.

“It will affect the workforce if there is insufficient focus on adapting labour to AI,” he said, urging greater investment in skills and education.

Beyond technology, Sereyvath pointed to intensifying competition between major powers as a sign of an emerging “economic Cold War.”

He cited rising tensions between the United States and China over tariffs and trade policies, which are reshaping supply chains and investment flows.

Countries are increasingly forming economic blocs to secure partnerships, a trend he said could redraw the global economic landscape.

For smaller economies such as Cambodia, the challenge will be to navigate these shifts while sustaining growth.

Analysts say reinforcing governance, investing in workforce skills and securing domestic supply chains will be critical to building resilience in the face of global uncertainty.