Prime Minister Hun Manet says the Cambodian government is continuing state institutional reforms by restructuring and reducing several general departments and departments across ministries and state institutions.
He said the plan aims to improve efficiency, reduce national budget spending, and respond to the needs of a digital society.
Speaking at the official inauguration of the new General Department of Taxation headquarters on the morning of May 21, 2026, Hun Manet said the government plans to restructure and reduce three general departments and 30 departments in various ministries and institutions.
Hun Manet said the plan followed government inspections of 16 ministries and institutions. He said the government would continue reforming state institutions to strengthen work efficiency, improve human resources, and reduce public spending.
The prime minister said the reform, which he described as “shrinking the head and expanding the body,” was not about removing political opponents and keeping loyalists. He said it was intended to adjust government structures to meet changing needs.
He said some ministries and institutions, including the General Department of Taxation, have created new departments specializing in digital systems and artificial intelligence in response to the growth of digital society.
Speaking at a closing conference reviewing 2025 work and setting priorities for 2026, Deputy Prime Minister Hun Many, who is also minister of public service, said each country takes a different approach to reform depending on its context and needs.
Hun Many said Cambodia’s approach under Hun Manet is to “strengthen rather than expand,” meaning the government will not expand beyond existing structures but will strengthen what is already in place and make appropriate adjustments.
He said the Ministry of Public Service and 12 other ministries and institutions have not expanded their structures, but have reduced three general departments, 26 departments, and several offices. He said staffing levels have not increased, but officials have been given additional capacity and responsibilities to improve work efficiency.
Soeng Sen Karuna, president of the Australia-based Khmer Democracy Organization, said many Cambodians appear to have lost confidence in the government’s public administration reform, because implementation has been slow and has shown little progress.
He said Hun Manet’s government still has more than 10 deputy prime ministers, dozens of ministers and ministers attached to the prime minister, more than 800 secretaries of state, nearly 1,000 undersecretaries of state, and more than 4,000 advisers to the prime minister, the government, and ministries.
Soeng Sen Karuna said meaningful reform should start from the top, including the government, ministries, national institutions, and state units, before reaching subnational administrations.
He said reducing the number of ministries, provinces, municipalities, and officials would be more effective because it would lower state spending.
