Background
On 2 January 2023, the General Department of Immigration (GDI) convened a meeting at its headquarters in Phnom Penh to review the implementation status of the Cambodia Border Management System (CBMS). The meeting was chaired by National Police General Kiet Chantharith, Director General of the GDI, with participation from deputy director generals, heads of relevant departments, and other involved officials.
The CBMS is being deployed at immigration checkpoints to manage border control procedures, including traveler processing and related data management. The meeting formed part of the GDI’s ongoing oversight of the system’s rollout and operational performance.
Scope of Application
The discussions focused on the CBMS as applied at Cambodian border and immigration checkpoints under the authority of the General Department of Immigration. The scope covered:
- Initial training of immigration officials in the use of the CBMS.
- Operational use of the system at international gateways where CBMS has been deployed.
- Management of user accounts and system access for immigration officers.
- Technical issues encountered in recording travelers’ fingerprints at certain immigration checkpoints.
Key Provisions or Decisions
During the meeting, Deputy Director General Sok Veasna, who also heads the Department of Non-Immigrant Foreigners and Technology, presented a detailed progress report on CBMS implementation. The report covered:
- The conduct of initial skills training for officials on the use of the CBMS.
- The handover and receipt of CBMS user accounts and confidential access codes from the system development partner company.
- Obstacles related to fingerprint recording for travelers crossing some immigration checkpoints.
- Other technical and operational challenges arising during system deployment.
Following the report, Director General Kiet Chantharith instructed the relevant technical departments to study the identified technical problems clearly and promptly, and to prepare comprehensive reporting to the Ministry of Interior leadership, in particular to Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sar Kheng. The purpose of this reporting is to request appropriate policy guidance for continued implementation and resolution of the identified issues.
Implications for Investors, Businesses, or Compliance
The meeting indicates that the General Department of Immigration is actively monitoring and addressing technical and operational challenges in the Cambodia Border Management System at immigration checkpoints. While no new regulations or procedural changes were announced, the emphasis on resolving fingerprint recording issues and formalizing policy guidance suggests that operational practices at border crossings may be refined as technical solutions and ministerial directions are developed.
Businesses and travelers using Cambodian border checkpoints may experience ongoing adjustments as the CBMS is further implemented and improved. Any future changes to immigration processing procedures or system requirements are expected to follow from the policy guidance requested from the Ministry of Interior leadership.
Official Source
The information is based on an official announcement by the General Department of Immigration (GDI) published on its verified Facebook page on 2 January 2023.
