Phnom Penh: On December 11, 2025, the Embassy of India in Phnom Penh organized an official pre-summit event of the AI Impact Summit 2026 under the theme “AI Impact Summit 2026: Shaping AI for Humanities, Ethics, and Global Impact.”
The event aimed to inform the stakeholders in Cambodia about the global AI Impact Summit being hosted by India in February 2026 and encourage dialogue on the transformative role of artificial intelligence in building an inclusive, ethical, and sustainable future.
The event was opened by the Ambassador of India to Cambodia, H.E. Vanlalvawna Bawitlung, who in his remarks spoke about the focus of the AI Impact Summit 2026 to amplify the voice of the Global South, ensuring that technological advancements and opportunities are shared broadly, not concentrated in a few regions. He underscored that “The Pre-Summit event, centered on the theme of People, Planet, and Progress, intends to highlight the Summit’s objectives and the potential of transformative AI to support inclusive growth, sustainable development, and innovation.”
The event was also attended by H.E. Hul Seingheng, Under Secretary, Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation, Cambodia. The speakers from Cambodia included Oknha Dr. CHHIN Ken, President of the Cambodia Digital Tech Association, and Dr. En Sovann, Director of the Digital Government Transformation Department, Digital Government Committee, Ministry of Post and Telecommunications. They spoke on the existing AI landscape in Cambodia and potential areas for AI-related cooperation between India and Cambodia.
The event also saw other distinguished speakers from India, including Mr. Ankit Bose, Head of NASSCOM AI, who presented the industry perspective on the AI scenario in India, and Mr. Anirban Sarma, Director of the Digital Societies Initiative, Observer Research Foundation (ORF), India, who discussed AI policy and the academic landscape in India.
Dr. Tanu Priya from the Embassy of India, Phnom Penh, delivered a presentation on the AI Impact Summit 2026 and its vision of shaping AI for humanity, ethics, and global impact.
The presentation discussed India’s efforts to make the AI Summit impactful by building upon the three foundational Sutras of people, planet, and progress. It was mentioned that the deliberations at the AI Impact Summit will be organized around seven interconnected chakras, areas of multilateral cooperation designed to channel collective energy toward holistic societal transformation.
These seven chakras represent focused domains of international collaboration that translate the broader principles of People, Planet, and Progress into concrete areas of action: Human Capital, Inclusion for Social Empowerment, Safe and Trusted AI, Resilience, Innovation and Efficiency, Science, Democratizing AI Resources, and AI for Economic Growth and Social Good. Together, they offer a comprehensive framework that enables countries, international organizations, and stakeholders to coordinate AI deployment strategies that enable the maximization of collective benefits while still addressing shared challenges.
The event witnessed participation from more than 60 attendees, including representatives from the Royal Government of Cambodia, various universities, technology associations, and several technology- and AI-based companies in Cambodia, as well as presidents of Indian Chambers of Commerce in Cambodia. Anchored around the overarching theme of People, Planet, and Progress, the event reflected India’s commitment to promoting AI that supports human-centered development, environmental sustainability, and equitable technological advancement.
Photo by: Supplied
