Aseanews Headline: POLITICS: PHNOM PENH- Ministries ordered to decentralize

The Prime Minister Hun Sen has ordered the ministries to decentralize and bring their services to subnational levels by 2020.

Secretary of State of the Interior Ministry Ngan Chamroeun announced this goal at the annual meeting with journalists on Friday, Dec.21.  He did not single out any ministry, but there are 12 of them that must reduce their 600 administrative services to 51 One Window Services in the districts.

Should any ministry fail to meet this goal the government will consider replacing the minister responsible.  The premier was very clear on this issue at the CPP Congress this week.

The National Committee for Sub-National Democratic Development (NCDD) will work with the ministries to push for decentralization where possible.  Mr Chamroeun pointed out that some duties and services could not be transferred to local authorities; they include national defence and security, foreign and finance policy making, and currency printing.

The NCDD will look at administrative services and functions to prioritize for decentralization due to the requirements of the local people.  Some ministries will be slow to decentralize because they overwhelm the capacity of the subnational administrations.