Legal Update: Notification No. 1356/25 CDC on e-Signature and e-Stamp for Digital Documents in cdclPM System

On 18 July 2025, the Council for the Development of Cambodia (“CDC”) issued Notification No. 1356/25 CDC (“Notification”) regarding the official implementation of electronic signatures (“e-Signature”) and electronic stamps (“e-Stamp”) through the Cambodia Investment Project Management System (“cdcIPM”). The goal is to enhance the registration process for Qualified Investment Projects by streamlining it, reducing paperwork, and simplifying the investment process for investors in Cambodia.

Key Highlights of the Notification:

• Electronic Signature and Electronic Stamp: All digital format documents issued by the cdcIPM system will now include e-Signatures and e-Stamps for official validation.
• QR Code Verification: Each document will feature a QR code linking to the national government domain “.gov.kh” for real-time verification, ensuring the document’s authenticity.
• Legal Validity: Digital format documents, effective from the date of signing, will have the same legal validity as original paper documents in accordance with Cambodian law.

Comments

Cambodia’s digital transformation began with Sub-Decree No. 246 on Digital Signatures (2017) (“Sub-Decree No. 246”) and the Law on Electronic Commerce (2019), which together established the legal foundation for the use of digital signatures, e-signatures, and electronic records across both the public and private sectors. The adoption of e-signatures and electronic records has since become a core element of the Pentagon Strategy – Phase 1, which aims to modernize public services and enhance investor confidence.

Although e-signatures have been legally recognized under the E-Commerce Law and Sub-Decree No. 246 since 2019, their practical application has remained limited, as most government authorities continue to require wet-ink signatures for formal applications submitted for approval. This Notification marks a significant turning point. By expressly endorsing the use of e-signatures and e-stamps in its investment registration process, the CDC becomes the first government institution to formally accept this e-signature format.