(Phnom Penh)
On Wednesday, November 16th, 2022 the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC) held a meeting of policy dialogue on development cooperation. The meeting was led by His Excellency CHHIENG YANARA, Minister Attached to the Prime Minister and Secretary General of the Cambodian Rehabilitation and Development Board of the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CRDB/CDC) and Mr. RHO Hyunjun, Country Director of Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) in Cambodia. The main purpose of this meeting was to discuss and provide update on KOICA’s activities, and prepare new projects for 2025.
His Excellency CHHIENG YANARA warmly welcomed and congratulated Ms. Shin Junyeon who has been recently appointed as a deputy Country Director of Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) in Cambodia while also expressed his firm believe that cooperation between the Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC) and the government of the Republic of Korea (ROK) will be strengthened and yielded fruitful result. His Excellency expressed his sincere appreciation and highly valued KOICA for their active contribution to socio-economic development in Cambodia. For the last two decades, the government of the Republic of Korea (ROK) has provided approximately around USD 1,077 million of Official Development Assistance (ODA) with USD 431 million of grant aid (USD 336,7 million from KOICA) and USD 646 million of concessional loan to support various prioritized sectors such as agriculture, health, digital, rural development, environment and climate change. This ODA has offered great assistance to the RGC policies and programmes especially national development strategy, Rectangular Strategy Phase – IV and The Strategic Framework and Programs for Economic Recovery in the Context of Living with COVID-19 in a New Normal 2021-2023.
In addition, His Excellency further extended his appreciation to KOICA for formulating country development plan for Cambodia “KOICA Country Planning for Cambodia” which focuses on three main programmes such as (1) Strengthening global health for vulnerable people, (2) Education on Information Communication Technology, Technology, and Science to improve talent and industrial diversification (3) Inclusive and sustainable rural development. The three programmes will contribute to the RGC effort in socio-economic development in Cambodia.
Mr. RHO Hyunjun was very delighted on CDC’s excellent cooperation while also reaffirmed KOICA’s commitment on expanding cooperation and partnership especially supporting Cambodia on achieving national development goals. Furthermore, Mr. RHO Hyunjun highly valued the RGC’s effort in containing the widespread of COVID-19 effectively which led to the re-opening the country and swift economic recovery. Mr. RHO Hyunjun also informed the process and procedure of identified development project for 2025.
It is worth mentioning that as of 2022, KOICA has been implementing 14 projects with the total disbursement approximately around USD102 million to support prioritized sector development. In addition, 2 fiscal projects for 2023 has been approved by KOICA equivalent to approximately around USD16 million and extended the support on 6 potential projects for 2024. Additionally, KOICA has broadened their support under technical cooperation such as: the dispatch of experts and volunteers, short-term training programmes and long-term scholarship, and partnership program with civil society.
His Excellency CHHIENG YANARA highly valued on the excellent implementation of on-going projects from KOICA and project selection for KOICA cooperation in Cambodia. In conclusion, His Excellency reiterated his sincere appreciation to the government of Republic of Korea (ROK) and its people for their continued support and valuable grant assistance to assist the development in Cambodia.