JICA chief representative in Cambodia Sanui Kazumasa (left) and finance minister Aun Pornmoniroth shake hands after signing grant and loan agreements in Phnom Penh on July 19. Supplied
The Japanese government has provided a grant of approximately $2.5 million to Cambodia for human resource development and a loan of approximately $55 million to improve National Road (NR) 5, connecting Pursat’s Thlea Ma’am district to Battambang and Banteay Meanchey’s Sri Sophorn town to Poipet town, which shares the Thai border.
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Minister of Economy and Finance Aun Pornmoniroth and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) chief representative in Cambodia Sanui Kazumasa signed the agreements on July 19 in Phnom Penh.
The grant is for the Human Resource Development Scholarship (JDS) which aims to provide more opportunities for young governmental officials who are anticipated to be involved in formulating and implementing socio-economic development plans and play leadership roles in developing Cambodian society.
The project also aims to enhance bilateral relations between the two countries through human networks, academic and social activities and experiences in Japan.
“Under the JDS programme, with the new signing of this grant aid agreement, 26 Cambodian officials will get the opportunity to study in Japan; 24 fellows will be selected for the Master’s programme and two for the PhD programme,” the two institutions said in a July 19 joint press release.
The initiative started in Cambodia in 2000, and about 530 young capable government officials have been awarded scholarships to study for Master’s and PhD degrees.
The loans for the NR 5 improvement project, including additional financing for the ongoing construction and subsequent works to complete the road from Sri Sophorn to Poipet, are part of the third tranche, according to the press release.
The project aims to improve and expand the existing road from two lanes to four, covering a total length of 146 kilometres. This includes a 99-kilometre stretch from Thlea Ma’am to Battambang, an 11-kilometre Pursat bypass and a 35-kilometre section from Sri Sophorn to Poipet.
The project to upgrade the highway between Kandal’s Prek Kdam village and Poipet, under the concessional loan from Japan, covers a total length of 366 kilometres. It will widen the road to four lanes with a width of 23 metres, asphalt concrete (AC) pavement with a thickness of 15 centimetres and a three-metre median.
Pornmoniroth expressed his gratitude to the government and people of Japan and all relevant Japanese institutions, particularly JICA, for always providing “excellent” cooperation and contributing to the country’s socio-economic development.
“This support aligns with the direction of the government’s priority policy programmes, and in particular, has responded to the Pentagonal Strategy under the leadership of Prime Minister Hun Manet,” he said.
Pornmoniroth said he highly values the Cambodia-Japan relationship, noting that they reached their historical peak after elevating the relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2023.
“Both countries are actively working on new initiatives to further strengthen and expand cooperation,” he said.
JICA vowed to work on a long-term strategic partnership with the government to support the further strengthening of the country’s socio-economic development.
