Transport minister Peng Ponea (right) and Australian ambassador Derek Yip attend the formal handover of the ‘Road and Bridge Specifications Phase 1’ on March 5. Australian embassy
Cambodia has officially launched updated roads and bridge design specifications, as part of joint efforts between Cambodia and Australia to modernise the Kingdom’s twenty-year old standards and address infrastructure needs.
The Ministry of Public Works and Transport and Australia hosted a March 5 ceremony for the handover and adoption of the “Road and Bridge Specifications Phase 1”, and the launch of “Phase 2: Technical Assistance”.
The specifications were developed through the Partnerships for Infrastructure (P4I) programme, an Australian Government initiative supporting sustainable and inclusive infrastructure development in Southeast Asia.
The event was presided over by Peng Ponea, Minister of Public Works and Transport, and Derek Yip, Australian ambassador to Cambodia.
“This initiative represents a deepening of the relationship between Cambodia and Australia, reflecting Cambodia's commitment to diverse international partnerships and delivering strong outcomes for Cambodians across the country,” said a joint press release.
“These technical specifications supported by Australia represent another chapter of assistance contributing to the development of roads and bridges in Cambodia. These updated specifications, coupled with the capacity-building programme, will enable us to construct safer, more resilient and more sustainable infrastructure that meets the needs of our people,” said Ponea.
Ambassador Yip also addressed the event, reiterating Australia's commitment to supporting Cambodia's development goals.
“This partnership exemplifies the strong bond between our two nations. We are proud to support Cambodia in building a fit-for-purpose infrastructure system that contributes to economic growth, social inclusion and climate resilience,” he shared.
The handover also marked the launch of the second phase of the Australia-supported project.
According to the joint statement, phase two is focused on building the capacity of Cambodian engineers and officials to effectively implement the new specifications.
“Through a series of workshops, training programmes and knowledge-sharing initiatives, the programme will empower the Cambodian workforce to translate these standards into tangible improvements on the ground,” it explained.
