Minister of Water Resources and Meteorology Thor Chetha requested the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to continue investing in water resources management and meteorology systems to combat climate change and natural disasters.

Chetha made the remarks in a meeting with ADB representative in Cambodia Jyotsana Varma on August 14 at the ministry.

During the meeting, he noted that the bank has played a significant and effective role in advancing the country’s socio-economic development, particularly through its cooperation in modernising water infrastructure engineering to combat global warming, in alignment with the government’s policy and the first phase of the Pentagonal Strategy.

“The minister encouraged increased cooperation with ADB to improve long-term plans to maximise the reduction of all types of flood and drought risks, and maximise the enhancement of green environments and ecotourism,” the ministry said in an August 14 statement. 

Under ADB funding, the ministry has been implementing two projects: the Irrigated Agriculture Improvement Project (IAIP) and Climate-Friendly Agribusiness Value Chains Sector Project (CFACVS).

Varma confirmed the bank’s two-year extension of investment in the IAIP to support the ministry in modernising irrigation engineering and expand its capacity for water management, control and utilisation, according to the statement.

The ministry said that with the backing of ADB and the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the IAIP, originally set for completion in 2025, will be extended by two years. This will enable the water resources ministry to advance the modernisation of irrigation systems in Battambang, Kampong Cham, Takeo and Kampong Thom provinces, as well as to install the latest technology in the National Water Resources Data Management Center.