Prime Minister Hun Manet has explained that strengthening local-level development in all sectors is necessary to close present and future urban and rural gaps, and integrate the progress of the two more effectively.
The remarks came as he presided over the annual meeting of the Ministry of Rural Development on March 20.
He said that enhancing the livelihoods of the rural population is the key to ensuring sustainable and resilient socio-economic development. To strengthen and promote local development, the government has introduced key measures in the education and health sectors, while continuing to maintain security and public order in villages, districts and towns.
The premier added that the government has laid out a clear policy programme for local development, including Nation Building and Defence 2023-28, as part of its Pentagonal Strategy, which aims to kick-start four strategic developments.
He explained that the first strategy is to develop physical infrastructure and communication networks in the countryside. To that end, the government has constructed over 50,000km of roads. Even though not all of the roads are sealed yet, they facilitate the travel of people and support trade.
“These roads allow for increased economic activity, and improve access to health and education services. It makes it easier for people to transport agricultural goods, and many people in remote areas are now connected to regional towns,” he said.
The second strategy aims to improve the living conditions of rural communities, while the third seeks to diversify rural economic activity. The fourth is intended to develop ethnic minority communities economically, socially and culturally.
Minister of Rural Development Chhay Rithisen noted the great strides the government has made in enhancing rural people’s lives, adding that it has been done in an inclusive manner.
“As of 2023, the government has built 50,260km of rural roads, accounting for 74 per cent of the Kingdom’s road network,” he said.
He added that over the past year, the ministry has upgraded upgraded 447km of 95 rural roads, and carried out maintenance on an addition 4,372km, across 484 roads and streets.
He explained that over the past year, the ministry has focused on clean water and sanitation, in order to improve the living conditions of rural communities.
According to the minister, Phnom Penh and six provinces have been formally declared open defecation free (ODF). The ministry has built 637,237 pump wells, 10,546 community ponds and 58,559 rainwater catchment tanks, as well as organising over 400 community water distribution systems.
He added that the ministry is working to diversify the rural economy, through the provision of skills that will allow the local population to supplement the incomes they earn from agriculture. It expects this to make a strong contribution to poverty reduction.
The ministry is also forming “model” villages in locations which are assessed as having economic, tourism or agriculture potential, especially within ethnic minority communities.