The ‘2025 Korea-Cambodia Bilateral Meeting on Development Cooperation’ took place at the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CD) on March 24. Supplied
Cambodia ranks as the largest recipient of Official Development Assistance (ODA) from South Korea in 2025, surpassing 91 other partner countries.
“This year, the Government of South Korea is expected to provide approximately $315 million in aid to Cambodia, focusing on critical sectors such as education, water management, health and sanitation, transportation and rural development,” noted the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA).
The assistance includes 27 concessional loan projects, among which the highly anticipated Korea-Cambodia Friendship Bridge construction project is set to be a highlight.
Additionally, there are 62 grant aid projects, including a capacity-building initiative aimed at improving the capabilities of the National Children’s Hospital.
On March 24, the “2025 Korea-Cambodia Bilateral Meeting on Development Cooperation” was convened at the headquarters of the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC) in Phnom Penh.
The meeting, attended by officials from the South Korean embassy, KOICA and the CDC, served as a platform to strengthen and expand the partnership between the two nations.
During the meeting, Chhieng Yanara, CDC director-general, expressed his deep appreciation for South Korea’s continuous contributions to the socio-economic development of the Kingdom.
“He highlighted the elevation of bilateral relations to the level of a Strategic Partnership following Prime Minister Hun Manet’s official visit to Korea in May 2024,” according to KOICA.
The visit resulted in a substantial increase in Korean ODA to Cambodia, doubling the volume of aid and underscoring the growing ties between the two nations.
South Korean ambassador Park Jung-wook also addressed the meeting, noting the increasing scale of South Korea’s development cooperation with Cambodia.
He stressed the importance of updating the Country Partnership Strategy to align with both nations' policies, which will lead to more effective and sustainable development assistance in the future.
Around 200 Korean companies are currently operating in Cambodia, spanning industries as diverse as manufacturing, finance, construction and real estate.
In addition, Cambodia is home to approximately 10,000 South Korean citizens, contributing to vibrant people-to-people exchanges.
