Prime Minister Hun Manet greets Japanese Foreign Affairs Minister Yoko Kamikawa (left) during a meeting on July 6 in Phnom Penh. Manet via social media
A senior Japanese official announced that Japan has decided to provide an official development assistance (ODA) loan of 8 billion yen (about $50 million) to improve the investment environment in Cambodia and attract financing from Japanese firms.
The announcement was made by Japanese Foreign Affairs Minister Yoko Kamikawa during a meeting with Prime Minister Hun Manet on July 6 in Phnom Penh, as part of her visit to the Kingdom.
Kamikawa expressed her willingness to advance cooperation to develop Sihanoukville Autonomous Port (PAS) as a logistics hub in the region, according to a June 6 press release from the Embassy of Japan in Phnom Penh.
“[Kamikawa] stated that she would like to cooperate with Cambodia in attracting investment from Japanese companies and announced that the Japanese government has decided to provide an ODA loan … for the Phnom Penh City Transmission and Distribution System Expansion Project to improve the investment environment,” it said.
Manet stated that his government also emphasises the development of the port, expressing his wish to continue collaborating with Japan, according to the press release.
Kamikawa expressed her desire to work together on strengthening Cambodia’s sustainability and further co-creating social value, focusing on human resource development and the application of Japanese technology.
Manet vowed to advance cooperation between the two countries under the “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership”.
Kamikawa said she wished to advance cooperation in the water and digital technology sectors to support Cambodia’s focus areas in sustainability and the development of a digital economic society.
Regarding technology, she pledged to proceed with the Co-Creation for Common Agenda Initiative, which focuses on human resource development in strategically important areas.
“She also expressed her desire to utilise Japan's expertise and cooperate with Cambodia to develop a core communication infrastructure, including 5G capabilities, and to continue cooperating with Cambodia to strengthen cybersecurity,” said the release.
Manet noted that Japanese water-related support is important for the health of the Cambodian people, adding that the government attaches importance to developing a digital economic society. He also vowed to promote cooperation with Japan.
According to a June 6 post on Manet’s socal media, Kamikawa and the prime minister discussed further strengthening and expanding cooperation in the economic sector and attracting investment from Japan.
On June 6, Kamikawa and Sok Chenda Sophea, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, signed and exchanged notes concerning a yen loan project of up to 8.293 billion yen (about $51 million) for the rehabilitation of certain sections of National Road (NR) 5 that reach the border with Thailand.
In Cambodia, it is urgently necessary to advance transportation infrastructure to cope with the rise in domestic and international logistics due to economic development, said the press release.
“This project aims to increase transport capacity and improve transport efficiency in the target area by rehabilitating and widening existing roads and building bypasses on NR 5 between Thlea Ma’am and Battambang and between Sri Sophorn and Poipet.
“NR 5 is Cambodia's main road linking the capital Phnom Penh and the Thai border and is a part of the Southern Economic Corridor. This project is expected to enhance regional connectivity,” it said.
