Ambassador of Japan to Cambodia Hidehisa Horinouchi (left) and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Prak Sokhonn agree grants and loans worth some $43 million in February. Heng Chivoan
The Japanese government has provided more than $52 million in grants for Cambodia’s socio-economic development projects so far this year, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said.
Speaking at the signing ceremony of a 500-million-yen ($4.62 million) grant on Wednesday with Japanese Ambassador to Cambodia Hidehisa Horinouchi, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Prak Sokhonn said the Kingdom had received $52.76 million in funds from the Japanese government for three projects between January and mid-July.
“Japan is a major donor to Cambodia. Their funds have responded to the government’s prioritised development needs since 1990."
“Both grants and concessional loans have contributed significantly to the socio-economic development policy to help alleviate poverty in Cambodia,” he said.
Two of the projects are the West Tonle Sap Irrigation and Drainage Rehabilitation and Improvement Project II, worth $43.36 million, financing for human resource development and container warehouse construction at Sihanoukville Autonomous Port worth $4.8 million.
The third project, which was signed on Wednesday, was a $4.6 million grant for 15 pieces of construction machinery.
Horinouchi said: “Japanese road reparation tools are specially designed to reduce repair times and make long-lasting roads. I hope these tools will be useful for repairing Cambodia’s roads,” he said.
Affiliated Network for Social Accountability president San Chey noted that most of Japan’s aid to Cambodia has been on physical infrastructure development. However, the Kingdom must implement the projects with transparency.
“We’ve seen that Japan’s aid has helped develop physical infrastructures – such as roads, streets and bridges. The important thing is that Japan brings experts to Cambodia, whose construction is of high quality.”
The ministry said the Japanese government provided Cambodia with around $134 million in development aid last year. Of that, grants amounted to nearly $20 million and concessional loans to more than $114 million.
