Prime Minister Hun Manet shakes hands with World Bank country director Mariam Sherman (left) on January 29. STPM
Prime Minister Hun Manet and Mariam Sherman, the World Bank (WB) country director for Cambodia, Myanmar and Laos, are dedicated to advancing human capital and enhancing six key sectors in Cambodia.
These sectors encompass education, health, agriculture, digital technology, the environment and climate change.
Highlighting the convergence of strategic policies, both parties praised the synergy between the government and the WB.
Sherman said she admires the enduring cooperation between the government and the WB, and expressed optimism that the meeting with the prime minister, held on January 29 at the Peace Palace in Phnom Penh, would further foster collaboration, as stated in a post on Manet’s official Telegram channel.
“The initial stage of the government’s Pentagonal Strategy development policy aligns seamlessly with the national-level priorities and policy direction set by the WB,” she was quoted as saying.
During the meeting, Manet acknowledged the WB’s pivotal role in socio-economic development, saying he was grateful to the bank for its unwavering commitment to collaborating with the government in the ongoing partnership programme for 2025-29.
Providing Sherman with an overview of the initial phase of the Pentagonal Strategy, Manet detailed the government’s implementation of policies and programmes. These initiatives, he said, aim to elevate living standards, fortify resilience and ensure sustainable growth, all aligned with the objective of attaining high-income status by 2050.
Chey Tech, an independent socio-economic analyst, said the WB stands as a crucial, long-term strategic partner for the government in fostering economic advancement.
He said the global financial institution has extended financing, grant aid and concessional loans to Cambodia. This support targeted enhancements in agriculture, the environment, education, health, physical infrastructure, public financial and administrative reforms, and climate change.
He is optimistic that the cooperation in the six sectors would yield further positive outcomes.
“The bank’s collaboration has been instrumental in aiding the government’s pursuit of achieving upper-middle-income status by 2030 and high-income status by 2050. Alongside key partners, the WB has provided crucial financial and technical assistance to implement the government’s strategic plans,” he said.
He also noted that the WB has assisted Cambodia in strategies and policy frameworks, underscoring the need for more grant aid to facilitate human resources development at all levels of study.
Tech particularly stressed the importance of directing support towards vocational and digital training to smoothly initiate the government’s Pentagonal Strategy.
Government spokesman Pen Bona said the government’s strategy aligns with those of many other countries, including development partners and major institutions. He said the UN chief, the Chinese president and other leaders, along with the WB, have praised the strategy. He added that the Pentagonal Strategy is deemed effective and suitable for national development.
“Human capital development, with support from the WB and other partners, holds significance and leads to heightened productivity, strong moral values and good health,” he said.
Bona said he is optimistic about the cooperation between the WB and the government in furthering national development, especially in realising the government’s goal of becoming a high-income nation by 2050.
