The Japanese government On November 12 provided $51.3 million to Cambodia for the implementation of four major projects.

The grants were provided with the signing and exchanges of letters and documents, witnessed by Prime Minister Hun Sen and his Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida following their bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit in Phnom Penh.

The exchange of letters and related documents on the Japanese grants was signed by Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Prak Sokhonn and Japanese ambassador to Cambodia Masahiro Mikami.

They include the construction of a training and education building on war awareness of the Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC), worth about $17 million, and a socio-economic development programme which will cost approximately $8 million. A project to improve the management of contaminated medical waste will be funded to the tune of about $3 million, with the expansion of the water supply system of Prek Village Factory granted around $23.3 million.

Minister of Economy and Finance Aun Pornmoniroth will also sign the following documents with the Japanese delegation: the grant agreement for the three projects implemented by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) with JICA country director Kame Haruko, and a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Toshimitsu Imal, deputy chief executive officer of Toyota Tsusho Corporation.

The grants will make a significant contribution to the government's efforts to accelerate Cambodia's socio-economic development and further strengthen existing cooperation and traditional ties between the two countries.