Prime Minister Hun Manet addresses the 8th River Festival in Siem Reap town on March 16. STPM
The government has set the goal of stimulating development nationwide, to ensure no one is left behind, affirmed Prime Minister Hun Manet.
The comments came as Manet presided over the eighth River Festival, held from March 15-17 in Siem Reap town.
“Leave no place and no one behind are the words I read at the UN General Assembly,” he said.
He added that just like the previous government, under his mandate, he has set the goal of stimulating development across the Kingdom, allowing all locations to maximise their potential.
“Our biggest goal is for people everywhere to reap the benefits of development. Therefore, whatever developmental policies we introduce, we will introduce them for everyone. We will leave no one behind,” he continued.
Seun Sam, a policy researcher at the Royal Academy of Cambodia, echoed the prime minister’s comments, noting that even from 1979, when the country was liberated from the Khmer Rouge, to 1993, when the nation held a general election administered by the UN, Cambodia had experienced many problems, such as a lack of schools in rural areas.
He added that each government mandate, from the first to the seventh, had brought schools closer to people in remote areas. They have also cooperated closely with NGOs and other development partners to establish local development projects.
“We have to acknowledge that each government mandate has driven the development of the Kingdom,” he said on March 17.
He warned, however, that challenges remain, saying the government needs to create more jobs at the grassroots level, facilitate stable prices for agricultural products, guarantee public order and eliminate drugs, for example.
During his address, Manet also mentioned the upcoming Khmer New Year, noting that many people will return to their hometowns.
“In the lead-up to the Khmer New Year, many migrant workers will return from Thailand. We need to welcome them home in as many ways as possible. I have instructed that for the month of April, returning workers will not need to pay any fees at the border crossings,” he said.
He added that the government will continue to place a high priority on development.
“We firmly hope that Cambodia will continue to grow, thanks to our natural resources, as well as our cultural and historical heritage,” he said.
