The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries is set to hold a ceremony for its newly appointed minister Dith Tina to take his oath of office. The event will be held on October 17 and presided over by Minister of Economy and Finance Aun Pornmoniroth, who was temporarily put at the helm of the agriculture ministry following the removal of Tina’s predecessor Veng Sakhon.

According to the ministry’s October 14 statement, the ceremony will be held at 3:30pm and followed by a press conference at 5:30pm.

Tina passed the National Assembly (NA) vote of confidence to become the new agriculture minister on October 14 and was appointed by King Norodom Sihamoni through a royal decree later that day. He replaces Veng Sakhon, who was stripped of his portfolio and reappointed as Minister Delegate attached to the Prime Minister.

Following the vote of confidence, Tina took to social media thanking Prime Minister Hun Sen for having confidence in him and for giving him the opportunity to serve the nation in the ministerial position.

He also thanked NA president Heng Samrin, first vice-president Cheam Yeap and second vice-president Khuon Sodary for convening a Standing Committee meeting to endorse his nomination and all 111 NA lawmakers for voting him to office.

“The approval of the National Assembly is a great honour. It has given me the courage to fulfil the mission of serving the Kingdom and the people in the agriculture, forestry and fisheries sector,” he said.

Tina also extended thanks to the King for signing the royal decree.

“I am committed and determined to defend the throne and the constitutional monarchy and responsibly perform my duties as I take my oath before taking office,” he said.

“I respect the Constitution and will always serve the interests of the people in the present and future for the sake of national unity, social stability, peace and the prosperity of the Cambodian people out of my sacred love for the nation,” he said.