The government of the Republic of Korea (ROK) is supporting the government of Cambodia with the provision of air quality monitoring stations (AQMS).

This is because the ROK places a strong priority on addressing pollution in the ASEAN region, as a part of its comprehensive strategic partnership cooperation between ASEAN and the ROK.

Under the “Clean Air for Sustainable ASEAN” (CASA) project, funded by the ASEAN-ROK Cooperation Fund (AKCF) launched in January 2023, the initiative aims to mitigate air pollution and its impact on health in the ASEAN region, including in Cambodia.

The project has allocated three AQMSs for Cambodia, with the first station being located in Phnom Penh, the second in Battambang province, and the third in Banteay Meanchey province.

A handover ceremony was held at the Ministry of Environment headquarters today on Thursday, February 20 with the participation of high-level officials, including the ambassador of the Embassy of the ROK in Cambodia and the Minister of Environment of Cambodia.

In his opening remarks at the ceremony, Professor Kiyoung Lee, the Principal Investigator of the CASA project from Seoul National University, explained that the goal of the project is to improve air quality in all ASEAN states and improve the health of its people, including in Cambodia.

“This initiative aligns with the Korean government’s commitment to provide a clean environment and healthy life in all ASEAN member states,” he said.

“I would like to extend my deep appreciation to the Korean government, ASEAN and the ASEAN-Korea Cooperation Fund, and the Seoul National University for their support in making this initiative possible,” he added.

He explained that the project will have a positive impact on Cambodia by improving the environment and contributing to public health.

Jung-wook Park, Ambassador of the Embassy of the ROK in Cambodia, described the initiative as a testament to our shared commitment to addressing the pressing issue of air pollution throughout the region.

“The Korea-ASEAN Cooperation Fund was established in 1989, and its main purposes are to enhance political and security ties and boost economic partnership, and also to strengthen connectivity between Korea and ASEAN,” he explained.

“It is my understanding that more than 30 projects are ongoing with support from this fund. With a budget of $11 million, this four-year initiative aims to reduce air pollution levels and mitigate air-issue impacts in ASEAN member states,” he added.

The ambassador noted that Cambodia has been an active and valid partner in this endeavour since the project’s inception in 2023.

“We have successfully finalised the installation of the three AQMSs. This state-of-the-art system will provide crucial data on air pollution levels, enabling agnostic automation and targeted intervention,” he said.

Environment minister Eang Sophalleth also addressed the ceremony. He called the handover of the new units a significant milestone in the collective journey towards a cleaner, greener, healthier and more sustainable Cambodia, and indeed, a more sustainable ASEAN region.

“Allow me to express my sincere gratitude to the professors and colleagues of Seoul University for their invaluable support and partnership in the successful implementation of the CASA project for air quality and the sustainable development of the region,” he said.

The Minister described the project as embodying the spirit of ASEAN collaboration, working together across borders to address shared challenges for the benefit of all citizens.

“Today's handover ceremony symbolises not only the successful establishment of the three monitoring stations, but also the enduring partnership between Cambodia, the Republic of Korea and the ASEAN community, pursuing a shared vision of a cleaner, greener and more prosperous future for all,” he said.

“Let us reaffirm our commitment to working together, sharing knowledge and leveraging resources to combat air pollution, and build a truly sustainable ASEAN region where clean air is a reality for all citizens,” he added.

The newly-allocated AQMSs will enable the collection of information about the impacts and accuracy of air quality.

The project will also support additional capacity building and training activities to strengthen the air quality management capacity of the ASEAN member states as part of CASA Project.

The project is expected to contribute to cleaner air and better health for the people of ASEAN, including Cambodians.