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PM Praises Progress of Modern Agricultural Communities and Plans On-site Inspection

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The premier stated in September 2024 that preparations are in place for the development of modern agricultural communities, which have already grown to around 2,000 hectares in the first phase. The long-term advantages justify the large expenditure.

 

The Ministry of Agriculture and the Rural Development Bank have jointly launched a USD 100 million financing program for agricultural balance, according to Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet, who also stated that the strategy has been strongly implemented. With an original budget of USD 40million, the project has been running since March 2024 and has already met USD 28 million of its goals. Additional funding is anticipated for the approaching rainy season harvest.

A policy program was started by the Royal Government to create modern farm communities. To transform Cambodia's agricultural sector from small-scale family farming into a robust agricultural economy with greater integration, economies of scale, and competitiveness in both quantity and quality, this program proposes large-scale agricultural output. It is anticipated that the program will raise farmers' standards of living and advance ecologically friendly, sustainable farming practices.

 

On the first day of the campaign, “thousands of people” donated money.

Japan to offer three-pronged support to Cambodia’s digital economy

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According to the Japanese Foreign Ministry, in the midst of the two countries' bilateral ties reaching unprecedented heights, Japan is prepared to provide Cambodia with three different forms of support to help accelerate its digital economy push.

The action is consistent with the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership that Japan and Cambodia have inked, as well as the "Asean–Japan 50th Commemorative Summit" that Prime Minister Hun Manet and his Japanese counterpart Kishida Fumio attended early this week in Tokyo.

According to the Japanese Foreign Ministry, the "common agenda initiative" continues to prioritize Cambodia's digital economy and society growth. The threefold support primarily consists of aiding in the establishment of the National Data Center, promoting public telecommunications networks with human resource development, and putting digital environmental assessment into practice.

“The development cooperation goal mainly focuses on realizing a society in which Cambodian citizens benefit from digitalisation in a safe, equitable, and stable manner while promoting the concept of DFFT (Data Free Flow with Trust) in line with the ‘Development of Digital Economy and Society’ in the ‘Pentagonal Strategy Phase I’ formulated by the Government of Cambodia,” the Japanese Foreign Ministry said.

“The cooperation also aims to strengthen digital infrastructure in Cambodia by supporting the Cambodian government’s efforts to advance digital infrastructure and improve cyber security by utilizing the knowledge of Japanese companies. It also aims to facilitate solutions to social issues in Cambodia through the use of digital technology with the participation of Japanese companies, based on surveys on the digital environment in Cambodia,” it added.

“Japan will be providing facilities and equipment for the National Data Centre, which plays a central role in the realisation of digital government and contributes to the development of digital infrastructure for the advancement of public services, digital utilisation to solve development issues, and promotion of collaboration with the private sector, led by the Cambodian government.

“Support will also be offered towards the development and upgrading of the public telecommunications network through including by promoting investment and technical assistance by the Japanese private sector, based on the Cambodian government’s efforts to enhance mobile network coverage and connectivity.”

The National Bank of Cambodia (NBC) on Monday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Japanese Economy, Trade and Industry Ministry on ‘unified QR-Code based payment’. The MoU was signed between the NBC Governor Dr Chea Serey and Saito Ken, Japanese Minister for Economy, Trade and Industry.

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The MoU, according to NBC, intends to provide a precise framework for cooperation in order to encourage the broad use of cross-border payment systems that make use of practical, safe, and effective QR-code technology. "This cooperation will also help boost tourism between the two countries and increase the amount of local currency in circulation."

As previously reported by Khmer Times, Dr. Chea Serey stated that Japan continues to be an important ally on Cambodia's path to becoming a completely digitalized economy.

She asserted that Japanese collaboration is essential to Cambodia's technical development, particularly in the fintech industry.

She praised Soramitsu, a Japanese technology company, for helping National Bank of Cambodia's Bakong, a digital payment service that enables users to transfer money between and inside member banks and financial institutions, launch successfully.

"Soramitsu is driven to identify more projects in Southeast Asian countries and the Pacific region following the successful launch of Bakong. Thus, Cambodia is able to claim the honor for that. In addition to Soramitsu, a number of other Japanese businesses are active in the Kingdom, including as the well-known logistics firm Nippon Express and the prestigious packaging company Oji Group. Several Japanese IT businesses have collaborated with numerous universities and institutions to enhance tech education in Cambodia.

Takeshi Izuka, a Japanese entrepreneur and inventor who empowers budding engineers in Southeast Asia, founded the Kirirom Institute of Technology in 2014. Since then, Cambodian youth have been receiving top-notch tech education from the institute.

 

According to Pen Norakvuth, Deputy Director-General of NSSF, the goal of using voluntary donations to fund healthcare for public officials and their families is to assist them in controlling medical expenses. Registered spouses and children will receive complimentary examinations, consultations, and medical care at affiliated hospitals.

The National Trade Unions Coalition's president, Far Saly, added that a growing number of people are enrolled in the NSSF, indicating that people are becoming more aware of the advantages of national healthcare insurance.

“I am so proud the government is successful with increasing the number of people registered with the NSSF. It now extends to all civil servants and workers, and now to family members of those who voluntarily contribute join the NSSF. If we compare the situation of workers’ health over the last 20 years, now, their health is taken care of,” he said.

Orn also encouraged current NSSF members to register their kids on an individual basis, pointing out that kids will benefit from free medical care and treatment at all collaborate hospitals nationwide, including both public and private ones. He stated the NSSF would also pay for cremation expenses if children are in danger and tragically pass away. With almost 1.56 million active members, the NSSF for the pension sector has registered 21,288 required factories.

The NSSF pension department has recruited new members at 3,013 obligatory factories in the first half of this year, totalling around 130,000 workers.

Additionally, more than 1.8 million members—among them, over 1.56 million workers—and more than 240,000 public servants are covered by NSSF insurance against occupational dangers.

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Cambodia, Japan hold talks on technical assistance, infrastructure projects

At the Ministry of Public Works and Transport (MPWT) on Tuesday, representatives of Cambodia and Japan talked about stepping up their collaboration on technical support and infrastructure development projects for roads, bridges, and logistics in Cambodia.

Nagase Kensuke, Minister and Deputy Chief of Mission of the Japanese Embassy led the Japanese side to Cambodia, while Koy Sodany, Permanent Secretary of State for MPWT, led the Cambodian side.

Sodany gave Kensuke an update on Cambodia's infrastructure development and other initiatives during the meeting.

In addition, Sodany asked that Japan maintain its technical and financial assistance for the public and transportation sectors, particularly for the implementation of infrastructure projects like roads, bridges, rail transportation, and logistics in Cambodia. These projects are outlined in a comprehensive master plan and are intended to support the country's economic development.

Kensuke conveyed his admiration for Cambodia's swift advancements and emphasized the importance of the infrastructure sector for logistics, freight train transportation, and other initiatives in the country.

The topic of support for ongoing railway, port, and road expansion and improvement projects in Cambodia was also discussed during the meeting.

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Cambodia, Japan agree to widen economic cooperation

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On Saturday, it was decided in principle that Cambodia and Japan will work together more closely on infrastructure projects and to connect maritime areas by contributing to the planning and construction of the Sihanoukville Autonomous Port. The two nations also decided to draw in Japanese investment and deepen their economic cooperation.

During their meeting at the Peace Palace, Japanese Foreign Minister Kamikawa Yoko and Prime Minister Hun Manet discussed important matters related to economic development.

As they worked toward achieving peace and advancing Cambodia's development, Kamikawa kept the Prime Minister informed about the development of mutually trusting relations between Japan and Cambodia.

“For the future, the Government of Japan will continue to strengthen and expand relations and cooperation with the Royal Government of Cambodia in both bilateral and multilateral frameworks,” Mr Hun Manet wrote on social media.

Mr. Hun Manet greeted Kamikawa and the Japanese delegation visiting Cambodia and expressed gratitude to the Japanese government and people for their ongoing support of Cambodia's socioeconomic growth.

The two presidents also talked about how to draw in Japanese investment, and deepen, and broaden their economic cooperation.

The prime minister made special mention of the positive relations that exist between Cambodia and Japan, stating that they have reached a new level since the two nations upgraded to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2023 and introduced new initiatives to deepen and broaden their cooperation.

The prime minister's office released a statement stating that Mr. Hun Manet and the foreign minister of Japan. Discussed ways to expand and strengthen bilateral cooperation through innovative approaches in a number of areas, such as forging ahead with the development and construction of Sihanoukville Autonomous Port, collaborating to connect maritime space, and pushing ahead with the growth and reinforcement of cooperation in the mining industry.

Kamikawa also had a meeting with Senate President Hun Sen at the Senate Palace later that day. In a press statement issued on June 6 by the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kamikawa stated that Japan would be interested in working with Cambodia to develop social infrastructure, such as digital and water infrastructure, maritime connectivity, and humanitarian mine action, with a focus on developing human resources and leveraging Japanese technology to enhance Cambodia's sustainability and co-create social value.

On Saturday night, Kamikawa also met with Sok Chenda Sophea, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, as well as the Deputy Prime Minister.

 “The two ministers also praised the strong economic ties through the investment of Japanese companies in Cambodia and Minister Kamikawa promised to encourage more Japanese investors to invest in Cambodia,” said a MFAIC release.

Kamikawa reaffirmed her pledge to support Cambodia's growth and mentioned that the Japanese government will give the country about JPY 8 billion, or about $2 million, to improve Phnom Penh's electrical network.

Regarding a yen loan project of about $59.6 million for the construction of National Road No. 5 and a grant aid project of about $2.7 million for the Project for Human Resource Development Scholarship to support young administrative officials to study in Japan, the two foreign ministers signed and exchanged notes.

Dr. Sam Seun, a policy analyst from the Royal Academy of Cambodia, who praised the ongoing development of the partnership between Cambodia and Japan, greeted the Japanese Foreign Minister with a warm reception in Cambodia.

Talking to Khmer Times, Seun said, “Cambodia should further improve the investment environment so that it could easily attract foreign investors to the country.”

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