The Asia Development Bank's Cambodia Resident Mission has appointed Eric Sidgwick as its new country director. Sidgwick aims to focus his efforts on promoting an inclusive and environmentally sustainable growth, said a press release issued by the Asia Development Bank (ADB) yesterday.

Sidgwick started working at the ADB in 2007 as the senior country economist in Cambodia. In 2010 he was appointed the principal economist for regional cooperation in the ADB’s Southeast Asia Department.

In this new role Sidgwick will ensure effective support for programs aimed at developing five priority sectors: transport, water supply, sanitation and urban development, agriculture and natural resources, education and

finance – with the goal of fostering inclusive economic growth and social development.

Upon his appointment, Sidgwick said: “It is an exciting time to be in Cambodia and I am proviledged to be here.

“The country has some unique challenges, but has made steady progress in the past decade. I’m looking forward to working with the government, private sector, development partners and Cambodia’s vibrant civil society in ensuring effective support from the ADB to accelerate the progress in reducing poverty and promoting sustainable and inclusive economic growth,” he said.

The five areas of focus for Sidgwick are part of a $500 million investment strategy which was announced in July last year – a plan that is also in line with the Cambodian government’s National Strategic Development Plan Update.

Sidgwick has more than 20 years of professional experience working with multilateral development banks and other financial institutions, including the IMF and the World Bank on economic development issues faced by Asian, Middle Eastern and francophone African countries.

His educational background includes post-graduate degrees in economics and international relations and a Bachelor degree in economics with international studies from the UK and US.

To contact the reporter on this story: Erika Mudie at [email protected]