The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) announced yesterday that it will provide technical support for Cambodian small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs), strengthening their capacities through the establishment of a national policy, officials said.

Meng Saktheara, director-general of the General Department of Industry at the Ministry of Industry, Mines and Energy, said the Technical Cooperation Project (TCP), focusing on the strengthening of an SME support system, would increase small businesses’ competitiveness.

Before signing the agreement, Izaki Hiroshi, chief representative of the JICA Cambodia office, said the technical assistance would focus on drafting national policies for development of both SMEs and micro-SMEs.

The two-year project aims to strengthen Cambodian small business by establishing a national mechanism to support SMEs.

The project will begin as early as June and will be completed in 2015. Targeted areas will be Phnom Penh, Battambang and Pursat provinces.

JICA expects to dispatch key experts in the area of SME policy and training as well as officials with the Ministry of Industry, Mines and Energy, according to Saktheara.

“SMEs are a good source of innovation and marketing,” he said. “We need to learn from Japan. It is not about money; it is about gaining technical skills from them.”

Keo Mom, owner of LyLy enterprise and Deputy Director of the Federation of the association of SME’s in Cambodia, said she had previously received technical assistance from Japanese experts.