A United Nations development agency will open a new office in Phnom Penh following a meeting yesterday with Minister of Foreign Affairs Hor Namhong, an official has said.

Namhong met yesterday with Grete Faremo, UN deputy secretary general and executive director of the UN Office of Project Services (UNOPS), where they discussed expanding the work of the agency in the Kingdom.

Koy Kuong, spokesman for the Foreign Ministry, said that the UNOPS had worked with the ministries of Health, Transporation and the Environment, where it had assisted in infrastructure development, combating malaria, HIV/AIDS and other diseases, and raising awareness of climate change and forest protection.

Prior to 1995, UNOPS was a branch of the UN Development Programme, but later became an independent body.

“The opening of this office is fundamental in order for [UNOPS] to be able to coordinate with other groups to continue to cooperate with Cambodia,” Kuong said. “Besides [health, environment and transport], they will also now look at other sectors.”

Namhong, he added, had made a special request to Faremo that UNOPS assist Cambodia in reducing maternal mortality and access to education for women.