The Japanese government will provide up to $18.2 million for the rehabilitation and improvement of irrigation and drainage facilities in Kandal, Kampong Speu and Takeo provinces.
An exchange of notes signing ceremony was held on April 10 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. The signatories were foreign minister Prak Sokhonn and Japanese ambassador to Cambodia Atsushi Ueno.
Ueno said at the signing ceremony that he was honoured to announce the “Southwest Phnom Penh Irrigation and Drainage Rehabilitation and Improvement Project Phase II”.
According to Ueno, the project will improve intake facilities, irrigation and drainage canals, thereby improving the livelihoods of farmers in these areas.
“The project was launched in 2014, but construction has been delayed due to the need for design changes and foreign currency fluctuations. However, I hope that the signing of Exchange of Notes for the second phase will accelerate the progress of this project,” he said.
“Following completion of this project, I anticipate that a stable water supply will increase agricultural production and that the areas covered by the project will be able to take advantage of their proximity to Phnom Penh to sell their products,” he added.
He noted that this year marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Cambodia. In order to mark the occasion, the relationship has been upgraded to a “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership”. Under their existing bilateral relationship, Japan and Cambodia have already cooperated successfully across numerous fields.
“I expect that this project will contribute to the further strengthening of the friendly relationship that exists between our two countries,” he said.
He assured Sokhonn that the Japanese government will continue to cooperate on a wide range of projects.
