The Japanese government has agreed to pledge more than US$676,000 to support year-long government demining projects in Kampong Thom, Oddar Meanchey and Preah Vihear provinces, according to a statement released by the Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC) on Wednesday. Under the agreement, to be signed on Friday by Japanese Ambassador Masafumi Kuroki and Heng Ratana, the director general of CMAC, about 2,000 families will benefit from the demining projects.