The National Assembly on Monday unanimously approved the draft law on the “Approval of the National Strategic Development Plan 2019-2023”, and also gave the go-ahead to another four draft laws.

At the session, which was presided over by National Assembly president Heng Samrin, the five draft laws were discussed article by article and four were approved with 112 votes out of 112.

A draft law on the “Approval of Guarantee of Payment by the Royal Government of Cambodia to Schneitec Co Ltd” was approved with 111 votes.

Chea Vandeth, chairman of the National Assembly’s Commission of Planning, Investment, Agriculture, Rural Development, Environment and Water Resources, read the report on the result of the study on the draft law on the “Approval of the National Strategic Development Plan 2019-2023”.

He said the draft law was sent by Prime Minister Hun Sen to the National Assembly on June 11 together with a statement urging the National Assembly to urgently review and approve it.

Vandeth said that on June 19, the third committee of the National Assembly held an internal meeting to review the draft law and requested clarification from the government’s representative on some points.

The government’s representative responded to the lawmakers’ questions and concerns, he said, and recorded some recommendations to be included in other subsequent plans.

Vandeth said the third committee approved the national budget and state plans and gave approval for the state to borrow from and lend money to other states and change or remove taxes.

“This plan responds to the political development situation, the Cambodian economy and the current state of Cambodian society,” he said, adding that the draft law was prepared to follow up on the National Strategic Development Plan 2014-2018.

Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries secretary of state Ty Sokun delivers a speech. NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

Minister of Planning Chhay Than, who defended the draft law, said it was made to achieve three objectives.

The first, he said, was to assess the common results and main challenges taking place in the implementation of the National Strategic Development Plan.

Secondly, the plan aims to determine prioritised policies for relevant ministries and institutions related to the implementation of various prioritised government policies and sustainable development goals, economic growth, reduction of property.

Lastly, it will introduce a system for annual monitoring and assessing of the National Strategic Development Plan by relevant ministries and institutions.

“The National Strategic Development Plan 2019-2023 will have a major role in implementing the various prioritised policies of the Cambodian government set out in Phase IV of the Rectangular Strategy, and also Cambodia’s sustainable development goals,” Than said.

The other draft laws discussed and approved by the National Assembly on Monday related to the guarantee of payments by the government to four companies in the energy sector.