Phnom Penh, March 20, 2024 --The National Bank of Cambodia (NBC) marks the 44th anniversary of Riel banknote printing with the 'Love the Riel' campaign.According to a public notification issued by NBC on Mar. 19, the campaign welcomes the exchange of old and torn riel banknotes with the new ones across Cambodia.Running from Mar. 20 until 29, the campaign with 'Riel, Sustainability, Development' as its motto is launched in cooperation with capital, provincial and municipal banking and financial institutions.During the campaign, the public can access their nearest banking and financial institutions for the exchange.Cambodia re-printed the first Riel banknotes on Mar. 20, 1980.
Phnom Penh, March 11, 2024 --Prime Minister Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet has noted the rapid progress of the digitalisation in Cambodia in recent years.“The digitalisation in Cambodia has progressed at a remarkable pace in the past years. The COVID-19 crisis has spurred the use of digital technology more than ever before,” he said at the opening ceremony of the 1st Digital Government Forum, held here at the Koh Pich Convention and Exhibition Centre this morning.The Premier continued that digital payments have reached some US$492 billion in 2023, about 16 times of GDP, while the number of registered mobile internet users and mobile subscribers has increased to more than 19 million last year.Moreover, Samdech Thipadei mentioned about the Royal Government’s official verification platform – verify.gov.kh – which has recently won a Gold Medal in the ASEAN Digital Awards 2024, stressing that the platform will play a significant role in providing all kinds of public services for the benefit of the Cambodian people.Besides, he added, the Cambodia Data Exchange (CamDX), a key platform being actively used by public and private institutions to share and exchange data in the common ecosystem, grabbed the Open Source Adaption of the Year Award 2022 from the Future of Government Awards. This is another source of pride for the Royal Government of Cambodia for its efforts in digitalisation in government.Samdech Hun Manet stated that the Royal Government has been implementing the digital policy agenda with a proactive and open spirit in order to achieve the national digital development goals and regional and global digital development goals as set out in the ASEAN Digital Masterplan 2025 and the Digital Strategy 2022-2025 of the United Nations.In addition, he underlined, Cambodia has been joining other ASEAN member countries in advancing the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement, which is expected to increase the volume of ASEAN digital economy from US$1 trillion to US$2 trillion annually by 2030.
Phnom Penh, March 26, 2024 --Kratie province has officially obtained the mine-free status under Samdech Techo Project for Mine Action (STP-MA) themed “Providing Safe Ground, Creating Smiles”.A ceremony to declare Kratie as a mine-free province was held in the provincial city this morning under the presidency of Samdech Kitti Sangaha Pundit Men Sam An, a Member of the Supreme Privy Council to His Majesty the King.In a post on his social media networks this morning, Prime Minister Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet extended his congratulations to this achievement, saying “Mar. 26, 2024 is a historic day when the people of Kratie province are freed from the threat of landmines and Kratie is the 15th province in Cambodia being declared mine-free.”For two decades, from 2003 to 2023, over 133 square kilometres of land, equivalent to 795 minefields have been cleared, and some 60,000 mines and other explosive remnants have been found and destroyed, by three operators, including the National Centre for Peacekeeping Forces, Mines and Explosive Remnants of War Clearance (NPMEC), Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC), and HALO Trust, benefitting almost 400,000 local people.Achievement of mine-free status by Kratie province is one of the many achievements of the 7th-mandate Royal Government of Cambodia in more than six months of office, with financial support from the “Mine-Free Cambodia 2025” Fund and Samdech Techo Project for Mine Action, as well as the generous contribution of friendly countries, development partners and charitable people, said the Premier, adding that during the over six months, three provinces have been declared mine-free – Kampong Speu, Mondulkiri and Kratie.The other mine-free provinces are Kampong Speu, Mondulkiri, Stung Treng, Kep, Prey Veng, Preah Sihanouk, Thbong Khmum, Kampong Cham, Svay Rieng, Kampong Chhnang, Kandal, Takeo, and Kampot, and Phnom Penh capital.
Phnom Penh, December 05, 2023 --The United States Agency for International Development (USAID)/Cambodia has announced the award of a new, five-year, US$24 million environment project supporting efforts that preserve biodiversity, protect critical ecosystems, and enhance community livelihoods in Cambodia.According to a USAID’s press release dated Dec. 4, this new project, USAID Conserve, will expand USAID’s support to communities living in and around protected areas in the provinces of Preah Vihear, Kampong Thom, Stung Treng, and Kratie, while also undertaking new initiatives for communities living around Tonle Sap Lake and along the coastal areas of Koh Kong and Preah Sihanouk.USAID Conserve will build upon USAID’s efforts to provide direct funding to community-based organisations through an US$8 million grant facility, which will provide at least 250 direct grants to Cambodian organisations. USAID will expand its long history of supporting successful forest carbon financing projects through support for the Kingdom’s efforts to develop blue carbon projects in Cambodia’s flooded forests and coastal areas. USAID Conserve will also develop social and behaviour change communications campaigns at the national, provincial, district, and commune levels focused on combating the illegal trade in wildlife.“USAID Conserve reflects our commitment to localisation of our development assistance,” stated USAID Mission Director Kerry Pelzman. “Through this activity, we will support community-driven efforts to develop local employment based on the sustainable use of natural resources and leverage private capital to invest in long-term solutions to the climate crisis. Under this approach, USAID Conserve will provide support to the commitment of the Royal Government of Cambodia to achieve carbon neutral status by 2050.”USAID Conserve will be led by Tetra Tech ARD and implemented by a consortium of partners, including the Wildlife Conservation Society and Conservation International.
Phnom Penh, March 23, 2024 --The Prime Minister commends Cambodia's achievements in fighting against tuberculosis (TB) and advises further acceleration of the service.Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet shared the remark in an open letter to mark the World TB Day, Mar. 24, themed 'Yes! We can end TB.'Cambodia has transformed herself from a country among others with the highest TB prevalences in the world into one considered a role model in fighting the disease, he said.New TB cases dropped from 579 per 100,000 people in 2000 to 320 in 2022, which is a 45 percent decrease.The TB death rate also declined by around 45 percent, from 42 cases per 100,000 in 2000 to 23 cases in 2022.Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet highlighted that Cambodia should not be complacent with the success but work harder to overcome the challenges faced in fighting TB.Promoting the health and quality of life of the people is top on the government's agenda, he continued.From there, he called on the Ministry of Health and other stakeholders at all levels to mobilise available resources and accelerate TB tracking and treatment services, aiming for a success rate of more than 90 percent.Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet ended his message by thanking the ministry and its officials, as well as other players in the area, for their hard work so far.
Phnom Penh, March 22, 2024 --Cambodia Wheelchair Basketball Federation (CWBF) will be granted US$76,333 by the Government of Japan for the Roofing Construction of a Wheelchair Basketball Court in Battambang province.The Grant Contract was signed here on Mar. 21 between Japanese Ambassador to Cambodia H.E. UENO Atsushi, and H.R.H. Princess Sisowath Kanthireth, President of CWBF.According to a press release of the Embassy of Japan in Phnom Penh, this grant will be used to construct a roofing for the current wheelchair basketball court located at Physical Rehabilitation Centre in Battambang.As the court has no roofing, it continued, athletes of wheelchair basketball have limited time to practice during morning or evening when the sun is not too high, or even may not practice at all when it is raining.Through this project, athletes will be able to practice anytime regardless of day or night and weather, and lead the wheelchair basketball team to achieve better results in an international competition in the future, said the source, adding that with great anticipation, more people would be interested in playing sports, and through that engagement, people could live a healthier society in the future.The grant is made under the framework, the Grant Assistance for Cultural Grassroots Projects (“KUSANONE”), which directly contributes to the promotion of cultural, sports, and higher educational activities and preservation of cultural heritage conducted by non-profit organisations that are active at the grassroots level in developing countries.
Phnom Penh, March 25, 2024 --A high-level Cambodian delegation led by Prime Minister Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei HUN Manet is on the way to the Lao PDR for a two-day official visit, at the invitation of H.E. Dr. Sonexay SIPHANDONE, Prime Minister of the Lao PDR.The delegation was seen off at Phnom Penh International Airport by deputy prime ministers, senior ministers and many other senior government officials as well as H.E. Buakeo Phumvongsay, Lao Ambassador to Cambodia.According to a press release of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, during the visit on Mar. 25-26, Samdech Thipadei will pay a courtesy call on H.E. Thongloun SISOULITH, President of the Lao PDR, and hold bilateral talks with his counterpart, Prime Minister Sonexay SIPHANDONE to discuss elevating bilateral cooperation across a wide range of fields. They will also exchange views on sub-regional, regional and international issues of common interest and concern. The meeting will be followed by the signing of several documents.Samdech Thipadei is scheduled to receive a courtesy call by H.E. Khambai DAMLAT, President of the Lao-Cambodian Friendship Association. He will also meet Cambodian Business Club members and Cambodian students.“The visit will further deepen bilateral cooperation under the spirit of good neighbourliness, traditional friendship, and the comprehensive and long-lasting strategic partnership between the two countries. At the same time, it will strengthen foundations for growth and prosperity for the benefit of the two peoples,” stressed the press release.
PPhnom Penh, March 22, 2024 --Ministry of Information (MoINFO) and Ministry of Inspection have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on News and Events Broadcasting Cooperation to allow the latter to collaborate and broadcast her contents of information via all kinds of media outlets of the former such as the Agence Kampuchea Presse (AKP), National Radio of Cambodia (NRK), National Television of Cambodia (TVK), App MoINFO, and so on.The signing ceremony of the MoU was held between H.E. NETH Pheaktra, Minister of Information, and H.E. HUOT Hak, Minister of Inspection, at the MoINFO office on Mar. 22.On the occasion, H.E. NETH Pheaktra mentioned that, through the above-mentioned MoU, the MoINFO would help the Ministry of Inspection to broadcast information and participate in supporting contents, so that the latter could send messages such as her activities and affairs, law explanation and keys to law-related implementation to the public, as well as receive information and feedback from fellow citizens to strengthen the rule of law in Cambodia.Law enforcement can be done unless people understand about the law, H.E. Minister underlined.H.E. NETH Pheaktra added that the MoU would lay a foundation to strengthen inspection affairs and participate in fulfilling duty as the public media outlets of the MoINFO, as well as be a framework to strengthen affairs among ministries to achieve the common goal to serve the public with responsibility, a testimony that both ministries have implemented the policy and guidance of the 7th-mandate Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC), and was also a model to other institutions to show the public about real servants of the citizens through cooperation and solidarity, by reaffirming that the MoINFO would try her best to further collaborate with existing and other ministries/institutions.‘‘The MoU shows how to work, and maturity of how to work of ministries, and carry out the recommendations of Prime Minister of Cambodia, further strengthens the Ministry of Inspection’s work in order to both promote herself and receive information from the public which was a foundation to effectively fulfill tasks from the RGC, so that our society has transparency, accountability, justice, and make the Ministry of Inspection play stronger roles in an orientation of all ministries and the whole society to walk in the right way to become an upper middle-income country by 2030, and a high-income country by 2050, so both media and inspection sector and other sectors would upgrade their qualities and effectiveness of Cambodia as a developed country,” said the information minister.H.E. NETH Pheaktra further mentioned about the important roles of open information sources (general broadcasting) to provide inputs to ministries/institutions for information management and investigation in the framework of transparency and accountability, in addition to social media network and secret information source.For his part, H.E. HUOT Hak briefed the event about the background of the Ministry of Inspection, and shared his insights about the significance roles of information in general and the MoU in specific.
Phnom Penh, March 27, 2024 --Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, President of the Supreme Privy Council to His Majesty the King, is leading a high-level delegation to China's Hainan province to attend the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2024, at the invitation of H.E. Li Baodong, Secretary General of the Boao Forum for Asia.The delegation was seen off at Phnom Penh International Airport this morning by many dignitaries and Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia H.E. Wang Wentian.According to a press release of the Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Samdech Techo will deliver a speech at the opening of the conference whose theme this year is "Asia and the World: Common Challenges, Shared Responsibilities."The forum brings together government, business and academic leaders with international and regional organisations to discuss major development issues and promote international cooperation, it said.On the sidelines of the forum, the source added, Samdech Techo will meet senior Chinese leaders including H.E. Zhao Leji, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, H.E. General He Weidong, Member of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee Political Bureau and Second Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission, and H.E. Feng Fei, Secretary of the Hainan Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China.Samdech Techo is also scheduled to visit the Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences and Wenchang International Aerospace City with the aim of fostering cooperation between Cambodia and China in the field of agricultural development and technology.Samdech Techo Hun Sen is accompanied by H.E. Prak Sokhonn, Member of the Supreme Privy Council, H.E. Deputy Prime Minister Sun Chanthol, First Vice-Chairman of the Council for the Development of Cambodia, H.E. Mrs. Cham Nimul, Minister of Commerce, and H.E. Hem Vanndy, Minister of Industry, Science, Technology and Innovation, along with senior government officials and leaders from the Cambodia Chamber of Commerce.
Phnom Penh, March 20, 2024 --The National Bank of Cambodia (NBC) marks the 44th anniversary of Riel banknote printing with the 'Love the Riel' campaign.According to a public notification issued by NBC on Mar. 19, the campaign welcomes the exchange of old and torn riel banknotes with the new ones across Cambodia.Running from Mar. 20 until 29, the campaign with 'Riel, Sustainability, Development' as its motto is launched in cooperation with capital, provincial and municipal banking and financial institutions.During the campaign, the public can access their nearest banking and financial institutions for the exchange.Cambodia re-printed the first Riel banknotes on Mar. 20, 1980.