PHNOM PENH: Australia has announced that it will provide official development assistance of $83.6 million AUD, equivalent to more than $ 56.6 million USD to Cambodia.

The Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the aid package after Cambodian Foreign Minister Prak Sokhon received a joint letter from Australian Foreign Minister Penny Vong and Australian Minister for Defense Industry Pat Conroy on July 24.

"“Australia will provide official development assistance of $83.6 million [AUD] to Cambodia in 2023-2024, of which $47.9 million [AUD] will be provided for the bilateral framework while the remaining amount is provided through global and regional applications,” said the Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in an announcement on July 25. “Compared to 2022-2023, the development assistance for 2023-2024 has increased; that is, in 2022-2023, it was only 80.8 million Australian dollars.”

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized that Australia's development assistance, along with Cambodia's efforts and the National Strategic Development Plan, will continue to support Cambodia's economic and social growth by increasing access to and standards of public services, improving infrastructure connectivity, facilitating reforms and investments in health care, and contributing to a socially-oriented system focused on women and persons with disabilities.

Australia has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Cambodia's ambitions and looks forward to continuing to work closely with the Royal Government of Cambodia to promote the two countries' joint priorities.

The Cambodian government is deeply grateful for Australia's continued development assistance to Cambodia over the past few years, despite Australia's severe economic impact from the Covid-19 pandemic.

"This gesture is a clear testament to the strength of the friendly relations and deep solidarity between Cambodia and Australia," the ministry said in a statement.