PHNOM PENH: The President of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Sanui Kazumasa, promised to support the Royal Government of Cambodia to improve the direction of rural development in Cambodia.
Speaking at a meeting with Minister of Rural Development Chhay Rithy Sen at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on September 14, Sanui Kazumasa highlighted the good cooperation between the Government of Japan and the Royal Government of Cambodia that has resulted in building infrastructure, schools, hospitals in addition to Japan providing scholarships and specialist training to the Cambodian workforce.
He also mentioned the close cooperation with the Ministry of Rural Development in building rural roads to connect with potential cities. He added that the Royal Government of Japan, through JICA in Cambodia, will continue to support the Royal Government of Cambodia as well as the Ministry of Rural Development to achieve rural development goals and eradicate poverty.
The Minister of Rural Development, Chhay Rithy Sen, briefed Sanui Kazumasa on the government’s new Pentagon Strategy which aims to accelerate development towards the vision of Cambodia as a country with high-middle income by 2030 and high income by 2050.
He said that the ministry has developed four priority programs including developing physical and transport infrastructure to expand the scope of rural roads, promoting economic growth to rural areas, diversifying rural economic activities, and training the rural population in skills which allow them to work outside of agriculture.
He said that the living conditions of rural communities have been improved through the supply of clean water, adequate sanitation, access to education on latrines and open defecation, and stronger administration and general support services to increase efficiency, integrity and accountability to serve the people better and faster.
The Minister of Rural Development emphasized that he considered the Royal Government and Japan as strategic friends committed to ongoing cooperation and support.