PHNOM PENH: Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Dith Tina, welcomed staff of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) at his ministry on the afternoon of September 26 to discuss investment in Cambodia’s agricultural economy.

During the meeting, Dith Tina expressed his pleasure at the opportunity and welcomed all investment programs and development projects that benefit and improve the lives of farmers so that Cambodia can achieve its goal of becoming a country with high-middle income by 2030.

The minister emphasized that the work of the National Laboratory is an essential part of the inspection of agricultural products to ensure food safety and the management of various infectious diseases, which is an important step in the construction of building infrastructure. This is especially pertinent as China has started the process of importing Cambodian agricultural products like seafood and fresh coconuts. The ministry is keen on investment from development partners to move forward with necessary studies and experiments on food safety.

The minister advocated for the Center for Disease Control’s One Health policy, which recognizes the interdependence of the health of humans, animals and ecosystems, which should be kept in balance. He asked that the project review and pay attention to the rules, policies and guidelines clearly and to study the needs of the target group to use the budget effectively. The ministry’s current target is providing more jobs and benefits to farmers, increasing their income, profitability, efficiency and economic sustainability.