Phnom Penh (FN), March 15 - Madam Baek Sook-Hee, Vice President of the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) paid a courtesy call on H.E. Chhieng Yanara, Minister Attached to the Prime Minister, and Secretary General of CRDB/CDC at Palais du Gouvernement (CDC) in Phnom Penh on Friday.
In the meeting, Madam Baek Sook-Hee and His Excellency Chhieng Yannara discussed the KOICA’s development cooperation activities and KOICA’s grant aid to Cambodia as well as exchange views on Cambodia-Korea development cooperation and partnership.
Both sides exchanged views on 1)-the Korea's new southern policy and expected influences on Cambodia, 2)-the context of Rectangular Strategy Phase IV; priorities for Cambodia's social and economic development in the next five years; the areas and programs that would be the priorities for CDC expecting from KOICA and KOREA to implement the project/program in Cambodia; and 3)-the practices and cases that should be improved or changed from Korean side for the effectiveness of Official Development Assistance (ODA) in Cambodia within the framework of KOICA and other ODA providers from Korea.
H.E. Chhieng Yanara expressed sincere gratitude to the Government of the Republic of Korea and Korean people for providing the invaluable assistance to support the Royal Government’s efforts towards achieving its socio-economic development goals and poverty reduction.
He mentioned that the Republic of Korea has maintained a good relationship with Cambodia's for almost two decades, providing long-term financial and technical cooperation. The support from the Republic of Korea for Cambodia almost doubled in the last five years. He also raised that the Republic of Korea, as one of the kingdom major development partners, continue to keep its high level of support, as well as the commitment to have at least 40% of its assistance to Cambodia in the form of grants.
He highlighted that the current Country Partnership Strategy is still relevant and is a priority for Cambodia even beyond 2020. He also mentioned the strengthening collaboration between KOICA, Embassy of Korea, and relevant institutions for better coordination. In the review CPS for next five year 2021-2025. He suggested Korea side should focus on the digital economic, competiveness, skill labors and links to the private sector and look at how ROK can support in these sectors. He was informed to the meeting that RGC establishes the National Entrepreneurship Center and it will operate next year.
For her part, Madam Baek Sook-Hee introduced new southern policy to ASEAN regions aim at strengthening collaboration with ASEAN members including Cambodia. She also informed that Cambodia is an important partner country. Cambodia ranked third largest recipient country which receives grant aid from KOICA. Therefore, KOICA has been a proud partner of the Cambodian government and the Cambodian people for the last two decades. She also expressed her appreciation for the existing cooperation between KOICA and Cambodia, and informed H.E. Chhieng Yanara that KOICA pledged to do its best to push for the implementation of more new projects for Cambodia.
=FRESH NEWS
To contact the reporter on this story: Mr. Hort Sroeu at hortsroeu@gmail.com
