The European Commission plans to provide 154 million euros ($ 172 million) in grant funding to implement the first phase of the multi-year program 2020-2024 in Cambodia, according to European Ambassador to Cambodia on March 2. The fund plans to support Cambodia in three priority areas.
The press release of the Council for the Development of Cambodia on March 2 regarding the working meeting between Mr. Chheang Yanara, Minister Delegate to the Prime Minister, and Secretary-General of the Committee for Rehabilitation and Development of Cambodia of the Council for the Development of Cambodia and Ms. Carmen Moreno, European Ambassador to Cambodia. The funding package plans to support three priority areas: education, employment, and governance.
In the same statement, Carmen Moreno, EU Ambassador to Cambodia, stated that the new EU Multi-Year Program 2021-2027 was approved by the European Commission at the end of 2021 and that The European Union and the Royal Government of Cambodia for the implementation of the EU Joint Strategy on Development Cooperation in Cambodia.
The financing package for the first phase of 2021-2024 will support three priority sectors, including 62 million euros for green growth and jobs, 48 million euros for Education and Vocational training, and 37 million euros for governance. The EU has also allocated another 8 million euros to support the design and implementation of projects or activities in these three priority areas. The additional funding for the next phase, 2024-2027, depends on evaluating the program’s commission in the first phase of 2021-2024.
In this meeting, Mr. Chheang Yanara, Minister Delegate to the Prime Minister, highly appreciated the EU for providing development assistance to Cambodia, especially the excellent achievements in implementing the EU Joint Strategy on Cooperation, the Development for Cambodia 2014-2020, and Multi-program 2014-2020. Regarding the financing in the next phase, he requested the European Union to consider supporting the development of the digital economy, which is one of Cambodia’s top priorities.
He also thanked the European Union for its focus and contribution to the Royal Government of Cambodia in the socio-economic recovery of the COVID-19 crisis. The past support and cooperation have strengthened the partnership and contributed significantly to Cambodia’s sustainable and environmental development.
Ambassador Carmen Moreno also praised the Royal Government of Cambodia’s efforts and achievements in development in Cambodia.
Both sides reaffirmed their position and believed that the cooperative relations and partnership in the development cooperation between Cambodia and the European Union will be further strengthened and expanded.
According to the European Ambassador to Cambodia, the European Union plans to hold a meeting between the Council for the Development of Cambodia and the European Union and its member countries in April to review and discuss the EU’s joint strategy on development cooperation for Cambodia 2021-2027.
