The Asian Development Bank (ADB), in cooperation with the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) and the Cambodia Development Resource Institute (CDRI) – a leading think tank – kicked off the first in a series of panel discussions on ADB’s support for Cambodia’s development agenda.

“The recently launched five-year strategy reinforces ADB’s partnership with Cambodia for its prosperity, its people, and the planet,” said ADB Country Director for Cambodia Ms. Jyotsana Varma.

“ADB has set forth bold action plans to accelerate private sector development and strengthen climate resilience in Cambodia. These discussions are an important platform to gather insights, foster collaboration, and garner support from a wide range of stakeholders from academia and research institutions to private sector champions, subnational leaders, and other development partners. We hope to implement these plans together to deliver tangible, lasting impact for the country and its people,’ she added.

According to ADB, the first panel dis
cussion was held at the Battambang Teacher Education College in the Battambang province with about 100 representatives from relevant government institutions, academia, and the private sector participating.

The panel, comprising Ms. Varma, Dr. Eng Netra – CDRI Executive Director, Mr. Parth Borkotoky Chairman of the International Business Chamber of Cambodia, and Mr. Pratish Halady, ADB’s Southeast Asia Regional Head for Private Sector Development, discussed national priorities for high and inclusive growth, ADB’s strategic response to emerging challenges, and private sector insights on leveraging new technologies to accelerate the growth momentum in the coming years. The audience engaged in the discussion with incisive questions and comments.

ADB is one of Cambodia’s largest sources of official development assistance, with an average annual lending of around US$360 million from 2019 to 2023. Closely aligned with the national strategy, ADB’s main support focuses on agriculture, natural resources and rural dev
elopment; education; energy; finance; health; industry and trade; public sector management; transport; and other urban infrastructure and services.

ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty. Established in 1966, it is

owned by 68 members-49 from the region.

Source: Agence Kampuchea Presse