PHNOM PENH, June 3 (AP) - (Kyodo)—International aid donors have pledged $1.1 billion as financial assistance to Cambodia for this year, a government official said Thursday.
Keat Chhon (pictured), deputy prime minister and minister of economy and finance, told a press conference that after the two-day meeting that foreign donors had pledged $1.1 billion for 2010.
In 2009, Cambodia received $951.5 million and $690 million in 2008.
When asked if the amount of new aid pledges spelled out Thursday meets Cambodia's request for assistance from the donors during the meeting, Keat Chhon said it "was applied to what we need for national development strategy."
Keat Chhon, however, denied elaborating on allocations of aid pledges by each country and actual amounts, except saying Japan stood "first, or the largest" among the donors.
He admitted donors were touching on government reform, including land issues, and in response, he said ministers from each concerning sector briefed them on the general development and progress.
More than 100 representatives from 16 donor countries, including Japan and the United States, and from seven international financial organizations such as the World Bank, and the International Monetary Fund, are attending the forum.
The group has met annually since 1996, and as of today, Cambodia has received foreign aid worth about $4 billion.
Speaking for the development partners, Annette Dixon, country director of the World Bank, said, "Our success will be determined by the effectiveness of our partnership."
She identified the need to ensure economic recovery addressed issues of equity, diversification, transparency and competitiveness, as well as enhanced social protection and sustainability.
On Monday, Global Witness, a London-based environmental advocacy group, urged international donors to tackle the gross mismanagement of the country's natural resources.
"The Cambodian government has been promising to reform for years, but nothing had changed," Global Witness Campaigns Director Gavin Hayman said.
Three days ahead of the meeting, members of parliament of Cambodia's opposition Sam Rainsy Party issued a statement praising and acknowledging the progress made in several areas but saying more work remains in key sectors including health, education, judiciary and land as well as in combating corruption.
Keat Chhon (pictured), deputy prime minister and minister of economy and finance, told a press conference that after the two-day meeting that foreign donors had pledged $1.1 billion for 2010.
In 2009, Cambodia received $951.5 million and $690 million in 2008.
When asked if the amount of new aid pledges spelled out Thursday meets Cambodia's request for assistance from the donors during the meeting, Keat Chhon said it "was applied to what we need for national development strategy."
Keat Chhon, however, denied elaborating on allocations of aid pledges by each country and actual amounts, except saying Japan stood "first, or the largest" among the donors.
He admitted donors were touching on government reform, including land issues, and in response, he said ministers from each concerning sector briefed them on the general development and progress.
More than 100 representatives from 16 donor countries, including Japan and the United States, and from seven international financial organizations such as the World Bank, and the International Monetary Fund, are attending the forum.
The group has met annually since 1996, and as of today, Cambodia has received foreign aid worth about $4 billion.
Speaking for the development partners, Annette Dixon, country director of the World Bank, said, "Our success will be determined by the effectiveness of our partnership."
She identified the need to ensure economic recovery addressed issues of equity, diversification, transparency and competitiveness, as well as enhanced social protection and sustainability.
On Monday, Global Witness, a London-based environmental advocacy group, urged international donors to tackle the gross mismanagement of the country's natural resources.
"The Cambodian government has been promising to reform for years, but nothing had changed," Global Witness Campaigns Director Gavin Hayman said.
Three days ahead of the meeting, members of parliament of Cambodia's opposition Sam Rainsy Party issued a statement praising and acknowledging the progress made in several areas but saying more work remains in key sectors including health, education, judiciary and land as well as in combating corruption.
1 comment:
THIS IS FUCKING PATHETIC! THIS AID WILL ONLY MAKE THE TYRANT HUN XEN GOVERNMENT STRONGER AND CONTINUES TO STRENGHT MORE CORRUPTION. WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS DONORS THINKING!
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