AKP Phnom Penh, April 29, 2025 --

The Minister of Rural Development calls on the government of Australia to support the ministry’s strategic model village initiative to bring about necessary development of all communities across Cambodia before 2050.

H.E. Chhay Rithisen floated the proposal to Australian Ambassador to Cambodia H.E. Derek Yip in their discussion meeting at the ministry on April 29.

H.E. Minister highlighted the importance of developing model villages that serve as centers of development, providing inclusive and effective social and economic services to the locals.

It also includes efforts in securing sustainable livelihoods creation and income improvement for the community members to lead civilised living standards, he added.

H.E. Derek Yip responded positively to the request, remarking that since the commencement of his tenure in Cambodia over the past nine months, during which he travelled to different areas in provinces, he observed remarkable progress in all sectors.

He reaffirmed Australia’s steadfast commitment to support Cambodia’s rural development, both in the form of soft and hard infrastructure as well as human capital development.

Appreciating each other for the cooperation so far, the two also exchanged views on other rural development priorities of Cambodia, including health, sanitation, and hygiene; grassroots economic diversification; and institutional strengthening through policy and financial reform and digitalisation.

By Thyda You