AKP Phnom Penh, October 02, 2025 --

The Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology & Innovation (MISTI) and the Australian Embassy to Cambodia, through the Cambodia Australia Partnership for Resilient Economic Development (CAPRED), are strengthening their collaboration on the Provincial Investment Plan (PIP) for the water supply sector, with the goal of closing the gap toward universal clean water access by 2030.

In a meeting here on Oct. 1 with Minister of MISTI H.E. Hem Vanndy, Australian Ambassador H.E. Derek Yip commended Cambodia’s progress, emphasising that achieving universal access will require sustained investment, coordinated planning, and policies that build resilience to climate risks. He reaffirmed Australia’s commitment through CAPRED to advancing financing solutions and fostering collaboration with water operators.

During the meeting, CAPRED introduced the PIP Information System, which integrates a geospatial project database and monitoring dashboard with detailed analysis of investment needs, economic viability, and water security.

The study highlighted key challenges, noting that extending coverage to the last unserved households will be significantly costlier, and that most water sources could face water security risks by 2040 without climate-resilient planning.

Minister Hem Vanndy shared his perspectives and recommendations for the CAPRED technical team to finalise the system, noting that MISTI has been assessing private water operators nationwide and has instructed them to submit reports and investment plans to the ministry.

He stressed that operators must prioritise efficiency improvements, reduce non-revenue water, and strengthen compliance with licensing requirements.

Through CAPRED’s technical assistance, MISTI’s officials will benefit from skill transfer in managing and utilising the system not only as a tool to identify financing gaps, but also to guide policy and support stronger cases for larger investments in the water supply sector.

The updated Provincial Investment Plan for water supply sector also underscores the need for new approaches to ensure the long-term sustainability of the sector, including targeted mechanisms to support investment in more challenging areas and measures to balance cost recovery with affordability for households. 

AKP-MISTI