AKP Phnom Penh, August 3, 2026 --

Australia remains a key partner in supporting Cambodia’s development, with both countries reaffirming their commitment to strengthen cooperation in trade, investment, institutional capacity building and human resource development, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Economy and Finance on Aug. 3.

The commitment was highlighted during a meeting on July 30 at the Ministry between H.E. Dr. Aun Pornmoniroth, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance, and H.E. Dr. Anne Aly, Minister for International Development, Small Business and Minister for Multicultural Affairs of Australia.

H.E. Dr. Aun Pornmoniroth welcomed H.E. Dr. Anne Aly and expressed appreciation for Australia’s longstanding support for Cambodia, including its contribution to the country’s peace-building and national unification process following the 1991-1992 Paris Peace Accords.

According to the statement, from 1992 to the present, the Australian Government has provided grant funding to the Royal Government of Cambodia totalling nearly AU$2 billion (approximately US$1.3 billion) for development across various sectors, including education, agriculture, social protection, infrastructure, mine clearance and health.

Australia has also provided assistance through the Cambodia-Australia Partnership for Resilient Economic Development (CAPRED), support in responding to the global energy crisis, and programmes covering social protection and health improvement. It has also provided technical assistance for the Identification of Poor Households (IDPoor) mechanism and the Health Equity Fund.

H.E. Dr. Anne Aly thanked H.E. Dr. Aun Pornmoniroth for the warm welcome and said Australia highly valued the strong friendship and bilateral cooperation between the two countries.

She noted that 2027 will mark the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Cambodia and Australia. Australia will continue to strengthen and expand cooperation with Cambodia under its Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040, focusing on practical needs and existing areas of cooperation.

The two sides agreed to strengthen cooperation through effective and sustainable projects aligned with Cambodia’s national development priorities and the Royal Government’s Cambodia Vision 2050.

Key areas include trade, investment, institutional capacity building and human resource development, with both sides agreeing to improve cooperation projects to deliver tangible benefits for Cambodia’s development and its people.

By Sum Kosal