Signing of a Major Agreement for the Third Phase of the Bakheng Water Supply Project

A new milestone has been reached in the development of drinking water infrastructure in Cambodia. The signing of the agreement between the Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology and Innovation (MISTI), the Phnom Penh Water Supply Authority (PPWSA) and the Institute of Technology of Cambodia (ITC) marks the official launch of the third phase of the Bakheng water supply project, supported by a €10.9 million grant from the European Union.

This ambitious initiative, one of the largest in Cambodia's history in the field of access to drinking water, aims to provide high-quality, inclusive, sustainable and efficient services to the population. Through this agreement, the three institutions are strengthening their cooperation to ensure concrete results by 2031.

The project will focus in particular on providing access to safe and affordable water for around 10,000 marginalised households. At the same time, a National Training Centre will be established to build the capacity of water operators across the country. Technical training will be provided to PPWSA staff and at least 30 scholarships will be awarded to civil servants and students to pursue higher education at European universities, thereby contributing to the professionalisation of the sector.

During the ceremony, His Excellency Professor Dr PO Kimtho, Director General of ITC, emphasised:

"It is a great honour to host this event. Thanks to our long-standing partnership with France and the European Union, many students have been able to realise their dream of studying in Europe. We are confident that they will support the sustainable development of water services in Cambodia upon their return."

LONG Naro, Director General of PPWSA, emphasised the importance of stable funding for the sustainability of the National Training Centre: "Beyond the cost of implementation, the key lies in a sustainable funding mechanism to ensure the operationality of this centre. "

HOUL Bonnarith, Secretary of State at MISTI, highlighted the symbolic and practical significance of this agreement:

"Today, we are affirming our collective commitment to guaranteeing safe, clean and sustainable drinking water for our population. This strong partnership illustrates our shared desire to improve the water sector in a transparent and responsible manner. "

This project is part of the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, in particular SDG-6, which aims to guarantee access to water and sanitation for all. It also promotes political dialogue and sector reform, which are essential for establishing an investment-friendly environment.

The ceremony brought together high-level representatives of the Cambodian government, European donors, students and partners. Laurent Raspaud, Deputy Director of AFD in Cambodia, highlighted the challenges associated with financing and implementing skills development programmes: "The support of the European Union has been decisive in meeting these challenges. "

Finally, Bryan Fornari, Head of Cooperation at the European Union Delegation, expressed the EU's pride in investing in Cambodian youth: ‘These opportunities will enable future engineers, researchers and decision-makers to acquire advanced skills to strengthen national institutions and meet Cambodia's growing needs.’

Through this partnership, France and the European Union are reaffirming their commitment to equitable access to drinking water and sustainable water resource management, in perfect harmony with the Sustainable Development Goals.