Embassy of India
Phnom Penh

Press Release

          Project completion ceremony of the Quick Impact Project “Mine – Free Villages in Koh Kong Province”

  On July 18, 2024, the Embassy of India in Phnom Penh joined Cambodia Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority (CMAA), Provincial Authorities of Koh Kong, and National Centre for Peace Keeping, Mine and ERW Clearance (NPMEC) for marking the successful completion of Quick Impact Project for ‘Mine – Free Villages in Koh Kong Province’.

H.E. Tep Kallyan, Deputy Secretary General, CMAA, H.E. Mr. Sreng Hong, Deputy Governor, Koh Kong Province,Major General Chhoeun Chomnit, NPMEC as well as more that 250 people from mine-free villages and students, joined the event. The Embassy of India was represented by Mr. Richhpal Singh, First Secretary.

The QIP has resulted in making four villages Tam Kan, Prolean, Chamkar Leu, and Thma Sa in Koh Kong province free from land mines benefiting more than 7000 people. The project has been implemented under the Mekong Gnaga Cooperation, under which India has so far provided grant assistance for 54 QIPs in Cambodia in diverse sectors including education, health. sanitation, agriculture, women empowerment, capacity building,environment, tourism among others.

Speaking at the completion ceremony both Deputy Secretary General, CMAA and Deputy Governor, Koh Kong Province expressed their appreciation and thanks to the grant assistance by India for the project. In his remarks,First Secretary, Embassy of India elaborated on demining cooperation between India and Cambodia.

India has been cooperating with relevant Cambodian entities, both civilian and military, in the demining sector, which is a priority area for the Royal Government of Cambodia.

With CMAA, an other project, for making Botum Sakor, Srae Ambel, Thma Bang Districts and Trapeang Rung Commune in Koh Kong Province Mine Free with a total grant assistance of USD 426,709 from India is likely to commence soon. The grant assistance was announced by the Hon’ble Vice President of India during his visit to Cambodia in November 2022. The project aims to clear an area of around 1,972,091 sq meters of landmines and other pieces of unexploded ordnance benefiting 86,367 people in the area.

Last year, in March 2023, a month-long artificial limb fitment camp in Banteay Meanchey Province was held under the India for Humanity Initiative, and more than 650 Cambodian nationals were fitted with artificial limbs in the camp.

India has been imparting demining training to NPMEC personnel and has also gifted 19 sniffer dogs. A grant assistance of USD 1.5 million for providing demining equipment to Royal Cambodian Armed Forces is under implementation.

*****

July 18, 2024

Phnom Penh