Cambodia, Australia Join Hands to Upgrade Clean Water System, Aiming for 100% Universal Access by 2030

• 16 June 2021
• Local News
• 2753 Views

Australian Embassy of Cambodia Chargé d’Affaires Mr Luke Arnold met the Minister of Industry, Science, Technology, and Innovation (MISTI) HE Cham Prasidh on Tuesday 15 June to advance the bilateral collaboration on access to clean piped water in Cambodia’s provinces.

According to the study, only 47% of Cambodian villages had access to clean water pipes in 2020. Thus, Mr Arnold believed that strong cooperation between the two nations in form of public-private partnerships will help rapidly increase this number.

“Given the direct impact that access to clean piped water has on people’s health and livelihoods, Australia will continue to work closely with the Royal Government of Cambodia to further develop Cambodia’s water sector,” Arnold said.

“This landmark study highlights key opportunities for expanding this access, including through innovative public-private partnerships,” he added.

According to HE Cham Prasidh, the target of the government is to provide 100% clean water to urban areas by 2025, and universal access to all Cambodians by 2030.

“With the database, 3i has developed with my Directorate General of Water Supply, we believe that we are on the right track. I would like to thank Australia for all the assistance they have provided,” he added.

Australia and MISTI commissioned the PIP Study through Australia’s AU$49 million flagship Investing in Infrastructure (3i) Program in Cambodia. The study assessed the coverage of piped water supply across 22 Cambodian provinces, calculating the investment costs to bring piped treated water to all unconnected villages.

Through 3i, Australia has provided more than AU$19.8m in investment subsidies to nearly 80 private water operators to establish and expand treated piped water supply to rural households in Cambodia.

Once completed, the program will enable more than one million Cambodian people to access clean piped clean water.

• Investment and Funding
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