Phnom penh: The Royal Government of Cambodia and the Government of Japan have agreed to a grant aid arrangement to implement Phase 3 of the Integrated Mine Clearance and Victim Assistance Project. This agreement was formalized through the signing of an exchange of notes and related documents at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. H.E. Prak Sokhonn, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, along with H.E. UENO Atsushi, Ambassador of Japan to Cambodia, represented their respective governments in the signing ceremony.
According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, H.E. Heng Ratana, Director General of the Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC), stated that Japan will provide a grant of 1.7 billion Japanese yen, which is approximately US$11.3 million, to support CMAC's operations. The project is planned to be executed over two years, from January 2026 to January 15, 2028.
The project aims to conduct mine clearance and victim assistance activities in the provinces of Battambang, Pursat, and Koh Kong. It is expected to directly benefit over 27,000 households, with numerous additional indirect beneficiaries. To meet the project's goals, CMAC will deploy more than 350 operational personnel. The project will also include the use of advanced technical equipment and modern technologies such as ALIS mine detectors, mine-clearing machinery, drones, AI-based data systems, and small-scale livelihood development support for mine victims.
During the signing, CMAC Director General H.E. Heng Ratana expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet and Deputy Prime Minister Prak Sokhonn for their support in securing this assistance. He also thanked the Government and people of Japan for their ongoing support for humanitarian mine action in Cambodia through grant aid and technical assistance.