Cambodia: The City of Kitakyushu of Japan on Tuesday signaled plans to expand water supply business operations in Cambodia during talks with Minister of Industry, Science, Technology and Innovation H.E. Hem Vanndy, highlighting growing interest from Japanese private companies in Cambodia's water supply sector. According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, the Kitakyushu delegation was led by H.E. Eguchi Tetsuro, Deputy Mayor of the City of Kitakyushu, and included officials from the city's Water and Sewer Bureau, the Kitakyushu Overseas Water Business Association (KOWBA), and representatives of Japanese water and sewerage companies. During the meeting, Minister Vanndy expressed gratitude to the City and people of Kitakyushu for their continued support to Cambodia's water supply sector, noting that the visit coincides with a Cambodia-Japan water and sewer workshop to be held the following day. He emphasized the importance of collaboration in the water supply sector, stating its significance not only for public heal th and household consumption but also for business and economic development. The city of Kitakyushu signed a Memorandum of Understanding with MISTI and KOWBA in October 2025, reaffirming a cooperative relationship that dates back to 1996. This partnership, described as strong and steadfast, is committed to implementing the MoU to deliver tangible outcomes in Cambodia's water supply sector. The delegation includes 15 private companies out of 134 KOWBA members, with expertise in various aspects of water management including water treatment systems, pumps, pipes, valves, construction, management systems, disaster preparedness, water-loss reduction, membrane and filtration technologies, and water-treatment chemicals. These technologies will be showcased during the upcoming workshop, and several companies with experience in neighboring countries are exploring expansion into Cambodia. Deputy Mayor Eguchi emphasized the long-term commitment of these companies, stating, "Our companies are here for the long term, n ot for quick profit. We want to work with Cambodia for many years and decades to come." Minister Vanndy acknowledged the progress achieved through Cambodia-Japan cooperation over the past three decades but highlighted the need for further development and investment, as a significant number of households remain without access to water supply. He noted that MISTI is continuing to strengthen sector reforms and regulatory oversight through nationwide assessments of water operators and stronger enforcement of the Law on Clean Water Management.
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