Cambodia, Japan Step Up ESG and Pollution Control Cooperation

PHNOM PENH, Feb 27, 2026 (KPT) — Cambodia and Japan have deepened cooperation on pollution control and Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) standards as Phnom Penh prepares to graduate from Least Developed Country status by 2029, officials said Friday.

Industry Minister Hem Vanndy met Hamasaka Takashi, director of the Environmental Management Promotion Office at Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry, to review progress in bilateral technical cooperation.

The Japanese side praised Cambodia’s recent regulatory steps, including new proclamations on pollution control and factory layout guidelines, which followed training programs for Cambodian officials in Japan.

Vanndy said effective implementation and enforcement remain the next critical stage, stressing that compliance with ESG principles must begin now to safeguard competitiveness and market access. He called for support to extend pollution control measures beyond large factories to micro, small and medium-sized enterprises.

Officials said the partnership reflects Cambodia’s broader strategy to align industrial growth with sustainability standards and ensure a smooth transition to a more advanced stage of development.