World Bank Pledges Continued Support for Cambodia’s Socio Economic Development

PHNOM PENH, March 17, 2026 (KPT) — The World Bank has reaffirmed its commitment to Cambodia’s long term development, pledging to continue support as the country seeks to accelerate growth and achieve high income status by 2050.

Prime Minister Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet received Carlos Felipe Jaramillo, Vice President of the World Bank for East Asia and the Pacific, for talks in Phnom Penh.

Jaramillo praised Cambodia’s progress and expressed confidence in the government’s vision, noting that the Bank’s assistance will remain focused on job creation and economic transformation.

He outlined priority sectors for cooperation — agriculture, tourism, manufacturing, healthcare and infrastructure — stressing that closer engagement with the private sector will be vital to drive growth and expand opportunities.

Jaramillo also briefed the Prime Minister on ongoing World Bank projects in Cambodia, highlighting their role in strengthening resilience and supporting inclusive development.

Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet welcomed the support, emphasizing the government’s Pentagonal Strategy – Phase 1, which prioritizes human capital development, vocational training, education, healthcare, financial sector reform, SME growth and investment promotion.

He said improving production capacity and enhancing the investment climate are essential to ensure sustainable socio economic progress.

Both sides discussed measures to boost youth skills, education and partnerships between government and business.

Jaramillo reaffirmed the Bank’s strong commitment to expanding cooperation, underscoring its role in sustaining Cambodia’s socio economic transformation and helping the country integrate more deeply into regional and global value chains.