Cambodia
India and Cambodia relations go back to the 1st century AD when Hindu and Buddhist religious and cultural influences emanated out of India to various parts of South-East Asia. India and Cambodia bilateral relations are warm, cordial and both countries cooperate in a number of multilateral and regional fora.
Cooperation to tackle the challenge of COVID-19 Pandemic
- Government of India has provided 1.977 million paracetamol tablets to Cambodia to assist in their fight against Covid 19 pandemic.
- Government of India has donated 325,000 doses of made in India vaccines to Cambodia under Quad initiatives, 324000 doses under COVAX scheme and 10,000 doses commercially.
Capacity Building & Other Exchanges
- Capacity building programme by way of training of Cambodian Government and private officials is part of Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Programme which was instituted by Government of India as a bilateral programme of assistance.
- Through this capacity building programme, Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India assists Cambodian Government/Semi-Government and private officials in improving their skills in the fields like Account, Audit, Banking and Finance / Environmental and Renewable Energy / IT, Telecommunication and English / Management / SME, Rural Development and many Technical and Specialized courses by more many premier training institutions of excellence in their respective areas spread in different parts of India.
- Around 1500 Cambodian officials have benefitted from the ITEC scholarship programme till date. Capacity building through ITEC programmes is highly appreciated by the Cambodian officials and majority of the officials selected enthusiastically attend the respective courses. In addition to getting training, this also provides them opportunity to get exposure to diverse Indian culture, cuisine and climate and establish and nurture people-to-people relationship between India and Cambodia.
- For the Academic Year 2022-23, Cambodia has been allocated with 8 slots under Atal bihari Vajpayee General Scholarship Scheme (ABVGSS) of ICCR & 10 slots under Mekong Ganga Cooperation Scholarship Scheme.
- Secretary of State in Ministry of Foreign Affairs & International Cooperation, Mrs. Eat Sophea was conferred ICCR Distinguished Alumni Award 2021 in Phnom Penh (29 August 2022).
- ICCR is administrating a Chair of Buddhist Studies at PSRB University, Phnom Penh, Cambodia. MoU valid till September, 2025 (Chair is currently occupied).
Development Cooperation (Grants/ LoCs/ Assistance)
- Government of India has so far extended Line of Credits (LOC) of US$ 102.12 million to Cambodia for water development and transmission line projects.
- Further, India offered a grant in aid of US$ 8.5 million for supply and installation of 1500 Afridev hand-operated pumps to augment supply of drinking water in rural areas of Cambodia.
- Government of India has also provided grant in aid of approximately US$ 3 million for two projects namely; Siem Reap Basin – Development of Master Plan and Study of Ground Water Resources of Kampong Speu Province.
- India also assisted in the project for redevelopment of India-Cambodia Friendship school in 2015.
- A grant assistance of US$ 426,000 for making three districts and one commune in Koh Kong Province, Cambodia land mine free was announced during the visit of Hon`ble Vice President of India to Cambodia in November 2022. The Agreement for the grant assistance was signed on August 31, 2023.
- A month-long artificial limb fitment camp by Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayata Samiti under India for Humanity initiative of MEA took place in Banteay Meanchey Province of Cambodia during March 2023. Cambodia Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority (CMAA) was the partner from the Cambodian side. More than 650 people were fitted with artificial limbs in the camp.
- Under Quick Impact Project Scheme, it has been decided to offer Indian grant assistance for implementation of small projects with capital cost of US$ 50000 for socio-economic development for creation or upgradation of physical infrastructure such as roads, local community centers etc., and social infrastructure such as in the education, health, sanitation or community development sectors. The short gestation projects are aimed to directly benefit local communities, with immediate and visible results which contribute significantly to economic and social development and improvement of public welfare and would give fresh impetus to cooperation under Mekong-Ganga Cooperation.
Special Endeavour: Mekong-Ganga Cooperation Initiative, Entrepreneurship Development Institute
- Under MGC Initiative, Mekong-Ganga Cooperation Asian Traditional Textiles Museum at Siem Reap, Cambodia has been set up and scholarships are being offered for diverse areas of study such as Culture, Buddhist, IT, Vocational training etc., to enable scholars from the MGC countries to study in India.
Special Endeavour: Cambodia India Entrepreneurship Development Institute
- As a part of India's support to the Initiative for ASEAN integration (IAI), Government of India proposed to set up Entrepreneurship Development Centre, based on the advice of the expert delegation commissioned by the Ministry of External Affairs to undertake a quick need assessment study for setting up such Centre in the new member countries of ASEAN namely: Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam (CLMV countries). Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India (EDII) Ahmedabad, an internationally renowned Institute in the field of entrepreneurship training, teaching and research was commissioned to help the Government in executing the project and setting up the Centre in these countries. The Cambodia-India Entrepreneurship Development Centre (CIEDC) was renamed as Cambodia-India Entrepreneurship Development Institute (CIEDI) later.
Special Endeavour: Heritage Restoration
- Government of India was first to respond to an appeal by the Cambodian Government to save the famous Angkor Wat temples. Various teams of Archaeological Survey of India worked from 1986 to 1993 for the restoration work of Angkor Wat. The Project, financed by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) was the single largest project with the cost of around US$ 4 million, and is still appreciated by Cambodia. Further on Cambodia’s request, India also agreed to restore Ta Prohm temple in Siem Reap. Restoration of temple complex at Ta-Prohm has been a major ongoing project and work by the ASI team has been widely appreciated. Phase II of the project was completed in July 2015 and the new phase of project will commence soon.
