Phnom Penh: 10 July 2026 – India and Cambodia have strengthened their development partnership with the signing of two Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) to implement new community-based projects under the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation (MGC) Quick Impact Projects (QIPs) initiative, benefiting rural communities in Kratie Province.
The MoUs were signed on Friday by H.E. Neth Pheaktra, Minister of Information of the Kingdom of Cambodia, and H.E. Vanlalvawna Bawitlung, Ambassador of India to the Kingdom of Cambodia, on behalf of the Ministry of External Affairs of India through the Embassy of India in Cambodia.
The agreements cover two quick-impact projects that aim to improve livelihoods, education, and climate resilience in Ou Krieng Senchey District, Kratie Province.
The first project, Climate-Smart Apiculture for Smallholder Farmers, will support 30 smallholder farmers, with priority given to women and young people, through vocational training, beekeeping equipment, and essential production inputs. The initiative will also establish 10 demonstration beekeeping farms to promote climate-smart agricultural practices. By expanding sustainable honey production and other bee-related products, the project is expected to increase participating households’ incomes by at least 30 per cent.
The second project, Community Support for Schooling – Phase 2, will provide 200 disadvantaged Grade 5 and Grade 6 students with bicycles, safety helmets, and reusable eco-bottles. Building on the success of the first phase, the initiative seeks to reduce barriers to education by helping students travel safely to school, improving attendance, lowering dropout rates, and encouraging environmental responsibility.
The two projects are part of India’s ongoing support for Cambodia under the Act East Policy and the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation framework, which promotes closer collaboration between India and countries in the Mekong region through people-centred development initiatives.
India currently supports 10 Quick Impact Projects annually in Cambodia, focusing on priority sectors such as education, healthcare, women’s empowerment, sanitation, agriculture, and climate resilience. According to the Embassy of India, 72 Quick Impact Projects have been approved in Cambodia to date, with 55 completed and 17 currently under implementation, all aligned with the development priorities of the Royal Government of Cambodia.
The newly signed projects further demonstrate the expanding partnership between India and Cambodia and their shared commitment to promoting inclusive development, strengthening rural livelihoods, and improving the quality of life for communities across the country.
The Mekong-Ganga Cooperation (MGC) Quick Impact Projects programme provides grant assistance for small-scale, community-focused development initiatives that deliver tangible benefits within a short implementation period. The programme supports Cambodia’s national development priorities while strengthening cooperation and people-to-people ties between India and Mekong countries.
Photo by: Supplied
