JICA support for logistics

KHMERTIMES
SUM MANET



The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) will continue to support the development of Cambodia’s logistics sector in its partnership with the government to reduce transport costs and strengthen the country’s logistics infrastructure.

This pledge was made by Kume Hidetoshi, the JICA representative in Cambodia, when he paid a courtesy visit to the Ministry of Public Works and Transport and met with Public Works and Transport Minister Sun Chanthol.

“The purpose of this meeting was to discuss the formation of the National Logistics Council by the end of June,” stated a media release issued by the ministry yesterday.

“The minister thanked JICA for its continued support and urged it to work with the World Bank to finalize the terms of reference for the council,” it added.

Earlier, Mr. Chanthol called on officials as well as relevant ministries and institutions to seek ways to reduce the cost of logistics.

“We want more foreign investors to come to Cambodia and we want more exports of Cambodian agricultural products because it gives jobs to Cambodians,” he said.

“However, if the cost of logistics is still high, it is difficult to attract investors, and it is difficult to export agricultural products.”

In a bid to eliminate unofficial expenses, Mr. Chanthol said that upgrading the logistics process online would increase accountability and efficiency.

Mey Kalyan, a senior adviser to the government’s Supreme National Economic Council, said that work to improve logistics would help accelerate economic growth.

“The country’s logistics network needs improvement to bring down costs,” he said. “While economic growth is increasing, the demand for quality logistics is needed to improve efficiency. Weak logistics have long impeded Cambodia’s progress in realizing its trade potential.”