AKP Phnom Penh, March 07, 2026 -- Deputy Prime Minister H.E. Sun Chanthol, First Vice Chairman of the Council for the Development of Cambodia, received a World Bank delegation led by Mr. Ramprakash Sethuramasubbu, Private Sector Development Specialist at the World Bank, and Mr. Quan Zhao, Senior Program Manager, for a courtesy call and working meeting at the CDC on Friday afternoon.

According to the CDC, during the meeting, both sides highlighted their excellent past cooperation, particularly the World Bank's recent involvement in Cambodia to enhance private sector competitiveness. This was achieved through collaborative efforts in preparing for the WTO Investment Facilitation for Development Agreement (IFDA) in partnership with the International Trade Centre (ITC). 

Furthermore, the meeting discussed the outcomes of a needs assessment workshop aimed at preparing for the implementation of the IFDA. The objective was to comprehensively study the agreement's content and the specific, sector-by-sector requirements to ensure its highly effective execution.

H.E. Deputy Prime Minister highly commended the organisation of this workshop. He also posed several fundamental questions to the World Bank experts, seeking more detailed and in-depth explanations to assist the Royal Government in defining relevant frameworks and policies that align with global trends. Concurrently, H.E. DPM urged all relevant stakeholders to continue their cooperation and requested the World Bank's ongoing support in further advancing the improvement of Cambodia's logistics and international trade sectors. 

In response, the World Bank representatives expressed their strong commitment to partnering with the Royal Government to propel Cambodia into a highly competitive and high-potential logistics hub within the region.

Before concluding, the meeting reached a mutual consensus that, given current global uncertainties, careful and thorough consideration must be given to investment facilitation. This approach is essential to ensuring investors’ confidence, and encouraged to further expand their investments in the Kingdom of Cambodia.

AKP