Resident Representative of UNDP in Cambodia: There Can Be No Development Without Peace
Resident Representative of UNDP in Cambodia: There Can Be No Development Without Peace
On the afternoon of Tuesday, 1st July 2025, Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei HUN Manet, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, received Ms. Alissar Chaker, the Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Cambodia, for a courtesy farewell call at the Peace Palace.
During the meeting, Ms Chaker expressed her deep gratitude to Samdech Borvor Thipadei for taking the time to meet with her and her delegation despite his busy schedule. She briefed Samdech Borvor Thipadei on the positive outcomes resulting from the strong partnership between UNDP and the Royal Government of Cambodia, which has contributed to the country’s socio-economic development. Ms Chaker acknowledged the Royal Government, relevant ministries, and institutions for their effective collaboration, particularly during the fight against the spread of COVID-19.
Ms Chaker also highly valued Cambodia’s plan to graduate from Least Developed Country (LDC) status by 2029, describing it as another significant milestone. She expressed her hope that the UNDP would continue to support the country throughout this transition.
She further praised Cambodia’s success in mine clearance, noting that, with support from the United Nations and development partners, the country has developed the capacity to manage these efforts effectively, independently, and autonomously. Highlighting Cambodia’s potential for development and its rebuilding from a zero baseline following the devastation of war, Ms. Chaker emphasised that peace is a prerequisite for development, adding that, “There can be no development without peace.”
She expressed confidence that, under the wise and visionary leadership of Samdech Borvor Thipadei, Cambodia will continue to grow stronger, more prosperous, and more developed. She reaffirmed the UNDP’s commitment to ongoing cooperation with Cambodian ministries and institutions and expressed hope for a sustained partnership based on mutual trust.
In responses, Samdech Borvor Thipadei highly values the support and cooperation of UNDP through various programmes that have significantly contributed to Cambodia’s socio-economic development and provided tangible benefits to the Cambodian people. He emphasised that since the end of the war in late 1998, the Royal Government of Cambodia has prioritised the mobilisation of human resources as a key driver of national development. He highlighted the Government’s policies that focus on the well-being of the people by strengthening the education and health sectors, creating jobs, enhancing human capital, and expanding the social protection system. Additionally, he underscored the government’s policy initiative to train 1.5 million youths from poor and at-risk households, equipping them with the knowledge and skills necessary for Cambodia’s graduation from LDC status in 2029 with resilience.
Samdech Borvor Thipadei reaffirmed his support for the ongoing cooperation with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and encouraged the organisation to enhance collaboration with relevant ministries and institutions to further strengthen the partnership.
SP-STPM: Unofficial Translation
