PHNOM PENH – On the afternoon of Friday, March 6, 2026, H.E. Sun Chanthol, Deputy Prime Minister and First Vice Chairman of the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC), hosted a high-level delegation from the World Bank for a courtesy call and working meeting. The delegation was led by Mr. Ramprakash Sethuramasubbu, Private Sector Development Specialist, and Mr. Quan Zhao, Senior Program Manager.
The meeting served as a platform to highlight the excellent history of cooperation between Cambodia and the World Bank, with a particular focus on the bank’s recent involvement in enhancing Cambodia’s private sector competitiveness.
This progress has been driven by collaborative efforts in preparing for the WTO Investment Facilitation for Development Agreement (IFDA) in partnership with the International Trade Centre (ITC). Furthermore, the officials discussed the outcomes of a needs assessment workshop designed to prepare for the implementation of the IFDA, aiming to comprehensively study the agreement’s content and specific sector-by-sector requirements to ensure highly effective execution.
H.E. Deputy Prime Minister highly commended the organization of this workshop and posed several fundamental questions to the World Bank experts to seek detailed, in-depth explanations. These insights are intended to assist the Royal Government in defining relevant frameworks and policies that align with shifting global trends.
Concurrently, H.E. Sun Chanthol 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 a 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 careful and thorough consideration must be given to investment facilitation in light of current global uncertainties. Both parties agreed that this meticulous approach is essential to ensuring investor confidence and encouraging the further expansion of investments throughout the Kingdom of Cambodia.