PHNOM PENH: According to the AKP, India will empower women silk (Chorabab) weavers in Kandal Province by providing materials and equipment support, skill enhancement, capacity building to increase their skill, and organizing coaching and mentoring sessions.
This assistance has been facilitated through a memorandum of understanding signed by H.E. Dr. Ing Kantha Phavi, Minister of Women’s Affairs of the Kingdom of Cambodia, and H.E. Devyani Khobragade, Ambassador of India to Cambodia on December 06, 2024, for the Quick Impact Project, “Expanding Traditional Heritage Opportunities for Women Pattern Setters (Chorabab) in Khsach Kandal District, Kandal Province.”
The Quick Impact Projects under Mekong-Ganga Cooperation are part of India’s Act East Policy. Cambodia is an important partner for India in this policy. This year marks a decade of India’s Act East Policy. Every year, 10 Quick Impact Projects are undertaken in Cambodia with grant assistance of USD 50,000 for each project. So far, 54 such projects have been implemented in Cambodia, out of which 41 have been completed and 13 projects are at various stages of completion. With the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, 8 QIPs in IT, Sanitation, and Education Sectors have been implemented.
H.E. Dr. Ing Kantha Phavi appreciated the cooperation extended by India and mentioned that since 2016, the Ministry of Women’s Affairs has received grants from the Government of India under the Ganga Cooperation initiative to implement 07 Quick Impact Projects (QIP) aimed at promoting women’s economic empowerment through Information and Communication Technologies and improving pupils’ especially girls’ learning conditions by constructing latrines and new school buildings.
According to the AKP, the “Expanding Heritage Opportunities for Women as Pattern Setters (Chorabab)” project will empower approximately 100 women weavers in Ksach Kandal district. The success of this project will extend far beyond Ksach Kandal. It will serve as a model for combining traditional skills, modern tools, and international collaboration to create meaningful change. It will demonstrate that empowering women is not just a goal, it is a solution to pressing challenges, from poverty reduction to sustainable development.
For her part, H.E. Ms. Devyani Khobragade mentioned that QIPs are part of India’s development partnership with Cambodia, guided by India’s desire to share its development experience as per the priorities of Cambodia. The Indian diplomat conveyed appreciation to H.E. Mrs. Minister of Women Affairs for her leadership in Women Empowerment in Cambodia. The Ambassador also shared India’s focus on Women Empowerment, mentioning the Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao meaning ‘Save the girl child, educate the girl child’ programme by the Government of India.