Cambodia and Indonesia have reaffirmed their commitment to bolstering bilateral cooperation in water resource management and meteorology, following a high-level meeting between Cambodian Minister of Water Resources and Meteorology Thor Chetha and Indonesian Ambassador to Cambodia Santo Darmosumarto.
The talks, held at Cambodia’s Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology, aligned with key priorities under the Pentagonal Strategy-Phase 1, spearheaded by Prime Minister Hun Manet. The discussions focused on advancing strategic initiatives in sustainable water governance, infrastructure development, and climate resilience.
Minister Chetha outlined Cambodia’s ongoing efforts to modernize water resource management, improve irrigation systems, and enhance meteorological and hydrological forecasting. He underscored the ministry’s core objectives, including the development of early warning systems, strengthening of legal frameworks for water governance, capacity building, and public awareness campaigns.
Ambassador Darmosumarto reaffirmed Indonesia’s commitment to deepening collaboration, proposing the establishment of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to facilitate technology exchange, capacity-building programs, and best practices in Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM), disaster risk reduction, and community-based initiatives.
Both officials explored ways to strengthen technical cooperation, particularly in climate resilience, flood prevention, and drought mitigation. They highlighted the importance of regional partnerships in tackling shared environmental challenges and advancing sustainable water management strategies.
The meeting concluded with a mutual agreement to fast-track discussions on future joint projects, reinforcing the enduring diplomatic ties between Cambodia and Indonesia.
A Fast-Developing Partnership
Ambassador Darmosumarto, who assumed office in September 2023, has been a vocal advocate for expanding Cambodia-Indonesia relations. In an exclusive interview with Khmer Times, he emphasized his ambition to elevate bilateral ties through transformative initiatives across multiple sectors.
Reflecting on progress, he stated, “If I were to rate our achievements so far, I would say we are at a solid 7 or 8 out of 10.” He stressed the importance of engagement with Cambodian stakeholders at both policy and technical levels.
Indonesia formally recognized Cambodia’s sovereignty in 1956, establishing diplomatic relations in 1959. Since then, ties have grown steadily, with trade, investment, and regional cooperation playing a key role.
Strengthening Economic Links
Economic cooperation between the two nations has also seen steady growth. According to Cambodia’s General Department of Customs and Excise (GDCE), bilateral trade between January and November 2024 reached $1.002 billion, marking a 3.8% increase compared to the same period in 2023.
Cambodia’s exports to Indonesia surged by 23.1% to $86.86 million, while imports stood at $915.3 million, up 2.3%. Indonesia ranks as Cambodia’s seventh-largest trading partner, following China, the US, Vietnam, Thailand, Japan, and Canada.
Economist Hong Vanak of the Royal Academy of Cambodia attributed the steady growth to strong cooperation between both governments under ASEAN and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). However, he noted that Cambodia still needs to diversify its exports to bridge the trade imbalance with Indonesia.
Despite this, Cambodia’s agricultural sector remains a key priority. In September 2023, Indonesia committed to purchasing 250,000 tonnes of Cambodian rice annually as part of its food security strategy. Jakarta also pledged technical assistance, including fertilizers and farmer training, to support Cambodia’s agricultural sector.
With expanding economic ties and strengthened collaboration in water management and meteorology, Cambodia and Indonesia are laying the foundation for deeper regional integration and long-term cooperation.
