On October 24, 2024, H.E. Hem Vanndy, Minister of Industry, Science, Technology & Innovation, met with a delegation from the French Development Agency (AFD) and the European Union (EU) to discuss the Phnom Penh Water Supply Authority's (PPWSA) pivotal role in transforming Cambodia’s water supply sector.

The meeting focused on exploring ways to leverage PPWSA's success to accelerate Cambodia’s progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6), which focuses on ensuring availability and sustainable management of water supply and sanitation for all.

During the meeting, Minister Vanndy outlined the rationale for the transformation, citing Cambodia's rapid urbanization, industrialization, and the country’s vision for 2030 and 2050. He stressed the need for in-depth analysis before moving forward, noting challenges in Cambodia's fragmented water supply sector, which currently includes 11 public utilities and over 400 private water operators.

H.E. Sandrine Boucher, AFD Country Director for Cambodia, said AFD has been involved in Cambodia’s water supply sector for over 30 years, and it has now commissioned a technical advisory team to conduct a scoping mission, which will lay the groundwork for the sector transformation feasibility study, set to begin in early 2025.

The European Union also confirmed its funding for the feasibility study, which aligns with its upcoming second Joint European Strategy for Development Cooperation, where water sector reform is a key focus.

Minister Vanndy, along with PPWSA leadership, engaged with the AFD team to clarify the mission's objectives and expected outcomes. All parties expressed their commitment to working together to ensure the mission meets its objectives.