(Phnom Penh): Japan has provided approximately $7.8 million in grant aid to the Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC) to modernise its demining equipment and enhance operational capabilities across the country.
A signing ceremony for the grant agreement was held on Friday, at CMAC headquarters in Phnom Penh. The grant is provided through Japan’s Grant Aid for Economic and Social Development Programme. It aims to enhance CMAC’s operational capacity through the acquisition of advanced demining technology. The funding will be used to procure modern technical equipment to boost the country’s mine clearance capabilities.
The ceremony was attended by Heng Ratana, CMAC Director General, Sanui Kazumasa, Chief Representative of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Cambodia Office, and Fujisaki Seiyu, Project Manager of the Japan International Cooperation System.
Speaking at the ceremony, Ratana expressed deep appreciation for Japan’s continued support.
“We thank JICA for your kind and long-standing partnership with CMAC. We greatly appreciate your effort and commitment to this important mission. Cambodia still has a long road ahead in clearing landmines, unexploded ordnance, and remnants of war,” he said.
He added that the grant marks a significant step forward in the cooperation between Japan and Cambodia, particularly in developing technical capacity and deploying modern demining technologies.
“The signing ceremony is important for the moving forward of our cooperation, especially focusing on technology development as well as procurement of new technology to support CMAC’s demining activity, and training for other international mine action experts, namely, from Ukraine, Colombia, Laos, and Vietnam. We need to use a new technology, and this marks an important step in our collaboration and receiving more equipment,” he said.
Speaking to Khmer Times yesterday Ratana said the new equipment package includes mechanical mine clearance machines, ALIS mine detectors, mine robotic excavators, vehicles, buses, and heavy-duty trucks for transporting demining equipment.
Ratana said the tools are expected to significantly improve the speed and safety of mine clearance operations across Cambodia.
“This grant is crucial for the modernisation of our technical equipment,” said Ratana. “With these advanced tools, we hope to enhance both the efficiency and safety of our demining teams. The use of new detection technologies, such as the ALIS mine detectors, may also lead to changes in how we conduct clearance activities.”
Ratana said the equipment will be deployed in several provinces with high contamination, including Battambang, Banteay Meanchey, Oddar Meanchey, and Siem Reap.
He added that the tools serve two main purposes: accelerating mine clearance and supporting international training programmes. The new equipment will also be used in training foreign deminers in Cambodia, such as personnel from Ukraine and Laos.
Cambodia is one of the countries most affected by landmines and explosive remnants of war. An estimated four million to six million landmines and other munitions were left over from three decades of war and internal conflict that ended in 1998.
This article was originally published on the Khmer Times.
=FRESH NEWS
Photo from CMAC
