Phnom Penh: Cambodia and Turkey are strengthening cooperation on water management, focusing on sustainable water resource planning, technical expertise exchange and improved forecasting to support agriculture, industry and domestic needs. The move follows high-level discussions between Cambodian officials and the Turkish Ambassador to Phnom Penh, underscoring deepening bilateral ties in environmental and water-related sectors.
During a recent meeting, H.E. Thor Chetha, Cambodia’s Minister of Water Resources and Meteorology, welcomed H.E. Ülkü Kocaefe, Turkey’s Ambassador to Cambodia, to discuss ways to enhance cooperation on water security and climate resilience. Officials emphasised the importance of strengthening technical cooperation in sustainable water resource management and modern irrigation systems to ensure consistent access to water for both household and agricultural use.
The talks highlighted the need for technical exchanges that could help Cambodia adopt advanced practices in transboundary water management and digital irrigation systems. Improving meteorological forecasting was also cited as a priority to better prepare for climate-related challenges such as droughts and floods, and to support disaster risk reduction efforts.
Turkey has experience with complex water resource issues and infrastructure, and both sides noted that increased collaboration could help Cambodia better manage its water systems amid environmental pressures. Agreements on cooperation aim to foster knowledge sharing and capacity building for sustainable water policies.
Cambodia’s water sector is central to its agricultural productivity and economic development, with irrigation and water applications playing key roles in rural livelihoods. Strengthened cooperation with Turkey is expected to support efforts to enhance water supply reliability and resilience in the face of climate change impacts.
Officials also discussed broader pathways for cooperation, including potential joint projects and training opportunities that may enable local stakeholders to implement modern water-management solutions effectively. These efforts reflect Cambodia’s commitment to improving water access and sustainability across sectors, aligning with national development goals.
As Cambodia continues to engage with international partners on essential resource management, water cooperation with Turkey marks an important step toward advancing technical capacity, environmental sustainability and long-term water security.
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