His Majesty Norodom Sihamoni, the King of Cambodia, is set to embark on a historic state visit to India from 29th to 31st May 2023. This visit marks the culmination of the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and Cambodia, which were established in 1952. The King’s visit is particularly significant as it comes after nearly six decades, with the last state visit by a Cambodian monarch being that of the current King’s father in 1963.
During his visit, the King will be accorded a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on 30th May 2023, and President Smt Droupadi Murmu will host a State Banquet in his honor the same evening. The King will also engage in bilateral meetings with the President and the Prime Minister of India. Additionally, the Vice President and External Affairs Minister will call on the King, who will also pay floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at Raj Ghat.
India and Cambodia share a warm and friendly relationship, characterized by civilizational, cultural, and economic linkages, as well as deep-rooted people-to-people ties. The multifaceted relationship is based on shared cultural values, a commitment to fostering economic growth, collaboration in defense and security fields, and convergence on regional and global issues.
As part of its commitment to assisting Cambodia in capacity building and human resource development, India offers training slots under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) program and scholarships under the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR). Furthermore, India has extended grants and concessional loans for developmental projects in Cambodia. Conservation and restoration of ancient temples, including Angkor Wat, Ta Prohm, and Preah Vihar, are being carried out with funding from the Government of India.
India has also provided a grant of $1.5 million for the purchase of demining equipment and offered a $50 million line of credit for the procurement of defense equipment from India. Customized training courses are conducted for Cambodian Army personnel in India, and Mobile Training Teams from the Indian Army have been deployed to Cambodia for training purposes.
Bilateral trade between India and Cambodia for the fiscal year 2023-23 stood at $366 million and continues to grow. Indian investments in Cambodia are estimated at around $115 million, primarily in the pharmaceutical, automobile, and mining sectors.
The upcoming visit of His Majesty Norodom Sihamoni, the King of Cambodia, is expected to further strengthen and deepen the civilizational relations between India and Cambodia, paving the way for increased collaboration and mutual understanding in various fields.
