(Phnom Penh): His Excellency Deputy Prime Minister Say Samal, Minister of the Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction, warmly welcomed Mr. Jacques Pellet, Ambassador of the French Republic to the Kingdom of Cambodia, and highly appreciated the bilateral cooperation between the Kingdom of Cambodia and the French Republic, during a working meeting on Wednesday, December 6, 2023.
Ambassador Jacques Pellet expressed his warm congratulations to His Excellency the Deputy Prime Minister for being appointed as Minister of the Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction.
Ambassador Jacques Pellet reviewed and studied the possibility of cooperation with the Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction in the priority areas of the Ministry. His Excellency the Ambassador recalled the visit of the King and former Prime Minister of Cambodia to Paris, France in 2022. Currently, the Embassy is preparing to receive the visit of Samdech Thibault Hun Sen to Paris in January 2024 to discuss a number of projects in the energy and legal sectors, etc.
On this occasion, HE Ambassador Jacques Pellet informed HE Deputy Prime Minister about the ICC (International Coordinating Committee) Angkor meeting to be held in Siem Reap in March 2024. In addition, HE Ambassador requested HE Deputy Prime Minister to examine the possibility of allowing the Embassy of the French Republic in the Kingdom of Cambodia to visit Run Ta Ek village during that time.
In addition, HE Ambassador also requested to examine the possibility of studying the project to build a Cambodia-Korea Friendship Bridge at the night market in order not to affect the French Quarter. HE Ambassador recalled the activities of the Embassy of the French Republic in the Kingdom of Cambodia, which inaugurated the ITC Laboratory at the Institute of Technology of Cambodia (Techno School) through satellite images that can monitor land development, activities and information in the country.
In response, HE Deputy Prime Minister Say Sam Al agreed to allow the request to visit Run Ta Ek village in March 2024 from the French side and arranged for the Governor of Siem Reap to accompany the visit. In addition, HE the Deputy Prime Minister highlighted the three priority tasks of the Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction for the 7th mandate, including (1) land registration, (2) building a digital system for cadastral services, and (3) resolving land disputes.
During the meeting, HE the Deputy Prime Minister, Say Samal, informed HE the Minister of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction of the Ministry’s next task, which is to organize the country’s land into conservation areas, commercial areas, agricultural land, residential land, and industrial areas. Finally, the Ministry will have a land use map with clear economic values for each area for the first time.
In addition, the preservation and conservation of architectural structures and building styles from the French colonial and socialist eras, and the integration of this style with modern buildings in Phnom Penh, Kampot, Kampong Cham, and Battambang provinces, etc. The Ministry has continued to prepare Phnom Penh and other urban areas to become beautiful, clean, and green areas, aiming to attract tourists and expand social activities, especially creating job opportunities for young people.
The Deputy Prime Minister invited the French Embassy to participate in discussions on the urban planning of Kampot province for the next 10 to 20 years and the master plan for Siem Reap, transforming Siem Reap into a heritage city and a modern city.
The Deputy Prime Minister will continue to resolve disputes between the Apsara National Authority, the Siem Reap administration and the local people. The Ministry has facilitated transportation for the residents of Run Ta Ek village and Pyap Seng commune and plans to include the village and commune in the urban planning plan, with a new international airport and a special economic zone near the village and commune, which will create sustainable jobs for the local people.
