U.S. grants 20.3 mln USD to Cambodia for economy, food, environment

PHNOM PENH, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- The United States announced to provide another 20.3 million U.S. dollars to Cambodia to  support Cambodian priorities in economic growth, food security, and global climate change, according to a press release from the  U.S. Embassy in Phnom Penh on Tuesday.

This is the second provision just within a week after the U.S. provided 35.42 million U.S. dollars to Cambodia last week for  health and education development.

The statement said Deputy Prime Minister Sok An, minister of the council of ministers, and Flynn Fuller, mission director  of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), will sign the grant agreement on Nov. 2 under the witness of the U.S.  Charg d'Affaires Jeff Daigle.

This bilateral agreement provides funds to support USAID's Helping Address Rural Vulnerabilities and Ecosystem Stability  ( HARVEST) Program that will support the Government of Cambodia's national development strategy by enhancing agricultural  production, developing post-harvest management capacity, increasing access to food, and preparing the country to adapt to  climate change, it said.

HARVEST will also strengthen the ability of civil society, the private sector, and the government to address food security and  climate change challenges in Cambodia.

The funds will be also used to support USAID's ongoing economic growth program for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises,  which will continue support for alleviating poverty in rural areas by increasing the productivity of family businesses.