Cambodia Unveils Decade-Long Rural Strategy to Transform Countryside

PHNOM PENH, July 6, 2026 (KPT) — Cambodia has unveiled a comprehensive 10-year rural development strategy designed to reshape the country's countryside. Officials announced Monday that the plan pledges investments in infrastructure, services, and livelihoods to cut poverty and drive inclusive growth. The National Policy on Rural Development 2025–2035 serves as a roadmap under the government’s Pentagonal Strategy – Phase I. It aims to build resilient, inclusive, and sustainable rural communities while narrowing the gaps between urban and rural areas, supporting Cambodia’s ambition to become a high-income economy by 2050. The plan prioritizes rural roads, clean water, sanitation, electricity, healthcare, education, and vocational training. It also promotes sustainable agriculture, entrepreneurship, and digital connectivity, with a particular emphasis on gender equality, climate resilience, and support for vulnerable groups, including indigenous communities and residents of border regions. Government officials acknowledged that despite significant socio-economic progress over the past two decades, many rural communities continue to face challenges in infrastructure, employment, and access to essential services. The policy calls for balanced development tailored to Cambodia’s four major regions: the central plains, the Tonle Sap basin, coastal areas, and the highlands. The Ministry of Rural Development highlighted existing achievements, including the management of over 50,260 kilometers of rural roads, 89 percent clean water coverage, 94 percent sanitation coverage, and the nationwide achievement of Open Defecation Free status by 2025. The ministry has also promoted model villages, community programs, and rural entrepreneurship to strengthen local economies. The policy supports broader government objectives, such as poverty reduction, expanding employment opportunities, and fostering peace and cooperation in border areas. Prime Minister Hun Manet praised the framework as comprehensive and practical, stating it would be a key instrument for advancing resilient and inclusive rural development. He urged ministries, local authorities, development partners, NGOs, and the private sector to collaborate for effective implementation. Prime Minister Hun Manet pledged close monitoring to address challenges and deliver tangible results, stressing that rural development must contribute to national interests and improve the well-being of Cambodian people. As Cambodia advances towards its Vision 2050, the strategy is expected to lay the foundation for more prosperous, resilient, and inclusive rural communities, ensuring that economic growth benefits people across the country.