Phnom penh: The Japanese government has committed over US$316,000 in grant aid to enhance surgical services and healthcare infrastructure in Cambodia's northeastern provinces, officials confirmed Tuesday. Japanese Ambassador to Cambodia, H.E. Ueno Atsushi, signed the grant agreement with the Foundation for International Development/Relief (FIDR) during a ceremony at the Japanese Embassy in Phnom Penh.

According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, the funding, totaling US$316,484, is earmarked for the "Project for Strengthening and Expanding Surgical Care in Northeastern Cambodia." This initiative aims to bridge the gap in specialised medical services for remote communities. The assistance is designed to enhance the technical standards and safety protocols of surgical procedures in regional hospitals, provide better health outcomes for residents living in the Kingdom's underserved northeastern corridor, and further solidify the long-standing "Strategic Partnership" and friendship between Japan and Cambodia.

Japan remains one of Cambodia's leading providers of development assistance, with a significant focus on healthcare, infrastructure, and human resource development.