The government wishes to use money from newly pledged $19 million Japanese grant aid to rehabilitate a stretch of Route 2 from Takeo to the Vietnam border, according to a government spokesman.
Khieu Thavika, press chief for the Council of Ministers, said recently that the rehabilitation project was originally planned with a private company but canceled due to lack of funds. With Japanese Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi pledging $19 million in non-project grant aid last month, the government now hopes to use part of the aid for the project, the spokesman said.
However, Japanese Embassy officials said the aid is not disbursed yet and the Cambodian government needs to get approval first from Japan before starting any projects.
Khieu Thavika said the government estimates rehabilitating a 56 km stretch of the national road would cost about $10 million. The upgraded road would spur economic development and business ties with Vietnam, he said. It also could boost eco-tourism into Cambodia’s southeastern mountainous area.
