Cambodian King begins maiden state visit to India

Cambodia’s King Norodom Sihamoni began his first state visit to India on Monday. This will be the first visit from Cambodia’s King to India since King Norodom Sihanouk, the present King’s father, came to India in 1963. 

“The State visit marks the culmination of the celebrations of the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and Cambodia, which were established in 1952,” reads a press release by the Ministry of External Affairs. 

“The King will be accorded a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on 30 May 2023 and President Smt Droupadi Murmu will host a State Banquet in honour of the visiting dignitary the same evening. The King will also have bilateral meetings with the President and the Prime Minister. Vice President and External Affairs Minister will call on the King. The King will also pay floral tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at Raj Ghat,” the press release goes on to say. 

India actively collaborates with Cambodia to enhance its capacity and foster human resource development through various means. This includes allocating training slots under the ITEC program and offering scholarships through the ICCR. In addition, India extends grants and concessional loans for developmental projects in Cambodia. Notably, India plays a crucial role in funding the conservation and restoration efforts of the esteemed Angkor Wat, Ta Prohm, and Preah Vihar temples.

Moreover, India has generously granted USD 1.5 million to support the acquisition of demining equipment in Cambodia. Furthermore, India has provided a substantial line of credit worth USD 50 million to facilitate the procurement of defense equipment from India. To strengthen military cooperation, customized training courses are conducted in India specifically designed for Cambodian Army personnel. Additionally, Mobile Training Teams from the Indian Army have been dispatched to Cambodia to provide hands-on training to the Cambodian Army personne

In the fiscal year 2022-2022, the bilateral trade between India and Cambodia amounted to USD 366 million.. India has made substantial investments in Cambodia, estimated to be approximately USD 115 million, with key sectors including pharmaceuticals, automobiles, and mining attracting significant attention from Indian investors.