Cambodia vows to eliminate slums, informal settlements—deputy PM

Cambodia has pledged to eliminate informal settlements and slums in the near future, Deputy Prime Minister Say Sam Al said during his address at the Leaders’ Summit held on the sidelines of the World Urban Forum (WUF) in Baku.

Speaking at the summit, Say Sam Al noted that Cambodia began experiencing stability following national reconciliation and has since progressed toward middle-income status over the past decade, Caliber.Az reports per local media.

“In the last decade, Cambodia has started to join the ranks of middle-income countries. This opens new opportunities for us. We are diversifying our economy, creating a skilled workforce, investing in digital infrastructure, improving waste management and public transport, and developing inclusive mortgage mechanisms. In the near future, we will put an end to informal settlements and slums. We are also fighting against drug abuse,” he said.

The deputy prime minister expressed gratitude to the government of Azerbaijan and UN-Habitat for organizing the forum and for the invitation to participate.

He also reaffirmed Cambodia’s commitment to climate action despite its relatively small share of global greenhouse gas emissions.

“Cambodia was the first country in Asia to approve a carbon neutrality strategy for 2050. We have updated our nationally determined contributions and increased our focus on renewable energy. We look forward to a promising future for the New Cambodia,” Say Sam Al stated.

By Vafa Guliyeva