Japan-Cambodia Association pledges expanded health sector ties

JCA aims to encourage greater involvement of Japanese businesses in achieving Cambodia’s healthcare, human resources, and infrastructure objectives.

The Japan-Cambodia Association (JCA) has pledged to strengthen and expand cooperation in support of Cambodia’s priority plans, particularly by broadening engagement in the health sector and encouraging Japanese businesses to enhance collaboration with relevant partners in both countries.

The commitment came after a meeting between Health Minister Chheang Ra and JCA President Fumiaki Takahashi.

Ra thanked Japan for its continued support to the country’s development across sectors, especially in healthcare, through system-building, technical cooperation and grant assistance.

He said Cambodia’s peace, political stability, and sustained economic growth in recent years have attracted Japanese investment, with the JCA playing an active role in facilitating opportunities for companies, including small and medium-sized enterprises.

He added that Japanese enterprises have shown strong interest in key sectors and in expanding cooperation with the Ministry of Health, particularly in education, human resource development and institutional collaboration.

Ra encouraged the JCA to mobilise more Japanese investors—both private and philanthropic—to support the health sector, especially by developing human resources, improving service quality, and strengthening healthcare infrastructure, thereby contributing to the goal of universal health coverage in line with the government’s Pentagonal Strategy.

Takahashi emphasised the JCA’s commitment to supporting the ministry’s priorities and expanding bilateral cooperation in healthcare by encouraging Japanese business associations to deepen partnerships with Cambodian counterparts.

San Mariyan , a physician at Pursat provincial health centre, said the JCA has consistently supported Cambodia’s health sector while also extending assistance to education and other key sectors.

She said this support includes human resource development and technical skills development through grant sunder Japan’s technical cooperation framework, as well as strong development partnerships in Japan.

In a separate meeting with Health Ministry spokesman Koy Vanny, Takahashi expresses interest in investing in Cambodia’s healthcare services, including establishing a nursing training centre and producing medical equipment and cosmetics, as well as providing medical training.

He asked for guidance and cooperation from the ministry to advance these initiatives.

During a meeting with Senate President Hun Sen in early April, Takahashi emphasised Cambodia’s potential for SME investment, a primary focus of the JCA.

Source: KhmerTimes