The third Cambodia Development Cooperation Forum (CDCF) had been held during two days in the capital Wednesday for a landmark donor-government forum amid calls for the government to accelerate the pace of key reforms tied to the disbursal of aid. There are more than 100 representatives from different donor countries and international financial organizations attending this third forum.

In the last day of forum, Minister of Economy and Finance Keat Chhon hailed the outcome of the talks by saying that international donors have pledged a record US$1.1 billion in development assistance for the upcoming 18-month period. This pledged aid is surpassed the US$951.5 million at the last CDCF in December 2008.

Speaking in opening remark to forum, Prime Minister Hun Sen promised that the government would use aid money effectively, adding that officials will continue to tackle key issues, including corruption, land rights and the reform of the judiciary.

Even though, Keat Chhon declined to give detail of aid from different countries but speaking during the meeting, Japanese ambassador Masafumi Kuroki said that Tokyo had pledged $130 million at this year’s CDCF. US Embassy spokesman John Johnson said that the US government had earmarked $68.5 million in aid for fiscal year 2010.

In addition, UK ambassador Andrew Mace said at the meeting that his government had pledged around $33 million for 2010 after two days of open and constructive dialogue with the government. Rafael Dochao Moreno, charge d’affair of the EU Delegation to Cambodia said that The European Union pledged around $60 million to the government, with EU member states supplying an additional $190 million.

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