On April 25, 2022, during a ceremonial handover of 1,056,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine donated by the Italian government in the presence of Lorenzo Galanti, Italian Ambassador to Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos, Cambodia Prime Minister Mr. Hun Sen expressed his deep gratitude and appreciation for the generosity and sharing spirit of the people and government of the Italian Republic in the fight against Covid-19 in Cambodia and the whole world.
As the trade between Cambodia and Italy reached some 400 million euros last year, a 12% increase over 2020, Mr. Hun Sen also expressed the nation’s gratitude to the Italian government for the efforts taken to strengthen diplomatic and economic relations and cooperation between Italy and Cambodia.
Mr. Hun Sen added, “As the Chair of ASEAN, Cambodia will continue to further strengthen cooperation in all fields and encourage the Italian Republic and the European Union to continue promoting more businesses and investments in Cambodia in ASEAN.”
Cambodia would like to extend a warm welcome and congratulate the establishment of the Honorary Consulate in Cambodia in 2020, and the growth and activeness of the Italian business communities, especially the Italian-Cambodian Business Association, in promoting investment in the Kingdom.
Prime Minister Hun Sen
Italian Ambassador Lorenzo Galanti said the vaccine donation demonstrates Italian support for Cambodia to ensure maximum protection for its population, including Italians and others who call Cambodia their second home. He also expressed Italy’s appreciation for Cambodia’s role in the UN and its chairmanship of ASEAN this year.
While the Italian business community in this country is growing, I am confident that the economic reform undertaken by Cambodia will attract more and more business operators.
Lorenzo Galanti, Italian Ambassador to Thailand , Cambodia and Laos
The handover ceremony was also attended by Carmen Moreno, Ambassador of the European Union to Cambodia, Romeo Orlandi, Vice-President of Italy-ASEAN Association, and Aurelio Flacco, ICBA Chairman and Honorary Consul of Italy in Cambodia.
Meetings with the Cambodian Government’s stakeholders
During his official visit to Cambodia, the Italian Ambassador and the Italian delegation met Cambodian relevant stakeholders. Meetings were held with:
- Her Excellency Dr. Youk Sambath, Director General at the Ministry of Health in Cambodia. Dr. Sambath was on the receiving end of the vaccines at the Phnom Penh airport.
- His Excellency Sok Chenda Sophea, Minister attached to the Prime Minister and Secretary-General of the Council for the Development of Cambodia. The critical topic of conversation was how to reinforce investment relations between Italy and Cambodia in the larger ASEAN context.
- His Excellency Pan Sorasak, the Ministry of Commerce. The discussion was around bilateral economic-trade cooperation, investments, and supply chains. It was also presented the candidature of Rome to host EXPO 2030 with the Special envoy to promote the candidature of Expo 2030 Roma, Mr. Romeo Orlandi.
Media Coverage of the Italian Ambassador’s Visit to Cambodia
🎥 Ceremonial Handover Video by eacnews.Asia
📰One million doses of COVID-19 from Italy land in Phnom Penh – Khmer Times Article
📰 PM wants more businesses and investments from Italy in Cambodia and ASEAN – Khmer Times Article
📰 PM Hun Sen says another 20 million doses of vaccines to arrive – Khmer Times Article
📰 Kingdom, Italy to strengthen relations – Phnom Penh Post article
📰 PM mulls looser Covid rules, going mask-free – Phnom Penh Post Article
🔖 Cambodia thanks Italy for vaccines assistance – CPP website
