Phnom Penh: The Government of Japan has decided to provide JPY 750,000,000 (approximately US$5.4 million) in grant aid for Cambodia to help improve the data processing capacity of the National Election Committee (NEC). The Exchange of Notes and related documents on the extension of Japanese Government’s Grant Aid was signed here this morning between Deputy Prime Minister H.E. Prak Sokhonn, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and H.E. Ueno Atsushi, Ambassador of Japan to Cambodia.

According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, the grant assistance aims to support the improvement of NEC’s data processing capacity and underscores the Japanese steadfast support for Cambodia’s democracy through the betterment of the electoral process management and organisation. ‘The Government of Japan has decided to provide the NEC with equipment that will assist with the registration and management of voter information. The equipment will include a server and associated cyber security devices. The new hardware will replace the system donated by the Government of Japan in 2016,’ said H.E. Ueno Atsushi at the signing ceremony.

For his part, H.E. Deputy Prime Minister Prak Sokhonn expressed his gratitude to Japan that up to now remains one of the biggest foreign donors for the social and economic development of Cambodia.