Australian Embassy

Cambodia

Embassy address: Villa 11 , R V Senei Vannavaut Oum (St. 254), Daun Penh District, Phnom Penh - Telephone: 023 213 470 - Fax: 023 213 413

Welcome to the Website of the Australian Embassy in Cambodia

Ambassador's Message

Welcome to the Australian Embassy Website.

A strong bond of friendship and cooperation exists between Australia and Cambodia. This is reflected in the length of our diplomatic relations, which span over 55 years. From the very beginning, a key feature of the relationship has been Australia’s long-term partnership with the Cambodian people to assist them to meet their development aspirations.

In 2007-08, Australia’s aid to Cambodia is projected to total around A$ 54.5 million, an increase of more than 10 per cent on the previous year. We work together with the Cambodian Government and other partners to improve agriculture, governance and the rule of law, provide demining assistance, support private sector growth, and assist vulnerable groups. Our two countries work together closely on a range of regional and global issues, including climate change, people smuggling, narcotics trafficking and terrorism.

A strength of our bilateral relationship is our people-to-people links. Australians are to be found throughout Cambodia, working in the private sector, international organisations, NGOs and as volunteers. We are proud of the contributions made by Australians as partners in the development of Cambodia. We are also proud of the achievements of the many Cambodian alumni of Australian universities, who include Cambodian parliamentarians, successful businesspeople and senior government officials. In Australia, Cambodian communities make an active and valuable contribution to our multicultural society.

Australian investment in Cambodia is growing, and Australian businesses deliver high quality products and services in a range of fields, including banking, tourism and hospitality, education, engineering, project management, health and resource development. Australia and Cambodia are working together to strengthen the framework for bilateral trade, including through the negotiation of a regional free trade agreement (FTA) between ASEAN, Australia and New Zealand. Negotiations are due to be completed in 2008, and the FTA will bind the tariff-free access into Australia that Cambodian goods already enjoy. The FTA will also have regional rules of origin that may be more favourable than those currently applying to Cambodia.

I hope this website further enhances understanding between the people of our two countries. I would welcome any comments or suggestions you might wish to make about this website and the information it contains.

Margaret Adamson
Ambassador