Tuesday, 2 March 2010

Aid given for Cambodia's railways

In this photo taken Feb. 17, 2008, a Cambodian woman holds her sun as they ride on a homemade wooden cart for a transportation of using rail road at Tbeng Kpas village, Kampong Chhnang province, some 50 kilometers (31 miles) north of Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The Asian Development Bank and Australia on Tuesday, March 2, 2010, launched a multimillion dollar project to restore Cambodia's dilapidated railway network as part of a larger goal to boost regional rail traffic and trade. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)

In this photo taken, Feb. 17, 2008, Cambodian villagers ride on a homemade wooden cart for their transportation of using rail road at Tbeng Kpas village, Kampong Chhnang province some 50 kilometers (31 miles) north of Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The Asian Development Bank and Australia on Tuesday launched a multimillion dollar project to restore Cambodia's dilapidated railway network as part of a larger goal to boost regional rail traffic and trade. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)

via CAAI News Media

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia – The Asian Development Bank and Australia on Tuesday launched a multimillion dollar project to restore Cambodia's dilapidated railway network as part of a larger goal to boost regional rail traffic and trade.

Funding for the effort includes a bank loan of $42 million and $21.5 million in grant aid from the Australian government, according to a bank news release.

Cambodia's railroads are in serious need of repair following three decades civil war and of neglect, with a 30-mile (48-kilometer) link to Thailand destroyed.

Officials at the signing ceremony said the upgraded network, to be operational by 2013, would create jobs and business opportunities; reduce road congestion, road maintenance costs and environmental degradation; and help farmers and manufacturers transport their goods to regional markets.

The ADB, OPEC and Malaysia had earlier helped fund the rehabilitation project which will cost a total of $141 million.

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