The Sustainable Assets for Agriculture Markets, Business and Trade (SAAMBAT) project is reportedly making strong progress.
It aims to benefit approximately 200,000 rural households in 32 Economic Poles (EPs) across 12 target provinces, with the construction of a total of 66 road lines comprising 537km of roads, including 456km of DBST and 81km of reinforced concrete roads.
Jointly implemented by the Ministry of Rural Development and the Ministry of Economy and Finance, SAAMBAT is co-financed by the Cambodian government, IFAD, the European Investment Bank (EIB), and the EU.
A joint press release noted that 285km of roads have been successfully completed to date, improving rural connectivity and expanding market access. The project is also working to strengthens the skills of rural youth and promoting the use of digital and business innovations.
The construction of six commodity loading areas, three community markets and three ferry landing facilities was completed in the Banteay Meanchey, Kampong Thom, Kampot, Svay Rieng and Takeo provinces. These developments support rural smallholders by improving access to buyers while reducing the cost of doing business and positively mitigating transportation challenges.
“We are very encouraged by the progress seen since the last mission. The project has turned itself around from one facing challenges into a strong performer, with good implementation progress, efficient performance and accelerated physical progress and disbursement,” said rural development ministry secretary of state Ouk Punhea, the project director.
“With continued strong support from all parties, we must sustain our momentum and address emerging challenges promptly to complete the remaining work,” he added.
Beside infrastructure development, the project also builds skills and human capital. By December 2025, a total of 8,113 individualls had completed training in many fields, including enterprise development, female leadership, digital literacy, online business management, coaching and on-the-job learning.
The project’s Knowledge and Advisory Services platform has reached 14,483 registered users, providing rural smallholders, youth and women with greater access to information, learning and advisory support.
“SAAMBAT is showing how strong partnerships can deliver tangible results for rural smallholders, women and youth through better roads, stronger skills, digital innovation and wider market access. The collaboration between IFAD, the government, EIB and the EU has laid a solid foundation for deeper market integration, expanded rural employment and strengthened resilience,” said IFAD country director Frew Behabtu.
“Our priority now is to maintain implementation momentum and accelerate the timely completion of the remaining works so that these benefits are fully realised in rural communities,” he added.
AS of December 2025, the project had reached a total of 181,068 households, including 23,945 women-headed households. Women represented 55 per cent of skills trainees, 63.7 per cent of digital literacy trainees and 47 per cent of users of SAAMBAT’s digital knowledge and advisory platform, the Khmer Agricultural Suite (KAS), according to the release.
