"We need India": Cambodia seeks infra financing, tech transfer to drive clean energy transition
By Vishu Adhana, New Delhi, April 29
Pitching for deeper strategic engagement, Cambodia's Energy Minister Keo Rottanak on Wednesday said his country is looking to India for infrastructure financing, technology transfer, and investment to accelerate its clean energy transition and strengthen regional energy security.
Speaking exclusively to ANI, Rottanak made a direct call for expanded cooperation, stressing that India's role will be critical not just bilaterally but also in shaping broader regional energy architecture.
"We need India," he said, outlining priority areas including financing of energy infrastructure, capacity building, and deployment of clean technologies.
Underscoring India's existing contribution, the minister said New Delhi has already supported Cambodia through training programmes and concessional lending. "India has been an important partner, from technical training to policy-level capacity building. That support has helped strengthen our energy sector," he noted.
With Cambodia already generating over 63 per cent of its energy from renewable sources, Rottanak said the focus is now on scaling up electrification across transport, manufacturing, and agriculture, while reducing dependence on imported fossil fuels.
However, he emphasised that future gains will depend as much on managing demand as expanding supply. "Energy efficiency is the invisible fuel. Growth must come with smarter and more responsible energy use," he said.
Placing India at the centre of regional cooperation, the minister highlighted the proposed ASEAN power grid as a key opportunity. The grid aims to connect all 11 member states to enable cross-border electricity trade and improve resilience.
"India can play a major role in financing, investment, and technology transfer for regional connectivity. A stronger grid will make our economies more resilient and sustainable," he said.
On climate finance, Rottanak pointed to the persistent funding gap faced by developing countries, even as they are pushed to accelerate decarbonisation.
"The challenge is not just ambition, but financing. We need to create policy environments that reduce risk and attract private capital," he said.
He cited Cambodia's own reforms, including sovereign guarantees and allowing international arbitration, as steps taken to improve investor confidence. These measures, he said, have helped mobilise over USD 33 billion in public and private investment so far.
"But we need a lot more, and partnerships like India's will be crucial going forward," he added.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Good to see India being recognised as a partner for clean energy. But we need to be careful - our own renewable targets are ambitious and we have domestic needs too. Can't stretch ourselves too thin abroad.
Interesting to see Cambodia looking East instead of West for this. India's expertise in frugal innovation and low-cost solar could be exactly what they need. Hope our government moves fast on this.
"Energy efficiency is the invisible fuel" - brilliant quote from their minister. We need to adopt that mindset in India too. Also, the ASEAN power grid could be a game-changer for regional cooperation. India should position itself as the anchor for such initiatives.
Cambodia generating 63% renewable energy is impressive. Meanwhile, we're still struggling with coal dependence. Maybe we should learn from them too? 🙃
This is great news! But I hope our financing comes with proper safeguards - we've seen too many projects abroad go south due to corruption or mismanagement. Need strict monitoring and transparent terms.
Strategic move by Cambodia - diversifying their partners away from just China. India should seize this opportunity to strengthen ties in Southeast Asia. The ASEAN grid is a long-term play but could
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.