Last updated in November 2009
Political relations
The Federal Republic of Germany established official relations with the Cambodia’s Supreme National Council (SNC) in 1992. After the 1993 elections, Germany’s representation at the SNC was converted into a diplomatic representation. Diplomatic relations had been suspended in 1969.
In the intervening years from 1969 to 1975 and from 1979 until the reunification of Germany, Cambodia had maintained diplomatic relations with the GDR. Relations are friendly and Germany actively supports Cambodia in its development and democratization process, chiefly through extensive development cooperation.
Economic relations
In 2008, German imports from Cambodia (almost exclusively textiles and shoes) were worth EUR 281 million, making Germany the second-largest market for Cambodian goods after the USA. German exports to Cambodia are modest by comparison (EUR 18.7 million). In 2007, the number of German tourists visiting Cambodia rose sharply, to around 53,000. In 2008, some 59,000 German tourists visited the country. A number of German companies have set up branches in Phnom Penh. The bilateral investment promotion and protection agreement was signed on 15 February 1999 entered into force on 14 April 2002.
German business interest in markets and investment prospects in Cambodia is growing. In March 2002, on the initiative of the German Embassy in Phnom Penh, a German business working group was formed, partly as an address for prospective investors.
A high-ranking business delegation of the German Asia-Pacific Business Association (OAV) visited Cambodia in March 2006, and a further visit, headed by State Secretary Pfaffenbach (Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology), followed in April 2009. The German-Thai Chamber of Commerce in Bangkok sees itself increasingly as a contact partner for companies with an interest in Cambodia as well. It also organizes business information trips to Cambodia. In addition, the Germany Trade & Invest delegate reports on the Cambodian market from Bangkok.
Development cooperation
Cambodia is a partner country of German development cooperation in Southeast Asia, Germany being one of the biggest bilateral donors. Aside from the multisectoral issue of good governance, human rights and promoting democracy (including the advancement of women’s rights, decentralization, administrative reform and the setting up of an Audit Office), development cooperation focuses on rural development and health care. German projects are mainly implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ), the Development Loan Corporation (KfW), the German Development Service (DED), the Centrum für Internationale Migration und Entwicklung (CIM) and InWent – Capacity Building International, Germany. Features of Germany’s government-funded development cooperation are long-term commitment, lasting contributions to establishing well-functioning institutions and close cooperation with Cambodian partners. Other projects are sponsored by non-governmental organizations such as the Protestant Church (EED), the Catholic Church (Misereor), German Agro Action, Terre des Hommes (Germany), Malteser International and Germany’s political foundations. These efforts are complemented by the engagement of private sponsors.
At the last intergovernmental negotiations with Cambodia, held in Phnom Penh in October 2009, the Federal Government pledged some EUR 34 million over a period of two years. Germany’s contributions focus on the above-mentioned priority areas, helping to develop rural areas particularly affected by poverty and establishing a comprehensive health care system. However, important structural measures are also aimed at more equitable and transparent land distribution, decentralization and the establishment of local democratic participation mechanisms, improving the management of public finances and implementing women’s right to protection against widespread domestic violence. Since 1997, Germany has also provided about USD one million annually for humanitarian mine clearance in Cambodia, which is littered with more land mines and unexploded ordnance than almost any other country in the world.
Germany is also one of the biggest supporters of the Khmer Rouge Tribunal dealing with the legacy of the genocide perpetrated by the Red Khmer.
Germany’s development cooperation is aligned with the Cambodia’s development strategy and its contribution to the country’s Millennium Development Goals – based on the global goals of the United Nations – is coordinated with all the other development partners. So far, a total of EUR 258,4 million have been pledged under bilateral government development cooperation.
The German government also makes a substantial contribution to the multilateral activities of numerous United Nations agencies, the Asian Development Bank (AsDB), the World Bank and the EU Commission. Together with the Commission, the EU member states have made commitments for 2009 amounting to nearly USD 214 million, making them Cambodia’s principal development cooperation partner. For 2009, bilateral and multilateral donors have pledged a total of over USD 950 million for combating poverty and rebuilding the government and social infrastructure largely destroyed during the rule of the Red Khmer (1975-1979).
Since 2007, comprehensive information on German development cooperation activities in Cambodia and the agencies involved has been available on the Internet portal www.gdc-cambodia.org/index.html.
Cultural relations
With funds from the Federal Foreign Office, Cologne University of Applied Sciences’ Restoration and Conservation Institute has for several years been helping preserve the world famous temples at Angkor Vat, a major contribution that enjoys international esteem. This German Apsara Conservation Project encompasses the restoration of the Preah Ko temple and the Apsara Reliefs in the Angkor Vat temple as well as emergency measures to preserve other endangered cultural assets.
From mid-December 2006 to mid-July 2007, the exhibition Angkor – Cambodia’s Divine Heritage, featuring original sculptures from Siam Reap and the Phnom Penh National Museum, was held at the Art and Exhibition Hall in Bonn and in the Martin Gropius Building in Berlin. The exhibition was officially opened in Bonn by Federal President Köhler and King Sihamoni. An exhibition on the restoration work at Angkor Vat was held at the Angkor National Museum in Siem Reap from December 2008 to February 2009. In 2009, it is to be presented at the National Museum in Phnom Penh.
The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) promotes the university sector through long- and short-term secondments of German academic teachers to Cambodia and by helping Cambodians obtain long-term and short-term scholarships for study in Germany. In 2002, a course in media and communication science was established at the Royal University of Phnom Penh with support from DAAD and the Konrad Adenauer Foundation. The Cambodian national paralympic volleyball team has been supported for several years through short-term secondments of coaches by the German Olympic Committee and donations of sports equipment.
Concerts and exhibitions by German artists and screenings of German films are being increasingly held in Phnom Penh, some of them supported by the Goethe Institute. The cultural institutions Art Café and Meta-Haus, which were set up in early 2007, receive assistance from the German Embassy and the Goethe Institute in organizing German cultural programmes.
Every year, the Art Café and the Art Plus Foundation organize international music festivals with a substantial contribution from the German side.
