Phnom Penh, 20 February 2025 – The official handover of three Air Quality Monitoring Stations (AQMS) to the Government of Cambodia marked a significant stride towards cleaner air in the ASEAN region. The handover ceremony, held at the Ministry of Environment headquarter in Phnom Penh, represents a key milestone in the “Clean Air for Sustainable ASEAN” (CASA) project, an initiative supported by the ASEAN-Korea Cooperation Fund (AKCF). This project underscores the strong commitment of the Republic of Korea (ROK) and ASEAN in addressing ASEAN's mutual challenge in dealing with air pollution and improving ASEAN citizens’ health and well-being. 

Launched in January 2023 with a USD 11 million commitment spanning over four years, the CASA project aims to mitigate air pollution and its detrimental impacts on public health across the region. Recognising the urgent need for improved air quality management in the region, the project allocates resources for capacity building, technical assistance, and the establishment of essential infrastructure, such as the AQMS.  

In his opening remarks, Professor Kiyoung Lee, Principal Investigator of the CASA project from Seoul National University, emphasised how the CASA project aligns with the ROK’s commitment to fostering a clean and healthy environment throughout ASEAN. Echoing this, H.E. Park Jung-Wook, Ambassador of ROK to Cambodia, highlighted the contribution of the AKCF in strengthening connectivity and addressing shared challenges including air pollution in the region.  

H.E. Eang Sophalleth, Minister of Environment of Cambodia, expressed sincere gratitude to the ROK government, AKCF, and Seoul National University for the invaluable support, recognising the handover of the AQMS as a significant step towards a greener, healthier, and more sustainable Cambodia and ASEAN region.