ADB lends Cambodia $250m to help COVID-19 fight

The Asian Development Bank has approved a $250 million loan to help the Government of Cambodia respond to the coronavirus disease pandemic. The funds will be used to strengthen the country’s health care system, increasing social assistance to the poor and vulnerable, and providing economic stimulus to businesses.

ADB’s COVID-19 Active Response and Expenditure Support Program is funded through the COVID-19 pandemic response option under ADB’s Countercyclical Support Facility.  

In March, Cambodia launched a comprehensive response to COVID-19, with an initial package of measures totaling $815.7 million, or 3.2% of projected gross domestic product in 2020. 

These included support to the health system to prepare for a potential surge in COVID-19 cases and to workers and enterprises, including a capital injection of $150 million to support bank lending to small and medium-sized businesses. 

The stimulus package includes $300 million for delivery of cash grants to poor and vulnerable households in the government’s IDPoor database.