Agriculture, Art Top Ambassador’s List
Top US diplomat to Cambodia: I would like to find a way to contribute to the development in the agricultural sector, and finally get th
Q. What would you like to achieve during your term as US Ambassador? A. You know, I came back to a Cambodia that’s very different from the Cambodia that I left in 2000. All the development that has gone on in the last 10 years is really remarkable. I am very encouraged to see the progress that has been made. One of the areas where there’s not much progress has been made, and it surprises me a little bit, is in agriculture. When I was here before everyone would say the Cambodian agricultural sector was just ready to take off and make huge increases in productivity and help boost prosperity, especially for a population that’s 80 percent rural. That’s where 80 percent of Cambodians live. So I would like to find a way to contribute to the development in the agricultural sector, and finally get that sector of the economy up to its potential. That’s where I am going to focus a lot of my efforts. One thing that we did not talk about at all is culture. I have been thinking about this ever since I presented my credentials to His Majesty, the king. I would like also to find more ways to engage our two countries in culture, because I see a renaissance of culture going on here these days in Cambodia. Music, dance, arts, cinema. There are just so many cultural activities going on. I was at the premier of “Where Elephants Weep,” the rock opera, which was for me a wonderful example of Cambodian and American collaboration in the artistic realms. And I think it’s not so widely appreciated in America, all the wonderful activities that are going on in the arts here. I also want to try to find a way to highlight Cambodian arts in the United States. You can mark that down as my second project; first agriculture, second arts.