AKP Phnom Penh, March 05, 2025 --  

Cambodian Minister of Water Resources and Meteorology H.E. Thor Chetha received here at the ministry on Mar. 4 Ms. Busadee Santipitaks, Chief Executive Officer of the Mekong River Commission Secretariat (MRCS), to discuss the strengthening of water resources cooperation.

H.E. Thor Chetha congratulated Ms. Busadee Santipitaks on her appointment as the CEO of MRCS for 2025-2027 and as the first female CEO in the history of MRC.

As the Member of the MRC Council for Cambodia and Chairman of the Cambodia National Mekong Committee, H.E. Thor Chetha appreciated the MRCS’ efforts in collaborating with the member countries, as well as dialogue partners, development partners, and relevant Mekong partners, in implementing the MRC’s mission for sustainable management and development of the Mekong River Basin.

H.E. Minister requested the MRCS to continue to closely monitor the situation of the river basin and its resources, and to notify the member countries regularly and in a timely manner, especially about the risks of floods and droughts, so that they can take appropriate measures to effectively prepare for, manage, and mitigate the impacts.

During her stay in Cambodia, on Mar. 3, Ms. Busadee Santipitaks also visited the MRC Regional Flood and Drought Management Centre (RFDMC) in Phnom Penh for the first time to engage with RFDMC staff, gain insights into the centre’s management, and discuss future improvements.

According to the MRCS, on the occasion, Dr. Nguyen Cao Don, Head of RFDMC, and his team briefed the CEO about the MRC’s monitoring and forecasting work, including the current situation of the Mekong River Basin. The discussions focused on the challenges of monitoring and forecasting, potential solutions, and ways to enhance coordination and collaboration between the flood centre and MRC headquarters for greater effectiveness.

By Phal Sophanith