German Ambassador Pius Fischer signed an agreement with Cambodian Minister of Economy and Finance Keat Chhon here on Wednesday to extend to the kingdom 13 million Euro (about 16.5 million U.S. dollars) in grants for two projects in the field of reproductive health and rural electrification.

The first project, totaling 7 million Euro (about 8.9 million U. S. dollars), aimed at improving Cambodians' access to modern contraceptives and to health centers offering reproductive health services.

"After more then 10 years of German commitment in this field the positive impact is clearly reflected in the statistics. The use of modern contraceptives has increased tremendously and fertility rate and HIV prevalence declined. This has taken us a good step forward towards the Cambodian Millennium Development Goals," said Fischer at the signing ceremony.

The second project, totaling 6 million Euro (about 7.6 million U.S. dollars), aimed at enabling the government to implement a plan to build up a countrywide rural electrification system.

With the aid, the government will construct a low voltage grid to connect more rural households.

"By connecting rural households, this project directly reduces the high expenditures for energy of the poor," said the ambassador.

Source: Xinhua