Ministry of Finance to Allocate $400M to Fight Covid-19

Ministry of Finance to Allocate $400M to Fight Covid-19

The Finance Ministry today reported the government has accumulated approximately $400 million in savings to be used during COVID-19 emergency cases in the Kingdom.

Prime Minister Hun Sen on Thursday slashed government spending by at least 25 percent to save money amid coronavirus fears.

Meas Sok Sensan, spokesman for the Finance Ministry, today said his institution has already disbursed $30 million to the Health Ministry for the fight against the virus in the Kingdom.

“We are trying to save money by [cutting] unnecessary ministry expenses,” Mr. Sok Sensan said. “We ensured all ministries will not be badly affected as they save money.”

He said all ministries can save money by cutting spending on overseas meetings, materials, and services.

“Ministries are still listing which expenditures will be cut,” Mr. Sok Sensan said. “We need to save money because of what is happening in Siem Reap.”

He was referring to a man in Japan who tested positive for COVID-19 after traveling through Siem Reap province.

Health Ministry spokesman Ly Sovann today said his ministry will spend the $30 million to prevent an outbreak in Siem Reap and purchase equipment.

Mr. Sovann said the money will be used to purchase protective suits, medicine, and vaccination, should it be available.

“We have done a good job in the case of Siem Reap and work has been done on time,” he added.