New Delhi, April 29 — Cambodia’s Energy Minister Keo Rottanak urged deeper strategic engagement with India on Wednesday, calling on New Delhi to provide infrastructure financing, technology transfer and investment to speed up the country’s shift to clean energy and bolster regional energy security.
Speaking exclusively to ANI, Rottanak said India’s involvement will be important both bilaterally and for shaping a broader regional energy framework. “We need India,” he said, identifying financing for energy infrastructure, capacity building and deployment of clean technologies as priority areas.
The minister noted that India has already contributed through technical training programs and concessional lending, which have helped strengthen Cambodia’s energy sector. Cambodia currently generates more than 63 percent of its electricity from renewable sources, he said, and the next phase is to scale electrification across transport, manufacturing and agriculture while cutting dependence on imported fossil fuels.
Rottanak emphasized that future progress depends not only on expanding supply but also on managing demand. “Energy efficiency is the invisible fuel,” he said, adding that economic growth must be paired with smarter, more responsible energy use.
He placed India at the center of regional cooperation initiatives, highlighting the proposed ASEAN power grid as a major opportunity. The plan to link all 11 ASEAN member states would enable cross-border electricity trade and improve system resilience. “India can play a major role in financing, investment and technology transfer for regional connectivity. A stronger grid will make our economies more resilient and sustainable,” Rottanak said.
On climate finance, the minister warned that developing countries face a persistent funding gap even as they are expected to accelerate decarbonization. He called for policy reforms that reduce risk and attract private capital. To boost investor confidence, Cambodia has introduced measures such as sovereign guarantees and the option of international arbitration, steps Rottanak said have helped mobilize more than USD 33 billion in public and private investment to date.
“But we need a lot more, and partnerships like India’s will be crucial going forward,” he added.
