Phnom Penh (VNA) – The Cambodian government plans to increase funding for defence and education sectors in the 2009 fiscal year, Cambodia Daily has reported.
According to the newspaper, the 2009 national budget totals 1.8 billion USD, 19 percent of which, or 223 million USD, will be earmarked for national defence and internal security.
Most of the money will go toward salary increase for military and police officers and marks a 64 percent increase on such spending compared to the 2008 budget law.
The increased defence budget will be used to reform Cambodia's defence sector and implement a conscription law, the paper said.
The 2009 budget also allocates 34 percent of the total, or 399 million USD, to the ministries of health and education, a 22 percent rise over last year.
The Cambodian National Assembly is set to discuss the draft budget law with non-governmental organisations on November 20 in preparation for its final approval at unspecified date.