The role of micro, small and medium enterprises is pivotal in achieving inclusive growth in the Philippines, in the ASEAN region, and in the world. Sharing this conviction, USAID has assisted many countries around the world to improve the enabling environment for MSMEs and strengthen their role in their respective economies.

ខ្ញុំពិតជាមានសេចក្តីរីករាយដោយបានឃើញនូវសម្រស់ដ៏ផូរផង់នៃព្រៃឡង់ និងបានជួបជាមួយប្រជាជន​ដែ​លបានលះបង់នូវអាយុជីវិតរបស់ខ្លួនដើម្បីការពារធម្មជាតិដ៏អស្ចារ្យមួយនេះ។ ខ្ញុំមានសេចក្តីរំភើប​ និង​រន្ធត់​ដោយ​​បានស្តាប់នូវរឿងរ៉ាវ និងការប្រឈមនានាដែលពួកគេជួបប្រទះរាល់ថ្ងៃ។  នេះគឺជាមូលហេតុ​មួយ​ក្នុង​ចំណោមមូលហេតុជាច្រើន ដែលនាំអោយខ្ញុំបានមកកាន់ទីនេះនាថ្ងៃនេះ ដើម្បីទទួលស្គាល់នូវ​ការទទួលខុសត្រូវដ៏ធំធេងរបស់ឧទ្យានុរក្ស និងសមាជិកសហគមន៍ព្រៃឈើក្នុងប្រទេសកម្ពុជា។

First, when we talk about nutrition, we usually highlight alarming numbers and note disturbing trends. One of the most powerful examples I use for Cambodia is that one out of every three children under five is stunted. Last night, I was reviewing some nutrition notes at home, and when I read this statistic, I thought of my three wonderful daughters, who were playing around me, and I reflected that one would likely have been stunted if circumstances were different and I was a mother in Cambodia.

I appreciate that I am looking out across a broad set of people and organizations who have committed themselves to work towards a common goal to help Cambodian children get a better education. When USAID began looking into supporting the Ministry of Education in early grade reading, we were impressed with all of the work that has been done to help children learn to read. I want to salute the Ministry on the efforts and progress made to date in advancing early grade reading.