Phnom Penh, Cambodia— March 15, 2005— U.S. Ambassador to Cambodia Charles A. Ray, H.E. Cham Prasidh, Senior Minister and Minister of Commerce, and H.E. Mak Van, Secretary of State for the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, will join International Relief and Development (IRD) to launch the “Better Foods for Better Lives” Food Security program in Cambodia on Tuesday, March 15, 2005 at 9:00 a.m. at the Men Sarun Flour Factory in Kandal Province.

International Relief and Development is a U.S. not-for-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life of people in the most economically deprived parts of the world. With funds provided by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), IRD will work in Cambodia with flourmills, noodle factories and bakeries to produce and distribute high protein noodles and bread to primary school children, low-income households and other vulnerable groups. A tour of the flourmill will be provided to show the wheat milling process and the flour to be used for the production and distribution of high protein breads and noodles.

The ceremony will be held at the Men Sarun Flour Factory at Ponhear Leur, Kandal Province, along road No. 5, approximately 15 kms from Phnom Penh. Interested journalists are invited to attend.
For more information, please contact Adriana Guinand, IRD at 023-986-780.

Remarks by US Ambassador Charles A. Ray
March 15, 2005

"Better Foods for Better Lives"
(A USDA funded program run by International Relief and Development)

Your Excellency Cham Prasidh, Your Excellency Mak Van, distinguished guests, ladies and gentleman:

I am pleased and proud to be a part of today’s ceremony to mark the formal launch of a program funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. I am proud because I know that this assistance from the United States is going to make a real difference in Cambodia. I am pleased because it is such a unique program that will accomplish so many important goals for Cambodia all at once.

It is not often that the needs of school children, donor assistance and the private sector met and mutually reinforce each other in such a clear way. I know that International Relief and Development has set itself the worldwide mission of not only reducing the suffering of the most vulnerable groups but of also providing these same people with a path towards economic independence. This program will go a long way to reaching both goals here in Cambodia.

I don’t want to bore you with more praise for IRD or the U.S. but let me just mention a few of the concrete results that are the product of IRD’s hard work and this U.S. assistance:

• 1,000 new jobs;
• 20 bakeries working at full capacity;
• 26 million food packages at low prices; and
• 10,000 school kids who will get better food six days a week.

Those figures are more important than words, and they show how the United States can and does help the people of Cambodia. And now you know exactly why — as I said at the beginning — I am pleased and proud to be here today. Thank you.