Ambassador Heidt made an official trip to Svay Rieng and Prey Veng this week to see what has changed since he last visited as a U.S. Embassy Economic Officer more than 16 years ago.

The Ambassador visited the bustling border at Bavet and met with Svay Rieng Governor Men Vibol and leading NGOs including LICADHO (Cambodian League for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights), The Cambodian Center for the Protection of Children’s Rights (CCPCR), COMFREL (The Committee for Free and Fair Elections in Cambodia), and the Rural Aid Organization (RAO). He also toured several factories at the Tai Seng Special Economic Zone that are manufacturing products for export to the United States.

In Prey Veng, the Ambassador met with Provincial Governor Chea Somethy as well as the Prey Veng Provincial Committee for Counter Trafficking, headed by H.E. Deputy Governor Lieng Sreymol. The Ambassador also visited a USAID funded project implemented by Veterans International-Cambodia (VIC) that provides assistance to some of Cambodia’s most vulnerable citizens – people with physical disabilities – with the goal of improving their quality of life.

A special highlight of the trip was a visit to Ba Phnom – a sacred place of pilgrimage in Prey Veng with beautiful views of the surrounding countryside.