Cambodia's Minister for Mines and Energy and Third Vice-Chairman of the Council for the Development of Cambodia, Keo Rottanak, has praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision for global partnerships, asserting it would benefit not only bilateral ties between India and Cambodia but also the broader region and the world at large. Rottanak made the remarks on the sidelines of the Resilient Futures Summit 2026 in New Delhi on 30 April.

Cambodia's Call for Stronger India Ties

Speaking to IANS at the summit, Rottanak expressed Cambodia's desire to be an active participant in India's expanding global outreach. "We want to build a stronger partnership with India and other partners. We believe that our partnership will be beneficial at the bilateral level, but also for the region and the world at large," he said.

The minister underlined India's unique position as the world's largest democracy and a leading voice of the Global South, arguing that its scale and development trajectory give it outsized international influence. "What India is doing can be felt across the globe because of its size and impact. The world will stand to gain positively from India's growth and development. From technology to financing to lessons learned, India has a lot to offer," Rottanak noted.

Inclusive Growth and the Lessons India Offers

Rottanak placed particular emphasis on India's focus on inclusive economic development, calling attention to its efforts to address the needs of the poor. "The idea that you have to address the needs of the majority of the people, especially the poor, is very remarkable. In Cambodia, we want to do much more for the poor, for the economy, and to ensure that our economic trajectory is more sustainable and inclusive," he stressed.

This framing aligns with India's broader development messaging under PM Modi, which has emphasised welfare outreach alongside industrial growth — a model that several ASEAN nations are reportedly studying for adaptation.

India's Renewable Energy Push Draws Praise

Rottanak also congratulated India on its achievements in renewable energy, describing PM Modi's leadership in scaling up clean energy as a model for the region. "PM Modi has been very successful in scaling up renewable energy, addressing bottlenecks and raising financing. Anything that India does is massive because of its scale, population and the vision it embraces," he said.

He specifically flagged the significance of the summit's timing amid global energy disruptions, noting that instability linked to the Strait of Hormuz makes India's accelerating renewable energy push all the more relevant. "The world is facing disruptions due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, but India is accelerating its renewable energy efforts. Cambodia can learn from India in this regard," Rottanak said.

ADB's Endorsement and the Broader Outlook

Steven Beck, Director of the Trade and Supply Chain Division at the Asian Development Bank (ADB), echoed Rottanak's optimism at the same forum. "The Indian economy is so resilient and dynamic, and I don't think there's any question that the future is extremely bright for India," Beck said.

Rottanak further expressed confidence that ASEAN as a bloc shares Cambodia's enthusiasm for deepening ties with India, describing New Delhi as a key partner for the regional grouping in areas ranging from technology and financing to policy ideas. With the Resilient Futures Summit providing a platform for multilateral dialogue, observers expect India-Cambodia and India-ASEAN engagement to gain fresh momentum in the months ahead.