Hanoi

(VNA), July 9 -- The Asian Development Bank ( ADB ) on July 8 approved a 250-million-USD loan to help the Cambodia n government respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The bank said the loan will be used to strengthen Cambodia's health care system, increase social assistance to the poor and vulnerable, and provide economic stimulus to businesses, including small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

According to the ADB, Cambodia is highly vulnerable to the negative impacts from COVID-19 , due to its open economy, narrow economic base, and highly mobile population.

The bank forcast Cambodia's economy to contract by 5.5 percent in 2020 due to the decline in tourism; lower exports of garments, footwear, and travel goods; and a slowdown i...