Cambodia News: In a historic moment, Battambang has become the first-ever city from Cambodia to join the prestigious UNESCO Creative Cities Network. The city has been designated as a creative city of gastronomy, highlighting its longstanding commitment to utilizing culture and creativity for sustainable urban development.

On World Cities Day, UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay announced the inclusion of 55 cities into the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN), recognizing their dedication to leveraging culture and creativity in their development strategies. Battambang, along with other newly designated cities, was specifically acknowledged for its innovative approaches to human-centred urban planning. With these recent additions, the Network now boasts 350 cities across over one hundred countries, representing multiple creative fields including Crafts and Folk Art, Design, Film, Gastronomy, Literature, Media Arts, and Music.

Battambang's selection as a UNESCO Creative City in the Gastronomy category not only celebrates its extraordinary culinary offerings but also highlights the city's efforts to promote local development and foster global cultural exchange through gastronomy.

Expressing her congratulations, Mr. Sardar Umar Alam, UNESCO Representative to Cambodia, remarked, "UNESCO applauds Cambodia on this momentous achievement. The recognition of Battambang as a Creative City of Gastronomy is a testament to the city's cultural assets. It will undoubtedly promote culture and creativity, while also spurring economic growth and tourism income for the communities."

In 2023, UNESCO Cambodia provided crucial technical assistance to the Royal Government of Cambodia and facilitated capacity-building activities to promote the UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN). These efforts were successfully organized by the Battambang municipality, in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism and the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts in Battambang.

Among the local dishes that have captured the hearts of the people in Battambang are Nem Battambang (soft fish), Prahok Battambang, Amok Battambang, Kralan Battambang (sticky rice stuffed in bamboo tube), Sangvak Battambang, Papaya Salad Battambang, Kantuy Hes Battambang, Rice Paper Battambang, and Teuk Kroeung Battambang These delectable creations are an integral part of daily life in Battambang, showcasing the city's rich culinary heritage.