More than 30 U.S. colleges and universities jointly organized an education exhibition here Saturday, aiming to promote education ties between the two countries. "The fair is the largest-ever event directly promoting U.S. higher education opportunities to Cambodian students," said a press statement from the U.S. Embassy here. The half-day event caught the attention of hundreds of Cambodian students. At the event, representatives of those universities were available to speak with students about degree programs, admission requirements and scholarship opportunities in the U.S. "The fair highlights U.S. government supports for efforts to enhance the quality of education and expand educational and career opportunities for Cambodians,"the statement said. Ruwan S. Hulugalle, managing director of Ruwan Hulugalle & Company, which organized the fair, said the event provided a unique venue for Cambodians to connect with U.S. institutions of higher learning and to learn about the advantages of receiving a U. S. university education. "The fair is also to strengthen education relations between the United States and Cambodia,"he said. Cambodian Minister of Education Hang Chuon Naron said the fair was a positive contribution toward a more skilled human resources development for Cambodia. "It is a point of pride for me that the Cambodian government has developed an education system where our students are now being courted by some of the best universities in the world," he said in a message to the inaugural ceremony of the fair. Cambodia has 104 universities. Every year, about 100,000 students graduate from high schools and seek for higher education, according to the Ministry of Education