| National Affairs
‘Very Slow’ Ministers Move Out The Cambodia Daily 7th Apr 2016
The two ministers who were publicly scolded for their “very slow” work by Prime Minister Hun Sen in February both gave up control to their successors at a pair of handover ceremonies in Phnom Penh on Wednesday as part of a cabinet reshuffle approved by lawmakers on Monday. In a speech that proved humiliating for Agriculture Minister Ouk Rabun and Public Works and Transport Minister Tram Iv Tek in late February, Mr. Hun Sen gave them both an unofficial F-grade for what he called their sluggish performance and hinted at the shakeup to come.
Cambodia Parliament Approves Prime Minister's New Cabinet TelesurTV 4th Apr 2016
Cambodia's parliament endorsed a new 26-member cabinet on Monday in a rare shuffle of an aging leadership as Prime Minister Hun Sen prepares for a 2018 election set to be his toughest political fight yet. During his three decades in power Hun Sen has surrounded himself with loyalists and changed ministers rarely. He said the shakeup was among a series of "necessities" to improve the government's performance. The lineup was supported by 70 of the 107 parliamentarians present on Monday. Most of the changes were reassignments to other portfolios and only two ministers were moved out of the cabinet.
Minor Party Leader Echoes Hun Sen’s Criticism of Kem Sokha The Cambodia Daily 4th Apr 2016
Khem Veasna, the provocative leader of the small-time League for Democracy Party (LDP), was re-elected to his position at a party convention in Phnom Penh on Sunday, seizing on the opportunity to scold the deputy opposition leader and praise the prime minister. In closing remarks after his reappointment as the president of the LDP, a party he founded after being booted as a Sam Rainsy Party (SRP) lawmaker in July 2005, Mr. Veasna mocked CNRP Vice President Kem Sokha over recent public claims that he has a mistress.
Cambodian PM Hun Sen announces Cabinet reshuffle The Straits Times 17th Mar 2016
PHNOM PENH (REUTERS) - Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen announced a rare reshuffle of his Cabinet on Thursday (March 17), and said several ministers due to be fired had already resigned as he moved to freshen up his government. The self-styled "strongman", whose three-decade grip on power is being tested by an opposition party growing in popularity, said parliament would vote on April 4 to approve a new lineup with changes at the top in eight ministries.
AFP launches investigation into Tabcorp Cambodia deal The Australian 16th Mar 2016
Wagering giant Tabcorp is being investigated by the Australian Federal Police over foreign bribery claims in relation to a payment made to a Cambodian business. The Australian-listed company confirmed late yesterday that it had been advised by the AFP that an investigation had been launched into Tabcorp’s attempted move seven years ago to enter the Cambodian sports betting market. An AFP spokesman confirmed it was conducting an investigation into allegations of foreign bribery relating to Tabcorp. “As the investigation is currently ongoing, the AFP will not be commenting further,” he said.
Rice body steps up to the plate The Phnom Penh Post 10th Mar 2016
Responding to criticism, Cambodia’s apex rice industry body announced yesterday that it would submit a plan to Prime Minister Hun Sen that addresses two of the major challenges facing the Kingdom’s rice sector – competition from rice imports and access to finance for millers. The Cambodia Rice Federation (CRF), which has come under fire from members critical of the direction in which the nation’s rice industry is being steered, will ask the government to make it mandatory for rice importers to have licences, and ask for its help in facilitating low-interest loans for millers, the federation revealed at a press conference yesterday.
All sides air union law views The Phnom Penh Post 10th Mar 2016
Unions, employers and government officials from both sides of the political divide had their say yesterday during a public forum at the National Assembly to discuss the controversial draft union law, with officials concluding they will consider all suggestions at a further review with two of the assembly’s commissions today. Unions, who claim the law is designed to repress their activities and restrict worker freedoms, acknowledged yesterday that some concerns have been addressed, but said clauses relating to the right to protest, the number of workers needed to strike and the financial reporting requirements of unions still needed further debate.
Market Development
As a frontier economy booms, Cambodia's capital rises Nikkei Asian Review 7th Apr 2016
For most of its history, the sleepy Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh was best known for its charming, tree-lined boulevards and Buddhist pagodas. But over the past few years, a construction boom, fueled by a river of foreign cash, has turned this city of 2 million into one of Southeast Asia's fastest-growing urban centers. Its low skyline, once dominated by the golden eaves of the Royal Palace, is now bisected by skyscrapers, office towers and high-rise apartment blocks. The boom shows few signs of slowing. In 2015, the government authorized 2,305 new construction projects worth $3.34 billion, according to official figures, an increase of a third on the previous year. Chris Hobden, a manager at the local branch of U.S. real estate company CB Richard Ellis, said the strong growth was being driven by investment from within the region -- particularly from China, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan -- which he predicted would continue over the coming year.
Emirates SkyCargo Begins Operations in Cambodia Khmer Times 7th Apr 2016
Dubai-based Emirates Sky Cargo is expanding its cargo service to Cambodia to tap into rising demand, with a weekly MD-11F flight capable of carrying 80 tons. It becomes the carrier’s 53rd destination and the 13th in the Far East, the airline said in a statement. From Phnom Penh, cargo will be shipped around the country by truck. Emirates SkyCargo senior vice president Hiran Perera said that the airline’s broad cargo network around the world would help Cambodian businesses connect to the world. “Cambodia’s air cargo market is growing at a robust rate with Europe and the United States being key export markets,” he said. “Establishing a presence in this market will position Emirates SkyCargo to benefit from the healthy growth potential.”
Cambodia 'perfectly positioned' for mango sales to Europe Fresh Plaza 1st Apr 2016
This year Cambodia has about 60,000 hectares of mango plantation across the country. Mong Reththy, known as the king of agriculture in Cambodia for his role in running the large Mong Reththy Group, is planning on increasing the countries mango exports to Europe. Mr. Reththy told Khmer Times that Cambodia is perfectly positioned to sell mangoes to European buyers because Europe, Japan, Korea and northern China cannot grow the fruit. However, he foresees problems with transportation and competition with ASEAN. “Transportation is more expensive and there is also competition with neighboring countries, including Thailand and Vietnam who have been in the business for a long time,” Mr. Reththy said. “We cannot compare ourselves with Thailand and Vietnam in terms of mango exports. We are far from them because we do not have direct flights for exportation, while Thailand has a strong transportation sector."
Banking
Credit growth needs to moderate in Cambodia The Phnom Penh Post 6th Apr 2016
Against a backdrop of global uncertainty and slowing economic growth in China, Cambodia is shaping up to be a bright spot in Asia thanks to sustained robust growth and an inflow of foreign investment. With the Kingdom’s banking sector keen to keep pace with Cambodia’s advancement, the Post spoke with Stephen Higgins, managing partner of Cambodia-based investment firm Mekong Strategic Partners, to get his view on some recent fiscal developments.
Clippings
Cambodia Sees Gains from Obama’s Sunnylands Summit VOA 4th Apr 2016
It has now been some time since the special summit between the leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and U.S. President Barack Obama at Sunnylands, California, on Feb. 15-16. The meeting was the first of its kind to be held on American soil, and signaled the U.S. intention to step up engagement with Southeast Asia as China rises as an economic and military power. For Cambodia’s government, the meeting offered a glimmer of hope for improved trade ties with the U.S., and enabled Prime Minister Hun Sen to take part in high-level talks on an equal standing other leaders.
Customs
Koreans Busted at Airport Smuggling Smartphones The Cambodia Daily 28th Mar 2016
Three South Korean nationals were arrested at Siem Reap International Airport on Saturday night after landing with more than 400 contraband smartphones in their luggage, local authorities said on Sunday. Kong Sokpheallakun, the airport’s head of customs, said authorities arrested the first man, who had just disembarked from a flight from South Korea, at about 11:30 p.m. after a scanner alerted them to the more than 100 Apple and Samsung smartphones in his suitcase.
China-Kingdom MoU targets illicit bride market Phnom Penh Post 12th Mar 2016
A government anti-trafficking committee is in the final steps of drafting a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to crack down on human trafficking between Cambodia and China, an official said yesterday. Ran Serey Leakhena, deputy secretary general of the National Committee for Counter-Trafficking (NCCT), said that a meeting was held on Thursday to draft the MoU. It would be signed by both countries in late May or early June, she said.
Speed Up Reforms to Draw Investment, EU Says The Cambodia Daily 29th Mar 2016
The E.U. is the world’s leading investor in Asean countries, yet less than 1 percent of its investments in the region are made in Cambodia—a statistic reflective of the country’s human resource deficiencies and opaque business environment, E.U. officials said Monday. Meeting at the first Cambodia-E.U. business dialogue organized by the European Chamber of Commerce in Cambodia (EuroCham) in Phnom Penh Monday, representatives of the bloc urged Cambodia to push ahead with reforms to draw more foreign direct investment (FDI) from European businesses.
Govt: No Plan to Ban Used Car Imports Khmer Times 29th Mar 2016
The government said yesterday it had no plans to ban the import of second-hand cars, despite concerns Cambodia lags behind other ASEAN countries on the issue and over safety and consumer protection. Buyers here face problems with safety, support, poor engine performance and tampering with mileage readings, the European Chamber of Commerce says in a new report. Critics also say it also harms the economy and government revenue. “We have no mechanism to ban the import of used cars and spare parts, as long as it does not impact on the economy,” Uy Rasy, a deputy director of the Phnom Penh General Department of Customs and Excise, told Khmer Times .
Strengthening Cambodia-Australia Ties Khmer Times 16th Mar 2016
National Assembly President Heng Samrin is now in the Australian capital city of Canberra for his official visit from March 13-17. He is scheduled to hold discussions with leaders of both chambers of the Federal Parliament of Australia – the Senate and House of Representatives. Koy Kuong, Cambodia’s ambassador to Australia, praised the visit as “a symbol of good bilateral relations between the two countries.” Cambodia and Australia established diplomatic relations on January 15, 1952. Australia played a crucial role in the Cambodian Peace Process in the late 1980s and early 1990s, particularly its leading role in the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (1992-1993).
ASEAN FTA With Hong Kong, China on Track Khmer Times 13th Mar 2016
Trade between Cambodia and Hong Kong is rising fast, expanding from about $1 billion in 2014 to $1.3 billion last year year, Veng Sothy, an Undersecretary of State at the Commerce Ministry, told a meeting in Siem Reap Friday. Mr. Sothy was speaking at the 6th meeting of the ASEAN-Hong Kong, China Free Trade Agreement Trade Negotiation Committee in the Kingdom’s tourist capital, where he noted that the rise in trade was region wide. Both trade and investment between ASEAN and Hong Kong and China have been increasing, and the free trade agreement between ASEAN and Hong Kong is not only expanding economic links between ASEAN and Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, but also between ASEAN and mainland China.
Cambodia’s Duty Free Export Status for EU in Jeopardy Bike EU 10th Mar 2016
The country’s bicycle export to the EU was up by a huge 22% in 2015 and counted some 1.5 million units. The for years continued growth in export from the Kingdom of Cambodia has all to do with the fact that the country enjoys the GSP duty free export status that safes exporters the EU’s 14% import duty. That status is now (again) in jeopardy. It has all to do with the changes in the local content regulations that came into force at the start of 2014. Under the regulations of the Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP) ‘rules of origin’, Cambodian bicycle manufacturers must ensure no less than 30% of a bicycle’s ex-factory price is comprised by materials originating locally in order to qualify for duty-free exemption. This must also be able to be proven by the manufacturer who is required to procure specific export documentation (Certificate of Origin Form A) on behalf of the importer so the latter can avail itself of the duty-free status.
Defense & Security
Japan’s Vital Role in Cambodia’s Strategic Reconfiguration Khmer Times 15th Mar 2016
Since early this year, commentators and the public alike have spent a great deal of time and effort to analyze Cambodia-US relations against the backdrop of the recent US-ASEAN Summit. Less focus has been made on one of the most important bilateral relationships of Cambodia – ties with Japan. Cambodia and Japan share a long history of diplomatic ties dating back to the Angkor era. The two countries have maintained close dialogue and cooperation at various levels to that point that leaders of both countries describe this as a “heart-to-heart relationship.”
Cabinet Reshuffle Approved by Assembly Khmer Times 4th Apr 2016
The National Assembly voted to support Prime Minister Hun Sen’s cabinet reshuffle of 26 officials without any changes at the National Assembly yesterday. All but two opposition lawmakers voted against the reshuffle. Before voting started, Prime Minister Hun Sen made a speech and said that 2016 is the best time for the government to check and evaluate itself.
Clash as Union Law Approved Khmer Times 4th Apr 2016
At least one unionist was injured during a clash with 20 Daun Penh district security guards after a group of unionists gathered outside the National Assembly yesterday to protest against the newly drafted Trade Union Law, which was approved despite the protest. At 10 am, while the National Assembly was holding a meeting to discuss and approve the Trade Union Law yesterday, the 50 protesting unionists were set upon by authorities, who allegedly assaulted and injured unionist Soth Chit, an official with the Cambodia’s Workers Movement Union Association.
For Commerce Minister, Feud Preceded Move Cambodia Daily 4th Apr 2016
When the National Assembly meets today to approve the prime minister’s second cabinet reshuffle since the last election, it will be a case of back to the future for outgoing Commerce Minister Sun Chanthol. Only 2 1/2 years after he romped back into cabinet as the paragon of the CPP’s reform agenda following near electoral defeat, the Ivy League-educated businessman is headed back to his old job as transport minister.
U.S., Cambodian Forces Close Angkor Sentinel 2016 US Department of Defense 25th Mar 2016
KAMPONG SPEU PROVINCE, Cambodia, March 28, 2016 — As Angkor Sentinel 2016 drew to a close March 25, U.S. and Cambodian forces wrapped up two weeks of bilateral training and relationship-building with a ceremony and a Royal Cambodian Army capability demonstration at the Training School for Multinational Peacekeeping Forces here. This year marked the seventh iteration of the annual bilateral military exercise hosted by the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces and sponsored by U.S. Army Pacific. The exercise is designed to collectively strengthen the two countries’ humanitarian assistance and disaster relief capabilities and improve military-to-military cooperation.
U.S., Cambodian Forces Partner for Exercise Angkor Sentinel 2016 U.S. Department of Defense 24th Mar 2016
KAMPONG SPEU PROVINCE, Cambodia, March 16, 2016 — U.S. and Cambodian forces officially opened Angkor Sentinel 2016, an annual bilateral military exercise hosted by the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces and sponsored by the U.S. Army Pacific during a March 14 ceremony at the Training School for Multinational Peacekeeping Forces here. This year marks the seventh iteration of the exercise, which officials said is designed to collectively strengthen the two countries’ humanitarian assistance and disaster relief capabilities and improve military-to-military cooperation.
Cambodia Wants China Warships: Navy Commander The Diplomat 24th Mar 2016
Cambodia is eyeing the purchase of two Chinese warships, the country’s naval commander said Wednesday according to local media outlets following the first-ever joint exercise between the two countries. As I reported a few days ago for The Diplomat, China and Cambodia held their first ever joint naval drill this week, cementing the relationship between Beijing and one of its closest Southeast Asian partners even as regional concerns continue to mount about its assertiveness in the South China Sea (See: “China, Cambodia Hold First Naval Exercise Amid South China Sea Fears”).
Thai-Cambodia Border Meeting Focuses on Security Khmer Times 24th Mar 2016
A delegation of Cambodian officials will head to Thailand for three days this week for the 11th Cambodia-Thailand General Border Committee (GBC) meeting, which will focus on strengthening security and border development between both countries. According to an announcement from the Defense Ministry on Saturday, Defense Minister Tea Banh will lead the Cambodian delegation and will meet with Thai Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Prawit Wongsuwon.
US Army Plans Stockpiles in Vietnam, Cambodia: Hello China Breaking Defense 15th Mar 2016
HUNTSVILLE, AL: The Army plans to stockpile equipment in Vietnam, Cambodia, and other Pacific countries yet unnamed that will allow US forces to deploy there more rapidly, because key supplies and gear will already be in place. The new caches will be well inside what China considers its sphere of influence. Army Materiel Command chief Gen. Dennis Via emphasized they will contain equipment for Humanitarian and Disaster Relief operations (HADR), not heavy armored vehicles that fill the rapidly growing European Activity Set. Still, the presence of an American Army cache in Vietnam would be dramatic. Americans best remember our defeat there 42 years ago, but Vietnam has fought a land war and multiple naval clashes with China. Beijing will not be pleased.
Defense Minister met Qatar's ambassador to Thailand to boost bilateral ties 0 Thai Vista News 15th Mar 2016
BANGKOK, 15 March 2016 (NNT) – Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwan welcomed Qatar’s Ambassador to Thailand His Excellency Jabor Ali A.H. Al-Dosari at the Office of Permanent Secretary for Defense, before discussing bilateral ties. Both parties have agreed to raise the level of their cooperation in trade, investment, tourism, security and labor. Mr. Al-Dosari also invited Gen Prawit to pay an official visit to the State of Qatar. Thailand and Qatar have enjoyed diplomatic relations for over 36 years.
Cambodia and US forces conduct joint military exercises News Ghana 15th Mar 2016
This year marks the 7th iteration of the exercise designed to strengthen the two countries’humanitarian assistance and disaster relief capabilities and improve military-to-military cooperation, the statement said. The exercise will include training and exchanges covering humanitarian assistance, disaster response, first aid, engineering, explosive ordnance disposal, countering improvised explosive devices, transporting people and supplies and developing leaders, said Julie Chung, Chargé d’affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Cambodia.
Cambodian, U.S. forces hold joint military exercise Shanghai Daily 14th Mar 2016
PHNOM PENH, March 14 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian and U.S. military personnel on Monday kicked off a joint military exercise dubbed "Angkor Sentinel 2016," aimed to strengthen bilateral military ties and cooperation. The two-week exercise is being held at the Training Centre for Multinational Peacekeeping Forces in Phnom Sroch district of Kampong Speu province, about 70 km west of Phnom Penh, according to a statement from the U.S. Embassy here.
Economics
Vehicle sales in the slow lane despite impending tax hike Phnom Penh Post 4th Apr 2016
Automobile dealers who expected a surge in sales ahead of a scheduled April 1 tax hike on new and used car imports have said that vehicle sales have been surprisingly flat this month. Pily Wong, CEO of Hung Hiep, the authorised distributor of Volkswagen in Cambodia, said yesterday there had been no noticeable increase in car sales at his showroom despite the impending tax, which will tack an additional 13 per cent onto the total tax bill of new vehicles. “It’s curious that sales haven’t gone up,” he said. “Even I asked some colleagues in the industry and they also don’t see a surge in people coming to buy cars because of the [imminent] tax increase.”
Cambodia Wants More Investment from EU Khmer Times 17th Mar 2016
Cambodia would like to see more investment from the European Union to maintain growth in the economy, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for the Office of Council of Ministers Sok An has told the newly-appointed ambassador from the EU. George Edgar, the EU’s new ambassador to Cambodia, met Mr. Sok An on Wednesday for talks. Mr. Sok An told Mr. Edgar that while the EU plays a critical role in taking agricultural exports from Cambodia, he wanted to see more investment in the Kingdom from the EU. Mr. Sok An said the EU had been a good market for Cambodia’s agricultural products like milled rice and also garments and footwear, according to Ek Tha, the deputy director of the Press and Quick Reaction Unit for the Council of Ministers.
Energy
Consensus reached on fuel pricing procedure The Phnom Penh Post 10th Mar 2016
The government has reached an agreement with two foreign oil companies operating in Cambodia on a proposed fuel-price mechanism, ending a two-month deadlock that has prevented it from implementing a price ceiling on gasoline sold at petrol stations across the Kingdom. “All [petroleum] companies, including the two multinational companies Caltex and Total, have now agreed with the proposed formula,” Commerce Ministry spokesman Ken Ratha said yesterday.
Renewables can replace fossil fuels by 2050: WWF Phnom Penh Post 6th Apr 2016
Cambodia can realistically get 90 per cent of its energy from wind, solar and biomass by 2050, the World Wildlife Federation found in a new report published yesterday. Renewable energy will soon be cheaper than fossil fuels, especially when factoring in dollars lost to environmental damage and health costs, according to the WWF. But wider investment in renewable power and energy efficiency needs better regulations and clear legal targets in Cambodia, WWF said. “WWF needs to work closely with the Royal Government of Cambodia, NGOs, CSOs and business leaders,” the organisation’s country head, Chhith Sam Ath, said in a statement.
Chinese firm signs deal with Cambodia's electricity supplier to build rural power grids News China 6th Apr 2016
China National Heavy Machinery Corporation (CHMC) reached a contract with Cambodia's state-owned Electricité du Cambodge (EdC) on Wednesday to build rural power transmission lines, which will cover 13 provinces. The contract was inked here between CHMC's chairman Lu Wenjun and EdC director-general Keo Rattanak. According to a press release, about 85 percent of the nearly 100-million-U.S. dollar project will be funded through concessional loans from the Chinese government. "When the project is completed, it will improve access to electricity in rural areas in 13 provinces," Lu Wenjun said.
Australian company brings solar to Cambodia News.com 20th Mar 2016
Before dawn breaks, Houk Kymia and Wen Suen begin to make coffee they will later sell on the streets of Phnom Penh, all this aboard their "tuk tuk," a three-wheeled light delivery van which runs on solar energy and is helping them make a decent living. A vibrant sky blue in colour, the van moves quietly through the popular Russian market in the Cambodian capital, attracting attention of passers-by little accustomed to spotting solar vehicles.
Crude Palm Oil Exports Increase Khmer Times 20th Mar 2016
Cambodia’s exports of crude palm oil have increased, though the price has declined in line with falling global prices, according to an official and a producer. The Kingdom exported 17,380 tons of crude palm oil in 2015, compared with 12,211 tons the previous year, an increase of 42.3 percent, according to a report from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. Malaysia imported the biggest amount of crude palm oil from the Kingdom. Cambodia exported 12,674 tons to Malaysia, 1,100 tons to China and 2,000 tons to Thailand, the report said.
Oil Shrugs Off Warning about Premature Rally Khmer Times 20th Mar 2016
International crude oil prices have recovered remarkably in recent weeks,” the International Energy Agency (IEA) wrote in this month’s oil market assessment, which struck a note of cautious optimism. “This should not, however, be taken as a definitive sign that the worst is necessarily over. Even so, there are signs that prices might have bottomed out,” the agency concluded. Goldman Sachs, perhaps the world’s most influential commodity bank, stuck to a more bearish view. In a note to clients, the bank’s commodity research team warned an early rally could prove “premature.”
Cheers Over Lower Prices at the Pump Khmer Times 20th Mar 2016
The drop in the price of gasoline and diesel, following new pricing regulations introduced last week, has been especially cheered by people whose incomes are low. The new pricing regulations – based on a formula from the Commerce Ministry – are legally binding on all retail outlets and set a ceiling for prices. Moto taxi driver Sim Bora from Chamkar Doung in Duong Kar district said he was happy to see the drop in prices, which he said made a big difference to him personally. “I did see that the price has fallen. Every little bit helps. It is better now than when the price was over 3,000 riel [per liter].”
Panel Advises Cambodia on Sustainable Resource Development Khmer Times 20th Mar 2016
Officials from 14 governments gathered in Siem Reap on Wednesday to discuss sustainable development of extractive industries in the regions, urging Cambodia to take stock of its oil, gas and mineral reserves and device mechanism to develop these resources sustainably. The officials were members of the Coordinating Committee for Geoscience Programs in East and Southeast Asia, an intergovernmental group that comprises experts in resource development. Cambodia is a new member of the committee, which includes representatives from China, Japan, Korea as well as most ASEAN members. Wednesday’s meeting was the committee’s 66th annual meeting. It director Adichat Surinkum said the committee focuses on countries that are aiming to develop their extractive industries in ways that are sustainable and do not damage the environment.
Financial Services
AIA eyes Myanmar, Cambodia licenses Nikkei 17th Mar 2016
Asia's largest insurer is interested in making a full-fledged entrance into Myanmar, where the first civilian president in more than five decades takes office at the end of this month. "At the right time, when they open up, we are committed to building a business in Myanmar," Mark Tucker, chief executive of the AIA Group, told the Nikkei Asian Review in Bangkok on Wednesday. Cambodia is another market AIA is waiting to "open more fully."
Push for mobile banking growth The Phnom Penh Post 16th Mar 2016
Cambodia's central bank wants to increase the usage of mobile banking services, especially in far-flung rural areas, by encouraging Cambodians to open bank accounts and avail the convenience and secure nature afforded by digital banking. Speaking yesterday during the “National Summit on the Development of Microfinance Sector in Cambodia”, Ouk Sarat, director of the payment system department at the National Bank of Cambodia (NBC), said mobile banking could bring more people into the formal banking segment. He admitted, however, that mobile banking services in the Kingdom needed much improvement.
Microfinance sector praised, but some lenders called out The Phnom Penh Post 15th Mar 2016
Prime Minister Hun Sen has lauded the microfinance sector’s efforts to increase rural access to finance, while blasting certain unnamed microfinance institutions (MFIs) and NGOs he accused of gouging consumers with high-interest loans and confiscating land assets when they failed to pay them back. Speaking at the “National Summit on the Development of Microfinance Sector in Cambodia” yesterday, the prime minister acknowledged the sector’s contribution to providing capital for farmers and small firms, but said some institutions were still taking advantage of consumers’ low financial education.
Food & Agriculture
Ratanakkiri Running Out of Water Amid Worst Drought in Years The Cambodia Daily 4th Apr 2016
With a severe drought choking the northeast, it’s only a matter of weeks before many residents of Ratanakkiri province run dry, according to villagers, local officials and organizations working in the province. Tai Seng, a businessman whose Tai Seng Phalit Teuksaat Co. sells water to thousands of residents in and around the provincial capital of Banlung, said he had recently started pumping water from Kum San Lake.
Food project targets women Phnom Penh Post 17th Mar 2016
USAID is spending $1 million on a project the aim of which will improve nutrition across four provinces by training women in farming practices that have higher yields, produce more nutrient-rich vegetables and require less resources. The Women in Agriculture Network Cambodia project – covering Siem Reap, Battambang, Pursat and Kampong Thom – will also help boost women’s participation in local and regional markets in order to raise household incomes.
Government Waives 10 Percent VAT for Rice The Cambodia Daily 5th Apr 2016
The government decided to drop a 10 percent value added-tax (VAT) for rice products during a meeting on Wednesday between representatives of the rice sector and government officials at the Council for the Development of Cambodia in Phnom Penh, officials said. Sok Puthyvuth, president of the Cambodia Rice Federation (CRF), said after the three-hour meeting that Deputy Prime Minister Keat Chhon had agreed to waive the tax, which is incurred mainly by millers.
Cambodian Rice Industry Endangered by Bad Policy Asia Sentinel 5th Apr 2016
It may be only a matter of time before Cambodia’s rice industry disintegrates, partly as a result of a weak Cambodian Rice Federation and partly because of misguided government policies. In any event, it is an industry fraught with deep problems since the 1970s, when the industry was largely destroyed from the depredations of the Khmer Rouge. As a result of food shortages, many farmers were forced to eat their rice seed and traditional varieties were lost. It wasn’t until the 1990s that Cambodia, for the first time in three decades, returned to self-sufficiency with assistance from the International Rice Research Institute in the Philippines, which reestablished indigenous rice varieties from its seed bank in Los Banos, in the Philippines.
Penn State scientists help Cambodian women increase sustainable food production Daily Collegian 22nd Mar 2016
Helping solve gender issues while trying to solve sustainability and environmental issues at the same time, Penn State scientists from the College of Agricultural Sciences started a project designed to help women in Cambodia increase sustainable food production. The project, “Women in Agriculture Network Cambodia: Gender and Ecologically Sensitive Agriculture,” was awarded by the Feed the Future Sustainable Intensification Innovation Lab, located at Kansas State University, Deanna Behring, the director of international programs in the College of Agricultural Sciences, said via email.
Empowering Women in Cambodia’s Farming Sector Voice of America 22nd Mar 2016
Cambodian women play an important role in the agricultural sector, especially as the nation’s economic conditions continue to force many men to seek work overseas, according to experts. Some 75 percent of Cambodia’s women are employed in agriculture, according to the World Bank. Ty Ratana, a program coordinator at nongovernmental organization Life With Dignity, said that when women engage more with agricultural sector, the need for migration is curbed, household debt is reduced and productivity increases.
Health & Life Sciences
Military blood program helps open transfusion center in Cambodia Hawaii Army Weekly 18th Mar 2016
The Armed Services Blood Program traveled, here, recently, to help open the Kampong Cham Provincial Blood Transfusion Center. “Partnerships like this are a vital part of the military blood program’s global engagement mission,” said Navy Capt. Roland Fahie, ASBP director. “The work done in Cambodia will help ensure the country is producing a safe, potent and quality blood supply, as well as enhance U.S. partnerships in that region. As the president rebalances the Pacific, these partnerships and exchanges contribute to the success of U.S. global initiatives.”
Cambodian community celebrates maternity ward improvements Army Mil 16th Mar 2016
U.S. and Cambodian engineers celebrated with the local community here, March 16, during a ribbon-cutting ceremony marking the completion of the Prey Sbat Health Center Facility maternity ward improvement project. The project was sponsored by Angkor Sentinel 2016, an annual bilateral exercise hosted by the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces with participants from U.S. Army Pacific and Idaho Army National Guard units. The improvements were completed by Seabees from the U.S. Navy Mobile Construction Battalion Three, U.S. Pacific Fleet, and Royal Cambodian Army Engineers.
Why a US health clinic suggests Cambodian treatments for everyday maladies PRI 15th Mar 2016
Doctors at a health clinic in Lowell, Massachusetts, had a problem — their exam rooms reminded refugee patients of torture chambers. The stethoscopes, the blood pressure cuff squeezing your arm — they looked like the torture devices used on their families, during Cambodia’s genocide. Sonith Peou was just 24 when the Khmer Rouge pounded on the door of their family home, and took his father away for execution. Now 63, he’s a program director at the Lowell Community Health Center and he understands why a visit to the doctor’s office can feel traumatic for Cambodian refugees. For some, he says, simply being left alone in a room and waiting for a doctor could cause anxiety.
Health care reform urgently needed, study finds The Phnom Penh Post 14th Mar 2016
Cambodia’s health regulation system is in need of deep reform, not just minor adjustments, as it is failing to meet its national needs and ASEAN obligations, according to a new report. The study – published on March 10 in Human Resources for Health, a journal published in collaboration with the WHO – found that “many key functions for health professional regulation are not being performed in Cambodia”. The report is available at http://human-resources-health.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12960-...
Health budget boost planned to help poor The Phnom Penh Post 10th Mar 2016
With the costs of health care on the rise, Health Minister Mam Bun Heng yesterday revealed plans to increase public health funding in order to provide greater medical coverage for those unable to afford it. The ministry will increase spending while also improving the disbursement of funds and using money more efficiently in order to expand programs such as the Health Equity Fund, according to a summary released during the ministry’s annual two-day conference, which began yesterday.
ICT
Cambodia jails student over Facebook call for regime change The Star 16th Mar 2016
A Cambodian court on March 15 jailed a university student for 18 months for inciting crimes in an anti-government Facebook post that called for regime change. Facebook is popular in Cambodia, where disenfranchised citizens have increasingly turned to the Internet to highlight alleged state abuses and demand political reforms. Kong Raya, 24, was the first Cambodian convicted of using social media to attack the government of long-serving Prime Minister Hun Sen, who has warned that online critics could be traced and arrested in a matter of hours.
CPP's engagement party: the social media strategy of Cambodia's 'e-premier' Phnom Penh Post 10th Mar 2016
For Prime Minister Hun Sen, Facebook is a domain to be conquered. Despite the legitimacy of his more than 3 million followers being called into question this week, the premier remains unrivalled in his level of engagement – i.e. the comments, likes and shares on his individual posts – with that following. On Facebook, Hun Sen governs. He announces policy that quickly becomes fact on the ground and makes decisions based on feedback from the site. He also posts selfies. But these operations are not ad hoc. Hun Sen’s recent success online is thanks to a calculated investment in a slick social media strategy, with roots in workshops held in Phnom Penh eight months ago.
SingMeng Taps Into Cambodia’s Need For Speed Phnom Penh Post 5th Apr 2016
It took more than two years to lay the ground work, but a new strategy and management team has set the scene for this business-to-customer multimedia service provider to become a household name in Cambodia’s competitive telecommunications sector. Formerly known as SuperNet, the network and digital TV firm has recently rebranded as SingMeng Telemedia to signify the company’s expansion and new services offerings in Cambodia. Ahead of the Singapore-headquartered company’s official launch and grand ceremony next week to publicly announce its new business model, SingMeng has ambitions to become a premium broadband network and multimedia service provider in Cambodia.
eCommerce growth remains sluggish in Southeast Asia The Freeman 21st Mar 2016
Southeast Asian companies, including those operating in the Philippines are warned to catch up with the eCommerce platform growth, as recent study showed that online retail is lagging behind over other continents. Management consulting firm Bain & Company's in conjunction with Google, warned that e-commerce in the region is proving to be a tough nut to crack due to constraints in Southeast Asia’s logistics and payments infrastructure. Online retail represents a US$6B market in Southeast Asia, but with online sales below is only below four percent of total retail. "The region still lags well behind developed markets and even other developing markets," revealed the study.
Infrastructure
Cambodia starts work on South-east Asia’s tallest towers GCR 7th Apr 2016
Ground has been broken on the Thai Boon Roong Twin Tower World Trade Centre, a project to build two 500m-high towers in the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh. The scheme, whose value is reported by sources in the Cambodian media as either $2bn or $3bn, is to be built opposite NagaWorld, the country’s only casino. It will contain a mix of residential and commercial units. The 133-storey twin towers will include a hotel, serviced apartments and offices, a shopping mall, an exhibition hall, a cinema, restaurants and basement car park. The gross building area is around 1.6 million square metres. As well as the towers it will have four residential buildings of 59 to 65 storeys, an 11-storey podium structure with three levels of basement, and another three levels of basement under the existing Hun Sen Plaza in front of the Twin Towers.
Insurance
Sovannaphum Opens its First Offic Khmer Times 3rd Apr 2016
Sovannaphum Life Assurance Plc, a joint venture between Canadia Investment Holding and Muang Thai Life Assurance, last week officially opened its office in the Kingdom to provide services to Cambodians. Pung Kheave Se, the Chairman of Canadia Investment Holding and a shareholder in Sovannaphum, said the company plans to offer loan protection products to protect consumers’ families while helping to eliminate a financial institution risk over loans. “One of Sovannaphum’s strengths is looking at the situation from two sides. For instance, Cambodia’s outstanding credit balances expect to swell to $30 billion by 2020 as predicted by the Credit Bureau of Cambodia (CBC). This represents a risk as well as an opportunity for Sovannaphum.” Umapan Charoenying, the CEO of Sovannaphum Life Assurance, said Sovannaphum’s business plan will provide life insurance products in response to customers needs, such as family and education insurance, life and accident insurance and loan insurance. According to a report from the Ministry of Economy and Finance, new regulations are to be placed in the Cambodian premium insurance sector, which has grown from $60 million in 2014 to $85 million last year. In 2015 about 500,000 people had life insurance worth about $22 million, which had increased three-fold from the year before.
Legislation
Prime Minister Pledges Arrests Over False Debt Promises The Cambodia Daily 15th Mar 2016
Prime Minister Hun Sen on Monday threatened to have any politician arrested on the spot for promising to erase people’s debt if elected, revisiting criticism that he leveled against the opposition CNRP prior to the 2013 national election. In a speech at an annual microfinance conference at his office building in Phnom Penh, the premier said unnamed politicians had claimed that the government could make people’s loans disappear because their debt belonged to the state.
Market Regulation
IFC to help Cambodia's stock market regulator strengthen governance, regulation Shanghai Daily 7th Apr 2016
The International Finance Corporation (IFC) signed a memorandum of understanding with the Securities and Exchange Commission of Cambodia (SECC) on Thursday to develop a roadmap for strengthening the country's corporate governance policies and practices. "The partnership aims to improve transparency and bolster investor confidence in Cambodia's capital market, which will help entice more foreign investment to the country," IFC said a statement. Under the memorandum, IFC and SECC will assess Cambodia's corporate governance standards and practices then devise an action plan to improve them, the statement said.
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