Mekong River Countries turn region to attract tourism destination
Mekong River Countries including Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand on June 23 met in an international seminar on overland transport to turn potential region of cultural, natural, historic resources to target attraction of tourism destination in a move of taking opportunities from recovery of global financial crisis.
“The overland transport is one of key elements to ensure safety for travelers and facilitate tourism industry procedures in this region and boost region as tourism destination,” H.E Thong Khon said in his opening remark of international seminar in Phnom Penh on June 23.
“We want this seminar to be a key forum to seek, distribute good experience in building regional cooperation for tourism sector in boosting tourism industry for mutual benefits and imporving tourism procedures for travelers, and overland transport at international border gates to be further better in region and particularly we want to seek earning after the recovering from the global financial crisis.
“This crisis provided us much lesson, experience and opportunities for strengthening cooperation of tourism industry. All these will help us to foster further tourism industry and tourism development in region, particularly in GMS framework and ASEAN as whole,” Tourism Minister noted. Not only issue of overland transport but also air, ship transport. “We still have issues of insurance warranty ad custom issues for simple travelling bus,” he added.
The Cambodian government already set up 7 points of tourism development including, facilitation of tourism travelers and reducing barriers unnecessarily, decreasing of tourism package, fostering domestic tourism movement, strengthening quality of tourism products, and producing new products for tourists, and protecting security and safety for tourists,” Tourism Minister stresses. He added that last year we received 2million of foreign tourist increasing 1.7 per cent if comparing with 2008, for four month of this year, we got 884,657 tourists increasing about 10.55 per cent if comparing with same period of 2009. We expected that we will get 2.4 million foreign tourists with increasing 10 per cent in 2010. We have visa for arrival for foreigners, border pass for travelers and car book for facilitating with neighboring countries. We have bus to Laos, Vietnam and Thailand for tourists and good infrastructures for transport tourists. Road link from Vietnam to southern part of Cambodia to Thailand will complete soon and it will turn a road to expand tourism in southern economic corridor of GSM countries,” he emphasized. “Overland travelers to Cambodia accounted for about 40 per cent, a sharp increase over the 24 per cent registered in 2009,” Minister added.
Bun Tee, president of the association of Tourist Guide said that when we already completed the building of Neak Leoeung Bridge over Mekong River in Prey Veng province, it will turn a key road for tourist transport from Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand in this region,” he observed.
Mr Khom Douangchantha, director of international relations division of Lao National Tourism Administration said in the seminar that the opportunities to develop overland tourism in Laos. “We focus on setting up the policy to speed up the tourism destination after the global financial crisis recovered. In Laos, tourism has an important role to play in the socio-economic development. It helps people to better understand one another. Lao PDR has placed tourism among the priority sectors in its socio-economic development. “Visa free agreement with 8 ASEAN countries, Exemption of visa for Japanese, Russia, Korea, Mongolia, Switzerland, and Luxembourg tourist,” Mr Khom said, visa on arrival at 15 international border checkpoints and allowing staying in Laos 30 days.
“Laos has a shared border with Cambodia. Laos has been trying to promote the overland linking Laos PDR with Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, and China,” he added. “We are trying to implement public transport operation including Vientiane to Siem Reap, Vientiane to Phnom Penh, Pakse to Phnom Penh, and Pakse to Siem Reap, Pakse to Stung Treng,” he noted. He added: We have marketing campaign such as Cambodia-Laos, Vietnam (CLV) one destination. We have policy of improving the facilities at the border through simplifying procedures for immigrant, custom services, providing new equipments and information counter. We developed road network from North to South, from East to West and two bridges across Mekong River (Vientiane capital and savannaket province).
“In 2009, Laos received 2,008,363 tourists and earned 267,700,224 US dollars. At the same time, Laos has top ten tourist market and Thailand stands in first row and Vietnam for second, and China for third row. 90 per cent of tourism was travelled by land and only 10 per cent by air.
“We are trying the development of road network link with neighboring countries and road access to tourist attractions, and develop tourism product. We encourage the government and concerned authorities to further develop facilitation for cross border such as entry formality, tourist information safety and joint tourism packages for our region,” he added. ###
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Long Heng: Japan gives 131 million US dollars to build neak leoung bridge over Mekong River
Mekong River Countries turn region to attract tourism destination Mekong River Countries including Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand on June 23 met in an international seminar on overland transport to turn potential region of cultural, natural, historic resources to target attraction of tourism destination in a move of taking opportunities from recovery of global financial crisis. “The overland transport is one of key elements to ensure safety for travelers and facilitate tourism industry procedures in this region and boost region as tourism destination,” H.E Thong Khon said in his opening remark of international seminar in Phnom Penh on June 23. “We want this seminar to be a key forum to seek, distribute good experience in building regional cooperation for tourism sector in boosting tourism industry for mutual benefits and imporving tourism procedures for travelers, and overland transport at international border gates to be further better in region and particularly we want to seek earning after the recovering from the global financial crisis. “This crisis provided us much lesson, experience and opportunities for strengthening cooperation of tourism industry. All these will help us to foster further tourism industry and tourism development in region, particularly in GMS framework and ASEAN as whole,” Tourism Minister noted. Not only issue of overland transport but also air, ship transport. “We still have issues of insurance warranty ad custom issues for simple travelling bus,” he added. The Cambodian government already set up 7 points of tourism development including, facilitation of tourism travelers and reducing barriers unnecessarily, decreasing of tourism package, fostering domestic tourism movement, strengthening quality of tourism products, and producing new products for tourists, and protecting security and safety for tourists,” Tourism Minister stresses. He added that last year we received 2million of foreign tourist increasing 1.7 per cent if comparing with 2008, for four month of this year, we got 884,657 tourists increasing about 10.55 per cent if comparing with same period of 2009. We expected that we will get 2.4 million foreign tourists with increasing 10 per cent in 2010. We have visa for arrival for foreigners, border pass for travelers and car book for facilitating with neighboring countries. We have bus to Laos, Vietnam and Thailand for tourists and good infrastructures for transport tourists. Road link from Vietnam to southern part of Cambodia to Thailand will complete soon and it will turn a road to expand tourism in southern economic corridor of GSM countries,” he emphasized. “Overland travelers to Cambodia accounted for about 40 per cent, a sharp increase over the 24 per cent registered in 2009,” Minister added. Bun Tee, president of the association of Tourist Guide said that when we already completed the building of Neak Leoeung Bridge over Mekong River in Prey Veng province, it will turn a key road for tourist transport from Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand in this region,” he observed. Mr Khom Douangchantha, director of international relations division of Lao National Tourism Administration said in the seminar that the opportunities to develop overland tourism in Laos. “We focus on setting up the policy to speed up the tourism destination after the global financial crisis recovered. In Laos, tourism has an important role to play in the socio-economic development. It helps people to better understand one another. Lao PDR has placed tourism among the priority sectors in its socio-economic development. “Visa free agreement with 8 ASEAN countries, Exemption of visa for Japanese, Russia, Korea, Mongolia, Switzerland, and Luxembourg tourist,” Mr Khom said, visa on arrival at 15 international border checkpoints and allowing staying in Laos 30 days. “Laos has a shared border with Cambodia. Laos has been trying to promote the overland linking Laos PDR with Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, and China,” he added. “We are trying to implement public transport operation including Vientiane to Siem Reap, Vientiane to Phnom Penh, Pakse to Phnom Penh, and Pakse to Siem Reap, Pakse to Stung Treng,” he noted. He added: We have marketing campaign such as Cambodia-Laos, Vietnam (CLV) one destination. We have policy of improving the facilities at the border through simplifying procedures for immigrant, custom services, providing new equipments and information counter. We developed road network from North to South, from East to West and two bridges across Mekong River (Vientiane capital and savannaket province). “In 2009, Laos received 2,008,363 tourists and earned 267,700,224 US dollars. At the same time, Laos has top ten tourist market and Thailand stands in first row and Vietnam for second, and China for third row. 90 per cent of tourism was travelled by land and only 10 per cent by air. “We are trying the development of road network link with neighboring countries and road access to tourist attractions, and develop tourism product. We encourage the government and concerned authorities to further develop facilitation for cross border such as entry formality, tourist information safety and joint tourism packages for our region,” he added. ### Japan gives 131 million US grant aid to construct Neak Leoung Bridge
Japan on June 23 provided 131 million US dollars grant aid to Cambodia to construct Neak Loeung Bridge to facilitate the goods, trade transport and travelers in the country and could provide the transport or traveling easily to Vietnam along National road one.
The agreement was inked on June between Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Hor Nam Hong and H.E Masafumi Kuroki, ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary of Japan to the Kingdom of Cambodia at ministry of foreign affairs and international cooperation of Cambodia.
“The new bridge will help contribute to poverty reduction and facilitate transport for travelers, providing the goods transport easily in country,” Deputy Prime Minister Hor Nam Hong said after the signing ceremony of the exchange of notes. Cambodian people are very happy to get a new bridge in contribution of development of the country, and it linked national road one to Bavet border gate with Vietnam . It could be in trade exchange from Thailand , Cambodia and Vietnam and Mekong river region. This bridge is a part road that links from Singapore , to Malaysia , Thailand , and Cambodia and to Vietnam , Laos to facilitate goods transport,” he added. “The construction project will start its process soon,” he noted. Currently, Cambodia used ferry to transport travelers and goods over the lower Mekong River in the country and stop at 12 o’clock. .
.
The signing ceremony was conducted in the presence of Samdech Techo Hun Sen, Prime Minister of the kingdom of Cambodia . It has the exchange of two notes of the grant assistance projects about construction of Neak Loeung and scholarship program.
H.E Masafumi Kuroki, ambassador told reporters that the two projects are in different sectors, yet they have a common purpose to bridge Cambodia ’s present with its future.
The first project is construction of Neak Loeung Bridge , amounting around 131 million US dollars. “It is a long expected project and I am very glad that the construction finally starts,” Ambassador said, adding that the bridge is expected to be completed by February 2015 and it will enhance the transfer of people and goods like Cambodian- Japanese Friendship Bridge in Phnom Penh and Kizuna Bridge in Kompong Cham Province .
“As an indispensable component of southern economic corridor and Asian Highway , Neak Loeung Bridge will also contribute to the economic development of the entire Mekong region, which was unanimously reconfirmed at the last Mekong-Japan Summit,” ambassador noted.
Neak Loeung Bridge will be third bridge that built with Japanese donation in the country.
The ambassador continued that the second project that inked at the ceremony is a grant aid for the scholarship program (JDS) with around 3.4 million US dollars. “ Japan provides this scholarship grant since year 2000 and 199 Cambodian fellows have so far successfully completed this program,” he said, adding that with the new grant, 24 selected fellows will study in Japan for four years.
Since 2000, Japan provided scholarship for Cambodian students with cost of 27 million US dollar for contribution of human resources development of Cambodia .
“I hope the fellows of the past and the future will contribute to the development of Cambodia and become a bridge between our two countries,” the ambassador stresses. “I am confident that these two projects with the total amount of around 135 million US dollars will help to strengthen the physical and human capacity of Cambodia and promote the friendship relation between our two countries,” the ambassador maintains.
“ Japan has been continuing to support Cambodia in development and poverty reduction,” he said, adding that this assistance is a part of Mekong –Japan Summit last year and Japan has committed helping Cambodia and extent ODA under Mekong Cooperation framework and particularly providing assistances for Cambodia , Laos and Vietnam .
From 1992 to Now, we provided over 1.8 billion US dollars grant aid to Cambodia ,” ambassador noted. Japan is the biggest donor for Cambodia and last month, Japan provided 130 million US dollars for development of Cambodia in 2010 under the third Cambodia development cooperation forum. ###
Japan gives 131 million US grant aid to construct Neak Leoung Bridge
Japan on June 23 provided 131 million US dollars grant aid to Cambodia to construct Neak Loeung Bridge to facilitate the goods, trade transport and travelers in the country and could provide the transport or traveling easily to Vietnam along National road one.
The agreement was inked on June between Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Hor Nam Hong and H.E Masafumi Kuroki, ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary of Japan to the Kingdom of Cambodia at ministry of foreign affairs and international cooperation of Cambodia.
“The new bridge will help contribute to poverty reduction and facilitate transport for travelers, providing the goods transport easily in country,” Deputy Prime Minister Hor Nam Hong said after the signing ceremony of the exchange of notes. Cambodian people are very happy to get a new bridge in contribution of development of the country, and it linked national road one to Bavet border gate with Vietnam . It could be in trade exchange from Thailand , Cambodia and Vietnam and Mekong river region. This bridge is a part road that links from Singapore , to Malaysia , Thailand , and Cambodia and to Vietnam , Laos to facilitate goods transport,” he added. “The construction project will start its process soon,” he noted. Currently, Cambodia used ferry to transport travelers and goods over the lower Mekong River in the country and stop at 12 o’clock. .
.
The signing ceremony was conducted in the presence of Samdech Techo Hun Sen, Prime Minister of the kingdom of Cambodia . It has the exchange of two notes of the grant assistance projects about construction of Neak Loeung and scholarship program.
H.E Masafumi Kuroki, ambassador told reporters that the two projects are in different sectors, yet they have a common purpose to bridge Cambodia ’s present with its future.
The first project is construction of Neak Loeung Bridge , amounting around 131 million US dollars. “It is a long expected project and I am very glad that the construction finally starts,” Ambassador said, adding that the bridge is expected to be completed by February 2015 and it will enhance the transfer of people and goods like Cambodian- Japanese Friendship Bridge in Phnom Penh and Kizuna Bridge in Kompong Cham Province .
“As an indispensable component of southern economic corridor and Asian Highway , Neak Loeung Bridge will also contribute to the economic development of the entire Mekong region, which was unanimously reconfirmed at the last Mekong-Japan Summit,” ambassador noted.
Neak Loeung Bridge will be third bridge that built with Japanese donation in the country.
The ambassador continued that the second project that inked at the ceremony is a grant aid for the scholarship program (JDS) with around 3.4 million US dollars. “ Japan provides this scholarship grant since year 2000 and 199 Cambodian fellows have so far successfully completed this program,” he said, adding that with the new grant, 24 selected fellows will study in Japan for four years.
Since 2000, Japan provided scholarship for Cambodian students with cost of 27 million US dollar for contribution of human resources development of Cambodia .
“I hope the fellows of the past and the future will contribute to the development of Cambodia and become a bridge between our two countries,” the ambassador stresses. “I am confident that these two projects with the total amount of around 135 million US dollars will help to strengthen the physical and human capacity of Cambodia and promote the friendship relation between our two countries,” the ambassador maintains.
“ Japan has been continuing to support Cambodia in development and poverty reduction,” he said, adding that this assistance is a part of Mekong –Japan Summit last year and Japan has committed helping Cambodia and extent ODA under Mekong Cooperation framework and particularly providing assistances for Cambodia , Laos and Vietnam .
From 1992 to Now, we provided over 1.8 billion US dollars grant aid to Cambodia ,” ambassador noted. Japan is the biggest donor for Cambodia and last month, Japan provided 130 million US dollars for development of Cambodia in 2010 under the third Cambodia development cooperation forum. ###
Japan gives 131 million US grant aid to construct Neak Leoung Bridge
Japan on June 23 provided 131 million US dollars grant aid to Cambodia to construct Neak Loeung Bridge to facilitate the goods, trade transport and travelers in the country and could provide the transport or traveling easily to Vietnam along National road one.
The agreement was inked on June between Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Hor Nam Hong and H.E Masafumi Kuroki, ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary of Japan to the Kingdom of Cambodia at ministry of foreign affairs and international cooperation of Cambodia.
“The new bridge will help contribute to poverty reduction and facilitate transport for travelers, providing the goods transport easily in country,” Deputy Prime Minister Hor Nam Hong said after the signing ceremony of the exchange of notes. Cambodian people are very happy to get a new bridge in contribution of development of the country, and it linked national road one to Bavet border gate with Vietnam . It could be in trade exchange from Thailand , Cambodia and Vietnam and Mekong river region. This bridge is a part road that links from Singapore , to Malaysia , Thailand , and Cambodia and to Vietnam , Laos to facilitate goods transport,” he added. “The construction project will start its process soon,” he noted. Currently, Cambodia used ferry to transport travelers and goods over the lower Mekong River in the country and stop at 12 o’clock. .
.
The signing ceremony was conducted in the presence of Samdech Techo Hun Sen, Prime Minister of the kingdom of Cambodia . It has the exchange of two notes of the grant assistance projects about construction of Neak Loeung and scholarship program.
H.E Masafumi Kuroki, ambassador told reporters that the two projects are in different sectors, yet they have a common purpose to bridge Cambodia ’s present with its future.
The first project is construction of Neak Loeung Bridge , amounting around 131 million US dollars. “It is a long expected project and I am very glad that the construction finally starts,” Ambassador said, adding that the bridge is expected to be completed by February 2015 and it will enhance the transfer of people and goods like Cambodian- Japanese Friendship Bridge in Phnom Penh and Kizuna Bridge in Kompong Cham Province .
“As an indispensable component of southern economic corridor and Asian Highway , Neak Loeung Bridge will also contribute to the economic development of the entire Mekong region, which was unanimously reconfirmed at the last Mekong-Japan Summit,” ambassador noted.
Neak Loeung Bridge will be third bridge that built with Japanese donation in the country.
The ambassador continued that the second project that inked at the ceremony is a grant aid for the scholarship program (JDS) with around 3.4 million US dollars. “ Japan provides this scholarship grant since year 2000 and 199 Cambodian fellows have so far successfully completed this program,” he said, adding that with the new grant, 24 selected fellows will study in Japan for four years.
Since 2000, Japan provided scholarship for Cambodian students with cost of 27 million US dollar for contribution of human resources development of Cambodia .
“I hope the fellows of the past and the future will contribute to the development of Cambodia and become a bridge between our two countries,” the ambassador stresses. “I am confident that these two projects with the total amount of around 135 million US dollars will help to strengthen the physical and human capacity of Cambodia and promote the friendship relation between our two countries,” the ambassador maintains.
“ Japan has been continuing to support Cambodia in development and poverty reduction,” he said, adding that this assistance is a part of Mekong –Japan Summit last year and Japan has committed helping Cambodia and extent ODA under Mekong Cooperation framework and particularly providing assistances for Cambodia , Laos and Vietnam .
From 1992 to Now, we provided over 1.8 billion US dollars grant aid to Cambodia ,” ambassador noted. Japan is the biggest donor for Cambodia and last month, Japan provided 130 million US dollars for development of Cambodia in 2010 under the third Cambodia development cooperation forum. ###
Japan on June 23 provided 131 million US dollars grant aid to Cambodia to construct Neak Loeung Bridge to facilitate the goods, trade transport and travelers in the country and could provide the transport or traveling easily to Vietnam along National road one.
The agreement was inked on June between Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Hor Nam Hong and H.E Masafumi Kuroki, ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary of Japan to the Kingdom of Cambodia at ministry of foreign affairs and international cooperation of Cambodia.
“The new bridge will help contribute to poverty reduction and facilitate transport for travelers, providing the goods transport easily in country,” Deputy Prime Minister Hor Nam Hong said after the signing ceremony of the exchange of notes. Cambodian people are very happy to get a new bridge in contribution of development of the country, and it linked national road one to Bavet border gate with Vietnam . It could be in trade exchange from Thailand , Cambodia and Vietnam and Mekong river region. This bridge is a part road that links from Singapore , to Malaysia , Thailand , and Cambodia and to Vietnam , Laos to facilitate goods transport,” he added. “The construction project will start its process soon,” he noted. Currently, Cambodia used ferry to transport travelers and goods over the lower Mekong River in the country and stop at 12 o’clock. .
.
The signing ceremony was conducted in the presence of Samdech Techo Hun Sen, Prime Minister of the kingdom of Cambodia . It has the exchange of two notes of the grant assistance projects about construction of Neak Loeung and scholarship program.
H.E Masafumi Kuroki, ambassador told reporters that the two projects are in different sectors, yet they have a common purpose to bridge Cambodia ’s present with its future.
The first project is construction of Neak Loeung Bridge , amounting around 131 million US dollars. “It is a long expected project and I am very glad that the construction finally starts,” Ambassador said, adding that the bridge is expected to be completed by February 2015 and it will enhance the transfer of people and goods like Cambodian- Japanese Friendship Bridge in Phnom Penh and Kizuna Bridge in Kompong Cham Province .
“As an indispensable component of southern economic corridor and Asian Highway , Neak Loeung Bridge will also contribute to the economic development of the entire Mekong region, which was unanimously reconfirmed at the last Mekong-Japan Summit,” ambassador noted.
Neak Loeung Bridge will be third bridge that built with Japanese donation in the country.
The ambassador continued that the second project that inked at the ceremony is a grant aid for the scholarship program (JDS) with around 3.4 million US dollars. “ Japan provides this scholarship grant since year 2000 and 199 Cambodian fellows have so far successfully completed this program,” he said, adding that with the new grant, 24 selected fellows will study in Japan for four years.
Since 2000, Japan provided scholarship for Cambodian students with cost of 27 million US dollar for contribution of human resources development of Cambodia .
“I hope the fellows of the past and the future will contribute to the development of Cambodia and become a bridge between our two countries,” the ambassador stresses. “I am confident that these two projects with the total amount of around 135 million US dollars will help to strengthen the physical and human capacity of Cambodia and promote the friendship relation between our two countries,” the ambassador maintains.
“ Japan has been continuing to support Cambodia in development and poverty reduction,” he said, adding that this assistance is a part of Mekong –Japan Summit last year and Japan has committed helping Cambodia and extent ODA under Mekong Cooperation framework and particularly providing assistances for Cambodia , Laos and Vietnam .
From 1992 to Now, we provided over 1.8 billion US dollars grant aid to Cambodia ,” ambassador noted. Japan is the biggest donor for Cambodia and last month, Japan provided 130 million US dollars for development of Cambodia in 2010 under the third Cambodia development cooperation forum. ###
Japan gives 131 million US grant aid to construct Neak Leoung Bridge
Japan on June 23 provided 131 million US dollars grant aid to Cambodia to construct Neak Loeung Bridge to facilitate the goods, trade transport and travelers in the country and could provide the transport or traveling easily to Vietnam along National road one.
The agreement was inked on June between Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Hor Nam Hong and H.E Masafumi Kuroki, ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary of Japan to the Kingdom of Cambodia at ministry of foreign affairs and international cooperation of Cambodia.
“The new bridge will help contribute to poverty reduction and facilitate transport for travelers, providing the goods transport easily in country,” Deputy Prime Minister Hor Nam Hong said after the signing ceremony of the exchange of notes. Cambodian people are very happy to get a new bridge in contribution of development of the country, and it linked national road one to Bavet border gate with Vietnam . It could be in trade exchange from Thailand , Cambodia and Vietnam and Mekong river region. This bridge is a part road that links from Singapore , to Malaysia , Thailand , and Cambodia and to Vietnam , Laos to facilitate goods transport,” he added. “The construction project will start its process soon,” he noted. Currently, Cambodia used ferry to transport travelers and goods over the lower Mekong River in the country and stop at 12 o’clock. .
.
The signing ceremony was conducted in the presence of Samdech Techo Hun Sen, Prime Minister of the kingdom of Cambodia . It has the exchange of two notes of the grant assistance projects about construction of Neak Loeung and scholarship program.
H.E Masafumi Kuroki, ambassador told reporters that the two projects are in different sectors, yet they have a common purpose to bridge Cambodia ’s present with its future.
The first project is construction of Neak Loeung Bridge , amounting around 131 million US dollars. “It is a long expected project and I am very glad that the construction finally starts,” Ambassador said, adding that the bridge is expected to be completed by February 2015 and it will enhance the transfer of people and goods like Cambodian- Japanese Friendship Bridge in Phnom Penh and Kizuna Bridge in Kompong Cham Province .
“As an indispensable component of southern economic corridor and Asian Highway , Neak Loeung Bridge will also contribute to the economic development of the entire Mekong region, which was unanimously reconfirmed at the last Mekong-Japan Summit,” ambassador noted.
Neak Loeung Bridge will be third bridge that built with Japanese donation in the country.
The ambassador continued that the second project that inked at the ceremony is a grant aid for the scholarship program (JDS) with around 3.4 million US dollars. “ Japan provides this scholarship grant since year 2000 and 199 Cambodian fellows have so far successfully completed this program,” he said, adding that with the new grant, 24 selected fellows will study in Japan for four years.
Since 2000, Japan provided scholarship for Cambodian students with cost of 27 million US dollar for contribution of human resources development of Cambodia .
“I hope the fellows of the past and the future will contribute to the development of Cambodia and become a bridge between our two countries,” the ambassador stresses. “I am confident that these two projects with the total amount of around 135 million US dollars will help to strengthen the physical and human capacity of Cambodia and promote the friendship relation between our two countries,” the ambassador maintains.
“ Japan has been continuing to support Cambodia in development and poverty reduction,” he said, adding that this assistance is a part of Mekong –Japan Summit last year and Japan has committed helping Cambodia and extent ODA under Mekong Cooperation framework and particularly providing assistances for Cambodia , Laos and Vietnam .
From 1992 to Now, we provided over 1.8 billion US dollars grant aid to Cambodia ,” ambassador noted. Japan is the biggest donor for Cambodia and last month, Japan provided 130 million US dollars for development of Cambodia in 2010 under the third Cambodia development cooperation forum. ###
Japan gives 131 million US grant aid to construct Neak Leoung Bridge
Japan on June 23 provided 131 million US dollars grant aid to Cambodia to construct Neak Loeung Bridge to facilitate the goods, trade transport and travelers in the country and could provide the transport or traveling easily to Vietnam along National road one.
The agreement was inked on June between Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Hor Nam Hong and H.E Masafumi Kuroki, ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary of Japan to the Kingdom of Cambodia at ministry of foreign affairs and international cooperation of Cambodia.
“The new bridge will help contribute to poverty reduction and facilitate transport for travelers, providing the goods transport easily in country,” Deputy Prime Minister Hor Nam Hong said after the signing ceremony of the exchange of notes. Cambodian people are very happy to get a new bridge in contribution of development of the country, and it linked national road one to Bavet border gate with Vietnam . It could be in trade exchange from Thailand , Cambodia and Vietnam and Mekong river region. This bridge is a part road that links from Singapore , to Malaysia , Thailand , and Cambodia and to Vietnam , Laos to facilitate goods transport,” he added. “The construction project will start its process soon,” he noted. Currently, Cambodia used ferry to transport travelers and goods over the lower Mekong River in the country and stop at 12 o’clock. .
.
The signing ceremony was conducted in the presence of Samdech Techo Hun Sen, Prime Minister of the kingdom of Cambodia . It has the exchange of two notes of the grant assistance projects about construction of Neak Loeung and scholarship program.
H.E Masafumi Kuroki, ambassador told reporters that the two projects are in different sectors, yet they have a common purpose to bridge Cambodia ’s present with its future.
The first project is construction of Neak Loeung Bridge , amounting around 131 million US dollars. “It is a long expected project and I am very glad that the construction finally starts,” Ambassador said, adding that the bridge is expected to be completed by February 2015 and it will enhance the transfer of people and goods like Cambodian- Japanese Friendship Bridge in Phnom Penh and Kizuna Bridge in Kompong Cham Province .
“As an indispensable component of southern economic corridor and Asian Highway , Neak Loeung Bridge will also contribute to the economic development of the entire Mekong region, which was unanimously reconfirmed at the last Mekong-Japan Summit,” ambassador noted.
Neak Loeung Bridge will be third bridge that built with Japanese donation in the country.
The ambassador continued that the second project that inked at the ceremony is a grant aid for the scholarship program (JDS) with around 3.4 million US dollars. “ Japan provides this scholarship grant since year 2000 and 199 Cambodian fellows have so far successfully completed this program,” he said, adding that with the new grant, 24 selected fellows will study in Japan for four years.
Since 2000, Japan provided scholarship for Cambodian students with cost of 27 million US dollar for contribution of human resources development of Cambodia .
“I hope the fellows of the past and the future will contribute to the development of Cambodia and become a bridge between our two countries,” the ambassador stresses. “I am confident that these two projects with the total amount of around 135 million US dollars will help to strengthen the physical and human capacity of Cambodia and promote the friendship relation between our two countries,” the ambassador maintains.
“ Japan has been continuing to support Cambodia in development and poverty reduction,” he said, adding that this assistance is a part of Mekong –Japan Summit last year and Japan has committed helping Cambodia and extent ODA under Mekong Cooperation framework and particularly providing assistances for Cambodia , Laos and Vietnam .
From 1992 to Now, we provided over 1.8 billion US dollars grant aid to Cambodia ,” ambassador noted. Japan is the biggest donor for Cambodia and last month, Japan provided 130 million US dollars for development of Cambodia in 2010 under the third Cambodia development cooperation forum. ###
Cambodian youth in Cambodiam red cross
Pin Chamnan, former rector of Royal Univerity of Phnom Penh.Youth of Cambodia Red Cross strengthens capacity building and humanitarian mission Cambodian Red Cross become main role for helping victims of natural disaster and contribute to helping society through deploying its youth forces to provide humanitarian services to help victims and June 22, the youth of Cambodian Red cross conducted second congress to strengthen capacity building and humanitarian mission. “We thanked all youth that contributed that valued time to join with Cambodian Red Cross in humanitarian mission in helping society and vulnerable,” Lok Chumteave Bun Rany Hun Sen president of CRC said in closing ceremony of congress. “Now CRC youth are getting attention from the communities and CRC youth forces are loved from the general publics for the work of humanitarian services,” she noted. In closing ceremony of the congress of CRC youth, H.E Pin Chamnan, former rector of the Royal Univeirty of Phnom Penh and current the secretary of state for ministry of education, youth and sports was chosen from the youth members in the second of congress of CRC and he becomes a central member of the youth CRC movement for the five year term.Lok chum teav Bun Rany highlighted currently, international movement of red cross and red crescent in the world, youth considered as core forces in the movement and currently it has 50 million youth in its movement and they are joining actively to deal big challenging matters such as starvation, violence, communicable diseases, AIDS/HIV, natural disaster and poverty, orphans, road accidents, drug, alcohol drink, human rights and human trafficking, gambling and race discrimination. “Youth have to join eliminating the negative impact from globalization and other inactive issues in society to turn other to be good people with decency and ability, and protect the dignity of eth country,” she added. According to report from CRC, In 2010, we have 14676 remembers (6.675 female members) in youth moment for Cambodian Red Cross and 497 youth advisors (126 female advisors) and we have youth network across the country within 35 primary schools, 53 junior high school, and 113 high schools, and 14 university in country. It continued that Red Cross needs to implement humanitarian with mission that aid is given regardless of the race, creed or nationality of the recipients and without adverse distinction of nay kind. Aid priorities are calculated on the basis of need alone.It added that Aid will not be used to further a particular political or religious standpoint, and we shall endeavor not to act as instruments of government foreign policy, and we shall respect culture and customs, we shall attempt to build disaster response on local capacities. It noted that ways shall be found to involve program beneficiaries in the management of relief aid, and relief aid must strive to reduce future vulnerabilities to disaster as well as meeting basic needs, we hold ourselves accountable to both those, we shall recognize disaster victims as dignities human, not hopeless objects. “The core program areas of CRC youth can be training on community based disaster preparedness (CBDP), disaster risk reduction and management, HIV/AIDS, road safety, land mine awareness, peer education and other facing issues in Cambodia amongst Cambodian young people. They will also receive training in youth leadership core areas in order to provide good management skills to this group,” the report of CRC said. It added that the youth in Cambodia is a potential rice human resource and key asset for the development of Cambodia, in which more than 50 per cent of the population in under the age of 30. They are in a unique age group accustomed to innovated skills, inter-cultural sensitivity and peer to- peer facilitation. They are motivated towards servicing and helping others with high levels of the enthusiasm, energy, and creativity which is complementary to the older generations. “The young people working along side older people in a spirit of mutual respect, is also crucial to the inter-generation transfer of experience that is vital to both progress and stability in the society,” it stresses. It states: The young people can also take up a key leadership role in inspiring changes of mindsets, behaviors and attitudes in their local communities. With these tremendous advantages of young people, the CRC under leadership of Lokchumteave Bun Rany Hun Sen, president of the CRC, has intensified the attention and efforts to develop young Cambodian people to become qualified and experience and resource person with a humanitarian spirit to contribution to the growth of Cambodia. Cambodia Red Cross is the leading humanitarian organization in Cambodia, established on 18th February 1955. In its strategy 2020, youth in Cambodia has been recognized as one of the most significant and active forces to the overall volunteer resources pool within the CRC to enhance the capacity to assist the most vulnerable people in the communities “saving lives, changing minds,”###
cambodia role in global peace and secuirty in 2010
Cambodia will train more troops for joining global peace and security Cambodia will train more troops to contribute building the global peace and security through joining humanitarian mission, mines and UXO clearance, engineering unit and social movement control under the umbrella of the UN peacekeeping mission in different continents,” the senior officials said on June 22. “Some forces will be sent to Lebanon in the short upcoming,” Tea Banh, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense said in home-coming ceremony of 94 Cambodian troops after they implemented the one year -work under the umbrella of the UN Peacekeeping mission in Chad, Central Africa and Sudan. Of them are 52 de-miners from Sudan and other from Chad and Central Africa are movement controlled forces. “I remind you all that since mid-July 2008 while the situation along the Cambodian –Thai border has been tensed in the areas in front of Preah Vihear temple, the policy of sending troops to join the UN peacekeeping mission has not changed but expanded from one area to another such as Sudan to Chad, and Central Africa Republic,” Gen. Tea Banh noted in ceremony. Minister of national defense said that the achievement and activities as value assets have brought about the fame of Royal Cambodia Armed Forces as well as the great reputation of the Kingdom of Cambodia in the world area. “You all were leaving your families and country behind in the purpose of building peace on a different continent,” Gen.Tea Bah remarked. He stressed that Cambodians have never loved war ever since because we had been through enough already for many decades based on our concepts, attitude, culture and tradition. Wars have taught and provide us many tough experiences. However, we are ready to fight by all means aiming at defending our independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity. He added that the skills and professional have been expanded from demining to movement control and engineering units. Along this line, the cooperation between ASEAn nations and other countries like France, India, Japan, and the U.S has been strengthened and enhance. “If we are useless, no one will need us. Our mission is to fill our job with gratitude and international ethics for all mankind and peace,” he said. We are all so proud for you all that “no causality is missing,” he noted. Speaking the homing coming ceremony, H.E Prak Sokhonn, Minister attached to the Prime Minister, and Chairman of the national coordination committee of sending troops for UN Peacekeeping Mission highlighted that at the end of 2009, the national coordination committee has dispatched an order keeping unit 306 of 42 strong for movement control mission in Chad and The central Africa republic, who have just concluded their mission and returned today. As a result, this unit has registered the movement of 45,000 travelers and deployment troops load and unload cargo 42, 00 times equivalent to 389,209 tons of shipment. He continued: We have also sent 52 military observers to Sudan, 4 of who are currently fulfilling their mission and one observer is standing by for another mission to commence soon and in total of 568 of armed forces and military observers have been sent to UN mission in Sudan, Chad, and the Central African Republic. In four years of our peacekeeping operations mission in Sudan, Cambodian forces have been cleared mines and UXO contaminated area of 77 million square meters, 2,547 anti-personnel mines, 220 anti-tank mines, 59,108 UXos, and 118,913 fragment. He stressed: We have also produced more than 44 million cubic meters of water and distributed more than 1.4 million litters of drinking water of UN forces, hospitals and Sudanese people. As testimony, representative from UN mission in Sudan has honored our de-miners and military observers with the award of 493 medals and 24 certificates and appreciation. In addition, we have also contributed to other humanitarian works such as clearance of roadside mines, road and bridges construction, food supply to Sudanese people through Red Cross, housing, treatment and transportation of patients to hospitals. “We have also conducted many skill trainings in-country to prepare our forces to take turn and stand by as well as strengthen the capacity of our officers in order to contribute to global peacekeeping mission. We have also sent our officers to training overseas to gain more experience,” he said, adding that in the coming July, we will send an engineering company accompanied by a mechanical and manual demining platoon to Lebanon under the UN mission framework. In this regard, 3 persons from our working group will depart for New York tomorrow to negotiate an MOU with the UN for signing in the near future will enable us to send more than 200 troops to the mission in Lebanon as planned. He continued that after having enhancing our troop’s capacity in peacekeeping and participated in 4 multi-national training exercise (in 2007, 2008, and twice in 2009) Cambodia will host a multi-national training exercise “ Angkor Sentinel 2010” from12 to 30 July in cooperation with the U.S. Pacific Command in accordance with the UN standard for peacekeeping operations. This exercise is comprised of Command Post Exercise (CPX) to be held in Phnom Penh and field training exercise (FTX) to be conducted in ACO in Kampong Speu province. He said that two days ago at this place, we send 52 soldiers for mine clearance to Sudan to replace old group after being trained in both theory and technical skills over the past year. And today 52 soldiers of demining and 42 police military of order keeping unit have “safely returned home with success,” these unit have demonstrated high professionalism, spirit of solidarity, and cooperation, good discipline and bravery in fulfilling its tasks in Sudan and in Chad, and the central African republic. This success is the result of right political guidance and personal attention that Samdech Techo Prime Minister Hun Sen has provided. H.E Jean Pierre De Margerie, United Nations Representative said that your contribution to the UN’s global peacekeeping efforts is very much appreciated. Your dedication to providing assistance abroad to sharing your skills and experience with countries that are suffering due to conflicts is a source of pride and inspiration. “We recognized the royal government of Cambodia’s commitment to enhancing in the world by taking part in the UN’s global peacekeeping efforts,” he said, adding that please share your story of how nations can help nations and how people can help people. ###
Long Heng: Cambodia plans to buy more chinese miltary trucks
Gen.Chi Wanchun, and Gen.Moeung Samphon, cambodia's nationa defence ministry
Cambodia plans to buy more Chinese military trucks for armed forces Samdech Techo Prime Minister Hun Sen on June 24 said that the government plans to buy more military trucks from China to serve in ministry of interiors and the armed forces. “We will plan to buy more for the support for interior ministry and I owed the promise with Kheng ( H.E Sar Kheng, deputy prime minister and minister of interior,” Prime Minister said at the opening ceremony of the first sky-bridge in Phnom Penh. Samdech Techo Prime Minister did not reveal the amount of trucks that planned to buy. “We thanked Chinese government that provided 257 military trucks for the armed forces. Those trucks are brand new,” Prime Minister added. In the meeting on June 23, with Chinese General Chi Wanchun, political chief of logistics general department of Chinese liberation army, “Samdech Techo Prime Minister Hun Sen considered the handover of truck as fast as missile launching,” H.E. Sry Thamarong, a personal advisor to Samdech Techo Hun Sen told reporters at the council of ministers. Chinese side also thanked Cambodia that adopted one China policy,” H.E Sry Thamarong added. “Chinese grant aid, concession loan are contributed to protecting the political independence of Cambodia,” H.E Sry Thamarong quoted Samdech Techo Hun Sen as telling to Chinese side. On June 21, speaking at the third anniversary of the association of Cambodian veterans, Samdech Techo Prime Minister Hun Sen said that Cambodia stopped demobilizing the troops and keep them to protect the sovereignty of the country. On June 23, at the official handover ceremony of 257 Chinese military trucks at Phnom Penh military airbase, Moeung Samphon, secretary of state for ministry of national defense of Cambodia told reporters that Chinese trucks will help serve the armed forces in protection of national defense field of Cambodia. He added that it did not relate to the conflict, referring to the border conflicts with Thailand. “It will help transport in national defense,” H.E Samphon. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of foreign international cooperation H.E Hor Nam Hong told reporters on June 23 at the ministry that “Chinese aid does not impose any conditions and it does not relate to the influence of China on Cambodian politics,” H.E Hor Nam Hong said. Last Friday, 257 military trucks and 50,000 pairs of military uniforms from China arrived at Sihanoukville port of Cambodia. “These military truck and military uniforms are assistance from China for Cambodian Armed Forces will help to strengthen the capacity and quality,” Chum Socheat, spokesman for national defense ministry told the Southeast Asia Weekly by phone. The truck assistance arrived here on June 16 and on June 18 we lifted those trucks from ship and let the publics know about that trucks and military clothes,” he added. The military aid will help contributing to military reform of Cambodia,” he emphasized. He added that from June 19-21 June, Chinese military technicians will train Cambodia soldiers how to operate them and other skills. “The total cost of the assistance was worth about 15 million US dollars. Asked about when it has the military parade of those trucks as recommendation from PM Hun Sen,” military spokesman could not confirm about real date. The military aid occurred when the Chinese president Hu Jintoa and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen met earlier May in Shanghai during world expo 2010 and Chinese side announced to hand over military trucks and military uniforms for Cambodian forces. ###
first skybridge in 578 years old history of Phnom Penh
PM Hun Sen showed his mobile phone that used it for checking news. he also watched FIFA world Cup via his phone.
Pong Khieu Se
Cambodia officially opens first Sky Bridge in over 500 years old history of Phnom PenhSamdech Techo Prime Minister Hun Sen with his wife on June 24 presided over the opening ceremony of the first sky bridge in over 500 years old history of Phnom Penh at the crossroad of Monivong Bridge link to National One and National road two in a move of facilitating the traffic congestion and goods transport into city but at that area, which usually called Kbal Thol circle and previously had traffic jam nearly everyday. Speaking of opening ceremony of sky bridge at the bottom of Monivong bridge in Phnom Penh, Prime Minister Hun Sen said that this bridge with 308 m in length and 14 in width and height of 5.2 m is first one in our history Phnom Penh and especially in country. When we have first one, we will have second at in front of Kossamak Hospital over Russian Confederation Boulevard in western part of Phnom Penh and subsequently other sky bridges will be built later. This sky bridge that opened this time spent over 6 million US dollars for construction for one year period from 2009. “This bridge will contribute reducing the traffic jam at this location and facilitate the goods transport into Phnom Penh,” he added. He noted that every year when we celebrate the water festival in Phnom Penh, this location had traffic jam and people from rural areas want to see water festival need to walk from here to river bank in front of royal palace. This sky bridge has invested to build it by the Khmer- Canadian investor Pung Khieu Se who also invested to build Koh Pich (Diamond Island). We thanked our Khmer -born investors who lives abroad but now they are back to live here and collected money to make business to help the nation. This is their homeland,” he stresses. At the ceremony, Prime Minister Hun Sen also urged Phnom Penh Municipality to expand the size of road at other places to avoid traffic congestion in the city. Now Phnom Penh is in angel of development and the number of people growth grow very fast. We also plan to build a new bridge over Tonle Sap River next to Japanese –Cambodian Friendship Bridge “Choy Changvar Bridge” to ease traffic congestion into Phnom Penh and another one in Takhmao town over Tonle Bassac River. “And local people are happy with new achievements with new public garden that also facilitate for their body exercise and body fitness,” he said, adding that many people in city like exercising at the public garden. “I want to go jogging at the public places and gardens to reduce fatness,” he joked, but if I go there, it will have others to go exercise with me and could make surprised for other. He highlighted that now we have 277 restaurants, 135 hotels, and 332 guest houses in Phnom Penh city,” he noted. If those businesspeople could earn money from their trades, therefore they still open for businesses,” he noted. He continued that he situation of Phnom Penh is very different from the past years. Phnom Penh is from the few people living here in 1979, but now it becomes political, commercial, economic, tourism, social and diplomatic center and it is the heart of Cambodia. “Now, Phnom Penh is facing a big concern of road accidents after the number of motors increased to 800,000 sets and 170,000 vehicles in Phnom Penh,” he said, adding that All motor riders need to wear helmet to protect life. You need to love your life if you do not care other lives” he stresses. He appealed to local drivers have to respect traffic law to become dignified people in modern society. And He ordered to ban sale of kindergarten schools and other health centers in city and country and wait for money from the state for development and renovation. You should not take excuse of old buildings and need to upgrade them,” he warned. He thanked governor of Phnom Penh that is striving to build garden for exercises, and build, renovate road infrastructures in city. Phnom Penh residents need to live sanitation and should not litter away in public and put rubbish into bin to be modern city to attract tourists,” he encouraged to local people to do so. If not so, local people will face with paying fine as punishment,” he noted. Phnom Penh is home of about 1.4 million of population and it is moving very fast in term of development and modernization of social issues. Phnom Penh used to be called “the pearl of Asia” in Sangkum Reastr Niyum leading by former king Norodom Sihanouk and “island of Peace” before the civil war happened in 1970s. ###
Cambodian veterans in 2010
Government increases salary sponsor for veterans At the celebration of 3rd anniversary of the association of Cambodians veterans, Samdech Techo Prime Minister Hun Sen said on June 21 at the national institute of education in Phnom Penh that after subsequent reform of fund for veterans, the government decided to provide 20 per cent increase of salary sponsor on basic salary like other civil servants and armed forces. “Currently, the government are taking care for veterans and provide equality for our veterans without thanking about their past works,” prime minister said. He also appealed to the buyers of burden books for getting salary of veterans to turn back the book. He explained that some veterans sold their burden books for getting salary to other people because they want to get salary as whole. He also ordered all stakeholders to eliminate swelling number of veterans to save state money. We should be clear for number of veterans and eliminate the ghost veterans,” he said, adding that ghost veterans have names in getting salary only but it doe not exist in real life. He urged the involved ministries to visit soldiers and disabled people and veterans who stayed the hospitals to provide the heartfelt attention and build the sentiments with them and encourage for their conscience for serving the nation and homeland in the past years. He ordered media system to broadcast largely about the achievements that disabled people and veterans succeeded in the past years. He recommended local authorities to take care of veterans who met their difficulties in their communities without discrimination of political tendencies and groups in the past. H.E. Ith Samheng, minister of social works, veteran and youth rehabilitation and he also is secretary general of association of veteran said that Prime Minister Hun Sen is president of the association of Cambodian Veteran according to the vote in the extraordinary general assembly of the association of veteran across the country in June 20. The celebration of third anniversary of the association is very meaningful for Cambodian veterans and Cambodians. “Today event made Cambodian people remember the great sacrifice of our veteran heroes who devoted their fresh blood and lives to protect the national, people and sovereignty of the country in all phases of destiny of eth country,” Minister said. The minister added that the country passed through from the prosperity to darkness in the Khmer Rouge regime and to current situation with peaceful and political stability under win—win policy setting up by Samdech Techo Prime Minister Hun Sen. Under the win -win policy, the Cambodian troops from all side of conflicts could integrate as one national forces.“The government has paid attention on the work of the veteran within implementing the national policy for veterans in purpose of gratitude for our heroes and we also resolved the living conditions, budget, and materials subsequently as well as providing honors and protection of the dignity of our veteran according to the national economic situation.” The minister noted. “We provided the social land and build households for our veterans and their families and we also created many projects for upgrading the living conditions of soldiers and veteran. We always considered providing extra sponsor including their salary increase for our soldiers and veterans,” he said. He added that in 2010, about 90,605 families for all kinds of veterans are getting sponsor policy from the government and other members of their families also got sponsor salary. We spent about over 1.65 million US dollars for them. The Minister state: We are preparing the royal decree on social security fund for veterans and sub-decree on national treasury fund for veteran. As president of association of veterans, Samdech Techo Prime minister Hun Sen offered 300 houses for disabled people in Takean Koh Sla in Kompot-Kompong Speu provinces with fund of over one million US dollar and other 66 houses for the center of veterans and disabled development in Siem Reap province, and 100 houses at the local communities to facilitate the difficulties for veterans and disabled people. Samdech Techo Prime Minister always cared about the living condition of veterans and disabled people. Currently, the association has 90,605 members, and has 25,000 US dollar fund to help veteran to develop their jobs and living conditions, and we helped 719 families of death veterans with 1,000 US dollars for each family,” The minister added. He continued that the association adopted three principles for work such as building good living condition for family, joining to develop local communities and to join to decide the direction of the association to achieve its target. He said that the association of veterans and ministry of social work, veterans and youth rehabilitation have co-operated each other to train vocational training, and social concession land. “The association strengthened friendship cooperation with associations for veterans from Vietnam, Laos and China and ASEAN. In April 2010, the association of Cambodian veterans becomes full member of the Association of ASEAN veterans in Jakarta capital of Indonesia. We also signed the MOU of cooperation with Vietnam and Laos,” the minister stresses. He said that the association of Cambodian veterans chose deputy prime minister and minister of National defense Tea Banh, Permanent deputy prime minister Men Sam On as deputy president respectively. ###
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
farmers concern about agricultural products this year , 2010
Farmers concern about agricultural products this year after rain water drops slightly
Cambodian farmers expressed their concern on growing their agricultural crops this year after the rain water dropped slightly for their agricultural crops and plants and some places got higher rain water quantity.
This corn plant did not grow well this year after the rain water dropped slightly and those crop plants nearly died,” said Bun Sokleng, a farmer in Ken Svay district of Kandal province. “I also need to pump the water to spread them but sometimes only because I could not spread water every. It needs high expenditure in pumping water. I think even it grow, It will not provide good products but it did not have enough water,” he noted.
Sun Theary, a student from Kompong Thom Province at the University of Cambodia said that in her district of Sambor of Kompong Thom province. Some areas did not have water to grow rice transplant and seedling. Even the grass for feeding the cattle does not have. Local people are waiting for rain water to grow their agricultural plants, she said, adding that the rain water dropped very slightly this year and it was very stranger and stranger for local farmers because usually in the previous years, they have the rain water filling the rice paddy for plowing soil to grow rice plants. Local farmers open their eyes to see the water rain,” she noted. The rainy season started irregularly for our farmers because usually it has huge water at rice paddy fields. The weather is changing fast,” she highlighted.
Kuy Sokheng, a student from Kompong Speu Province at the university of Cambodia said that some places in his district has water for grow rice plants and other agricultural crops but some other areas lacked water for farmers. The weather is changing
If it have water at the irrigation canal, farmers will pump it for spread their crops but
Chan Tong Iev, secretary of state for ministry of agriculture, forestry and fisheries said that this year we already prepared rice seeds for local farmers where it has drought or not enough rain water. “We always think about the benefits of farmers and always seek ways to deal and set up measures both long and short terms to push up our agricultural crops to get high products,” he told SEAW by phone.
What my notice, the rain has fallen heavily at Battambang, Pursat, Kompong Thom, Kompong Cham provinces. “Dropping heavily is some places,” he noted.
But this year, the rain dropped in some places with huge amount and some places got slightly. He did not say in detail about the quantity of rice seeds to prepare for farmers this year. “But usually this ministry is ready to store rice seeds for farmers,” he noted. The climate change is a big concern for our agricultural crops.
Plok Bun, a farmer and middle dealer of rice product told SEAW that in his province of Battambang rain is dropping heavily. “It made me concern about flood and huge water for my rice crops,” he said, adding that rain water fall down in some places. “I planted more than 40 hectares of rice paddy and the weather is good and I expected to get good products and earn more,” he stresses. Rice paddy fields are some areas in Takeo, Kompot, Kompong Cham, Kandal provinces filled with some water and difficulties for farmers to grow rice and other agricultural crops. Agriculture is one of main pillar of economic growth of the country. last year, cambodia earned 7 million tons of rice products. over three tons of those products could export to foreign market.
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Cambodian farmers expressed their concern on growing their agricultural crops this year after the rain water dropped slightly for their agricultural crops and plants and some places got higher rain water quantity.
This corn plant did not grow well this year after the rain water dropped slightly and those crop plants nearly died,” said Bun Sokleng, a farmer in Ken Svay district of Kandal province. “I also need to pump the water to spread them but sometimes only because I could not spread water every. It needs high expenditure in pumping water. I think even it grow, It will not provide good products but it did not have enough water,” he noted.
Sun Theary, a student from Kompong Thom Province at the University of Cambodia said that in her district of Sambor of Kompong Thom province. Some areas did not have water to grow rice transplant and seedling. Even the grass for feeding the cattle does not have. Local people are waiting for rain water to grow their agricultural plants, she said, adding that the rain water dropped very slightly this year and it was very stranger and stranger for local farmers because usually in the previous years, they have the rain water filling the rice paddy for plowing soil to grow rice plants. Local farmers open their eyes to see the water rain,” she noted. The rainy season started irregularly for our farmers because usually it has huge water at rice paddy fields. The weather is changing fast,” she highlighted.
Kuy Sokheng, a student from Kompong Speu Province at the university of Cambodia said that some places in his district has water for grow rice plants and other agricultural crops but some other areas lacked water for farmers. The weather is changing
If it have water at the irrigation canal, farmers will pump it for spread their crops but
Chan Tong Iev, secretary of state for ministry of agriculture, forestry and fisheries said that this year we already prepared rice seeds for local farmers where it has drought or not enough rain water. “We always think about the benefits of farmers and always seek ways to deal and set up measures both long and short terms to push up our agricultural crops to get high products,” he told SEAW by phone.
What my notice, the rain has fallen heavily at Battambang, Pursat, Kompong Thom, Kompong Cham provinces. “Dropping heavily is some places,” he noted.
But this year, the rain dropped in some places with huge amount and some places got slightly. He did not say in detail about the quantity of rice seeds to prepare for farmers this year. “But usually this ministry is ready to store rice seeds for farmers,” he noted. The climate change is a big concern for our agricultural crops.
Plok Bun, a farmer and middle dealer of rice product told SEAW that in his province of Battambang rain is dropping heavily. “It made me concern about flood and huge water for my rice crops,” he said, adding that rain water fall down in some places. “I planted more than 40 hectares of rice paddy and the weather is good and I expected to get good products and earn more,” he stresses. Rice paddy fields are some areas in Takeo, Kompot, Kompong Cham, Kandal provinces filled with some water and difficulties for farmers to grow rice and other agricultural crops. Agriculture is one of main pillar of economic growth of the country. last year, cambodia earned 7 million tons of rice products. over three tons of those products could export to foreign market.
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president of national council of anti-corruprion elected, long heng
Cambodia elects president of National Council of Anti-corruption
By Chhorng Long Heng , 22 juen 2010
Cambodia on June15 chose H.E.Top Som, former member of the constitutional council as the president of the National council of Anti-Corruption to lead the organization to implement the law of anti-corruption, which passed by the national assembly recently.
“We ensure to work with transparency and accountability and processed independently,” H.E.Top Som told reporters at the council of ministers after the close meeting. “We will implement our work by law,” he added. And you will see about transparency and independence of this institution through observing its process in fighting against corruption in the country, he noted.
“Our first priority, officials who appointed by the sub-decree and royal decree have to claim their properties and we do it according to law,” Om Yentieng, head of anti-corruption unit said in the press conference. At the same time, we will investigate the case of anti-corruption with real situation,” he added.
He continued that recently his team joined to observe the process of hardwood bidding process in Kompong Cham and that hard wood and timber arrested and confiscated during the crackdown last month by the government. That bidding was conducted best form with transparent process through our observation and money from bidding will hand over to state and it earned like selling at free market, he emphasized.
He said that now his team has 60 officials and it will select more staff to implement the law and we will increase our officials to 120 soon. “We will conduct to investigate more cases,” he noted. Cambodia has two agencies for fighting against corruption in the country. Anti-corruption unit led by H.E Om Yentieng and the national council of anti-corruption led by H.E Top Sam. H.E Om Yentieng explained that the anti-corruption unit is leading to work directly to combat corruption and the national council is observing the operational work of anti-corruption unit and the elements of the national council of anti-corruption come from top state agencies including government, supreme council of magistracy, senate, national assembly, and the council of administration and legal reform.
Heng Vongbunchat, member of the national council of anti-corruption said: we have 11 members including me. And the member voted to support Prak Sok as vice president of the national council of anti-corruption. He continued that element of members of the national council of anti-corruption includes H.E. Uth Chhorn from the national audition authority, Lok Chumteav Soum Kimsour from ministry of national assembly –senate relation and inspection, Chiv Keng from the supreme council of magistracy, H.E Heng Vongbunchat myself from the supreme council of administration of legal reform. H.E. Keo Ramy from the national committee of human rights, H.E.Chan Tani from the council of ministers, Suy Mong Leang from the legal expert, H.E Prak Sok and H.E Top Sam from the national assembly and senate, Kuy Sophal from the royal palace, and H.E Om Yentieng from anti-corruption unit.
“On June 17, all members of the national council of anti-corruption joined the swearing-in ceremony at the Royal Palace in front of scared objects and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister in charge of Royal Palace Kong Sam Ol represented the king,” H.E. Keo Ramy told SEAW. ###
By Chhorng Long Heng , 22 juen 2010
Cambodia on June15 chose H.E.Top Som, former member of the constitutional council as the president of the National council of Anti-Corruption to lead the organization to implement the law of anti-corruption, which passed by the national assembly recently.
“We ensure to work with transparency and accountability and processed independently,” H.E.Top Som told reporters at the council of ministers after the close meeting. “We will implement our work by law,” he added. And you will see about transparency and independence of this institution through observing its process in fighting against corruption in the country, he noted.
“Our first priority, officials who appointed by the sub-decree and royal decree have to claim their properties and we do it according to law,” Om Yentieng, head of anti-corruption unit said in the press conference. At the same time, we will investigate the case of anti-corruption with real situation,” he added.
He continued that recently his team joined to observe the process of hardwood bidding process in Kompong Cham and that hard wood and timber arrested and confiscated during the crackdown last month by the government. That bidding was conducted best form with transparent process through our observation and money from bidding will hand over to state and it earned like selling at free market, he emphasized.
He said that now his team has 60 officials and it will select more staff to implement the law and we will increase our officials to 120 soon. “We will conduct to investigate more cases,” he noted. Cambodia has two agencies for fighting against corruption in the country. Anti-corruption unit led by H.E Om Yentieng and the national council of anti-corruption led by H.E Top Sam. H.E Om Yentieng explained that the anti-corruption unit is leading to work directly to combat corruption and the national council is observing the operational work of anti-corruption unit and the elements of the national council of anti-corruption come from top state agencies including government, supreme council of magistracy, senate, national assembly, and the council of administration and legal reform.
Heng Vongbunchat, member of the national council of anti-corruption said: we have 11 members including me. And the member voted to support Prak Sok as vice president of the national council of anti-corruption. He continued that element of members of the national council of anti-corruption includes H.E. Uth Chhorn from the national audition authority, Lok Chumteav Soum Kimsour from ministry of national assembly –senate relation and inspection, Chiv Keng from the supreme council of magistracy, H.E Heng Vongbunchat myself from the supreme council of administration of legal reform. H.E. Keo Ramy from the national committee of human rights, H.E.Chan Tani from the council of ministers, Suy Mong Leang from the legal expert, H.E Prak Sok and H.E Top Sam from the national assembly and senate, Kuy Sophal from the royal palace, and H.E Om Yentieng from anti-corruption unit.
“On June 17, all members of the national council of anti-corruption joined the swearing-in ceremony at the Royal Palace in front of scared objects and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister in charge of Royal Palace Kong Sam Ol represented the king,” H.E. Keo Ramy told SEAW. ###
new circular on resolution on temporary settlements on state land
By Chhorng Long Heng
juen 22, 2010
The ministry of land management, urban planning and construction on June 17 mainstreamed the new circular on resolution on temporary settlements on land which has been illegally occupied in the capital, municipal and urban areas.
“This circular is intended to provide resolution for only temporary settlements on state land which has been illegally occupied,” H.E Im Chhun Lim, senior minister and minister of land management, urban planning and construction said in the opening remark at the office of the council of ministers.
“The resolution of land settlements is conducting with proper negotiation and approval from the owners of the land but it was criticized and alleged from some non-governmental organizations and political parties, he said, adding that the allegation is unacceptable. Some people used the word “eviction” for relocation of poor or move to dead place. Currently we have stable and peaceful in the country and we have never evicted poor. “Only Pol Pot regime evicted people from city to rural areas,” he continued. “The land issue is hot news for us, “he said. “This circular will contribute mainly to resolution on temporary settlements, “he said.
“The opportunists of land resettlement should stop their actions and they should not conduct their activities against the development to gain own benefits,” Minister said.
Dr. Menghong Socheat Khamero, secretary general of committee of the land resolution of ministry of land management, urban planning, and construction said that the policy of the government in the interim paper on strategy of land policy framework on September 2002 indicates temporary land occupation rights with certain timeframe for those who settled illegally and squatter settlements which have existed continuously in the capital city and provincial towns and other urban areas.
Dr Khamero added that according to empirical studies, temporary settlements (squatter settlements) which have been illegally built in the capital city, municipal and urban areas developed from several factors such as population growth, repatriation of refugee’s family and families fleeing battlegrounds prior 1998 when the country had not fully achieved peace, land loss caused by natural disasters and other factors, especially rural to urban migration for finding jobs in the later which has experienced rapid industrial, services and urbanization growths.
As a good example and under the financial support from the head of the royal government, the capital city’s authority has mobilized poor communities and some none government organizations to establish a foundation called the “urban poor development fund”. Until May 2010, it has accumulated fund of more than 1.300 million Riels available for providing loans as micro-finance to poor households in order to use for income generation rehabilitation and increase and improve family’s livelihood.
He stresses that the temporary settlement here referred to the term squatter in Khmer equal to the term anarchic settlements built on land which is not belonged to the settlement’s builder. However, the term is considered downgrade to the squatter settlers and in 2003; Samdech Prime Minister Hun Sen requested that the name anarchic shall be changed to temporary settlement.
Dr Khamero clearly said that the circular on the resolution on the temporary settlements on land which has been illegally occupied in the capital, municipal and urban areas focused on data collection on actual numbers of temporary settlements, identification and mapping classification of the sites of temporary settlements, households and population census in temporary settlements, solution finding, coordinated discussion in order to identify solution policies, basic public infrastructure and services to support livelihood, and participation of stakeholder in development. “Solution occurred after reaching agreement of accepting and of the solution such as relocation or on –site upgrading or other policy options, the working group shall develop an action plan and to set up the actual timeframe for practice implementation and shall seek to obtain an approval from capital city and provincial state land management committee,” Dr Khamero added.
Ke Chuptema, governor Phnom Penh Municipality said that so far we have experienced about resolution of poor people and temporary settlement in Phnom Penh. “We have good strategy to develop in place for poor in Phnom Penh residents and also provided the fund to help them to improve the living condition,” he maintained. “Development of temporary settlements of Phnom Penh residents has started in large scale since 2003 and the matter of land occurred in 2003 when the land price increased rapidly in city,” he added. He have to eliminate the culture of intervention if not so we will meet difficulties for resolution of land settlement,” he stresses. “So far I have experienced that our local authorities involved with irregular listing of families of land settlement. Officials of sangkats increased the number of families that is obstacle to deal land settlement in Phnom Penh but I ordered them to stay away from the issue if not so they will face to demote the position even the head of commune council,” He noted.
Man Chhoeurn, deputy governor of Phnom Penh municipality said that now we have remaining 200 poor communities in Phnom Penh. And in 2003, we have 560 poor communities .After Phnom Penh used soft policy, the number of poor communities reduced and poor also improve their benefits. We are try to integrate the temporary settlements into simple and good performing people in the communities become as head of villager and members of council of communes,” he noted. We all thanked to our king who helped his own properties to build 80 households for poor in Sen Sok district in Phnom Penh and those houses equipped with solar electricity systems, he added.
###
juen 22, 2010
The ministry of land management, urban planning and construction on June 17 mainstreamed the new circular on resolution on temporary settlements on land which has been illegally occupied in the capital, municipal and urban areas.
“This circular is intended to provide resolution for only temporary settlements on state land which has been illegally occupied,” H.E Im Chhun Lim, senior minister and minister of land management, urban planning and construction said in the opening remark at the office of the council of ministers.
“The resolution of land settlements is conducting with proper negotiation and approval from the owners of the land but it was criticized and alleged from some non-governmental organizations and political parties, he said, adding that the allegation is unacceptable. Some people used the word “eviction” for relocation of poor or move to dead place. Currently we have stable and peaceful in the country and we have never evicted poor. “Only Pol Pot regime evicted people from city to rural areas,” he continued. “The land issue is hot news for us, “he said. “This circular will contribute mainly to resolution on temporary settlements, “he said.
“The opportunists of land resettlement should stop their actions and they should not conduct their activities against the development to gain own benefits,” Minister said.
Dr. Menghong Socheat Khamero, secretary general of committee of the land resolution of ministry of land management, urban planning, and construction said that the policy of the government in the interim paper on strategy of land policy framework on September 2002 indicates temporary land occupation rights with certain timeframe for those who settled illegally and squatter settlements which have existed continuously in the capital city and provincial towns and other urban areas.
Dr Khamero added that according to empirical studies, temporary settlements (squatter settlements) which have been illegally built in the capital city, municipal and urban areas developed from several factors such as population growth, repatriation of refugee’s family and families fleeing battlegrounds prior 1998 when the country had not fully achieved peace, land loss caused by natural disasters and other factors, especially rural to urban migration for finding jobs in the later which has experienced rapid industrial, services and urbanization growths.
As a good example and under the financial support from the head of the royal government, the capital city’s authority has mobilized poor communities and some none government organizations to establish a foundation called the “urban poor development fund”. Until May 2010, it has accumulated fund of more than 1.300 million Riels available for providing loans as micro-finance to poor households in order to use for income generation rehabilitation and increase and improve family’s livelihood.
He stresses that the temporary settlement here referred to the term squatter in Khmer equal to the term anarchic settlements built on land which is not belonged to the settlement’s builder. However, the term is considered downgrade to the squatter settlers and in 2003; Samdech Prime Minister Hun Sen requested that the name anarchic shall be changed to temporary settlement.
Dr Khamero clearly said that the circular on the resolution on the temporary settlements on land which has been illegally occupied in the capital, municipal and urban areas focused on data collection on actual numbers of temporary settlements, identification and mapping classification of the sites of temporary settlements, households and population census in temporary settlements, solution finding, coordinated discussion in order to identify solution policies, basic public infrastructure and services to support livelihood, and participation of stakeholder in development. “Solution occurred after reaching agreement of accepting and of the solution such as relocation or on –site upgrading or other policy options, the working group shall develop an action plan and to set up the actual timeframe for practice implementation and shall seek to obtain an approval from capital city and provincial state land management committee,” Dr Khamero added.
Ke Chuptema, governor Phnom Penh Municipality said that so far we have experienced about resolution of poor people and temporary settlement in Phnom Penh. “We have good strategy to develop in place for poor in Phnom Penh residents and also provided the fund to help them to improve the living condition,” he maintained. “Development of temporary settlements of Phnom Penh residents has started in large scale since 2003 and the matter of land occurred in 2003 when the land price increased rapidly in city,” he added. He have to eliminate the culture of intervention if not so we will meet difficulties for resolution of land settlement,” he stresses. “So far I have experienced that our local authorities involved with irregular listing of families of land settlement. Officials of sangkats increased the number of families that is obstacle to deal land settlement in Phnom Penh but I ordered them to stay away from the issue if not so they will face to demote the position even the head of commune council,” He noted.
Man Chhoeurn, deputy governor of Phnom Penh municipality said that now we have remaining 200 poor communities in Phnom Penh. And in 2003, we have 560 poor communities .After Phnom Penh used soft policy, the number of poor communities reduced and poor also improve their benefits. We are try to integrate the temporary settlements into simple and good performing people in the communities become as head of villager and members of council of communes,” he noted. We all thanked to our king who helped his own properties to build 80 households for poor in Sen Sok district in Phnom Penh and those houses equipped with solar electricity systems, he added.
###
Australia, New Zealand focus on trade, investment in Cambodia, Long Heng
Australia and New Zealand eye trade, investment on Cambodia
The Australian and New Zealand trade agencies announced on June 16 that they partnered in Cambodia through a shared presence in the market to investigate trade and investment opportunities in the growing market.
This announcement was made during the visit of a delegation of twelve Australian and New Zealand companies to Phnom Penh on 15-17 June, 2010 to explore project opportunities in Cambodia ’s development technical assistance to international projects as diverse as infrastructure, agriculture and rural development, education training and health, environmental management, power and energy.
Australian and New Zealand announces collaboration in trade and investment in Cambodia .
The two agencies with the support of the Australia Embassy arranged an innovative seminar in 16 June, called “developing Cambodia ,”. “This seminar is a showcase event featuring presentations by senior officials of the Royal Government of Cambodia, multilateral and bilateral organizations and private sector providers,” The Australian ambassador, Margaret Amdamson, opened the seminar. Cambodian economy predicted to grow more this year,” she said.
At the opening session of seminar, H.E.Sun Chanthol, senior minister and vice chairman of the council for the development of Cambodia appealed to the Australian businesspeople and New Zealand traders to come here. “Your investment will have to create jobs for the local people and will help to transfer the knowledge to strengthen capacity building of labor force,” he said.
He continued that now Cambodia is stable and have good investment climate for investors and also has the political stability, Macro-economics. “The investment from Australia and New Zealand is still limited figure and we have to enlarge more,” he said, adding that all sides also already inked the agreement of investment protection to provide the mutual benefits for all sides.
“We still have large of labor forces and have rooms for investors,” he noted. The government has considered that the private sector is driving engine force to speed up economic growth of the country,” He emphasized.
“We provided all facilitation and accession easily to attract the investment to be here and the country also gained the duty free and no tax from many friend countries including EU, China, US, and South Korea and Japan and others that is the chance to expand trade,” he said, adding that here foreign investors can run 100 per cent of their businesses or shareholders.
He recommended that investors should focus on the food processing, agriculture, mine, oil, gas, tourism, training unskilled labor, and infrastructure.
“We also just ratified the ASEAN-New Zealand and Australia Free Agreement Area and that will foster more trade and investment,” he noted. . He recommended that investors should focus on the food processing, agriculture, mine, oil, gas, tourism, training unskilled labor, and infrastructure.
The developing Cambodia 2010 seminar organized by the Australian Trade Commission and New Zealand trade and enterprise (NZTE) was supported by senior Cambodia government officials as well as major multi-national donor institutions including UNDP, ADB, AusAID, and the World Bank. This is first collaborative commercial initiative of austrade and NZTE to jointly promote trade and investment in Cambodia .
Ms Maurine Lam, Australia senior trade and investment commissioner to Thailand and Ms Karlene Davis made the announcement co-jointly. “We are delighted at such a signal initiative in the region and thereby implement our respective government’s clear policy on the two countries working more closely together in trade and investment matters,” said Ms Lam. Ms David said that the vision of the two governments was seen “in the shared resource that was being established in Phnom Penh,”.
Ms David highlighted Australia ’s and New Zealand ’s expertise across the region and the benefits that the developing Cambodia 2010 mission and seminar can bring. Australia and New Zealand are world leaders in providing consultancies across a range of fields to developing projects. These include in the areas of infrastructure, environmental challenges, clean water and sanitation, vocational education, governance and health outcomes. Australia and New Zealand companies have long histories of working effectively in the region and have earned reputations for high quality, reliable service provision, she said.
The data from the Australia embassy on June 16, 2010 said that the total trade volume of the two countries was worth about 67 million Australia dollars in 2009 and it increased about 14 per cent if comparing with 2008. In 2009, Australian export to Cambodia was worth 42 million Australia dollars decreasing minus 3. 7 per if comparing with 2008 and in 2009, import from Cambodia cost about 25 million Australian dollars increasing with 69.4 per cent if comparing with 2008.
###
The Australian and New Zealand trade agencies announced on June 16 that they partnered in Cambodia through a shared presence in the market to investigate trade and investment opportunities in the growing market.
This announcement was made during the visit of a delegation of twelve Australian and New Zealand companies to Phnom Penh on 15-17 June, 2010 to explore project opportunities in Cambodia ’s development technical assistance to international projects as diverse as infrastructure, agriculture and rural development, education training and health, environmental management, power and energy.
Australian and New Zealand announces collaboration in trade and investment in Cambodia .
The two agencies with the support of the Australia Embassy arranged an innovative seminar in 16 June, called “developing Cambodia ,”. “This seminar is a showcase event featuring presentations by senior officials of the Royal Government of Cambodia, multilateral and bilateral organizations and private sector providers,” The Australian ambassador, Margaret Amdamson, opened the seminar. Cambodian economy predicted to grow more this year,” she said.
At the opening session of seminar, H.E.Sun Chanthol, senior minister and vice chairman of the council for the development of Cambodia appealed to the Australian businesspeople and New Zealand traders to come here. “Your investment will have to create jobs for the local people and will help to transfer the knowledge to strengthen capacity building of labor force,” he said.
He continued that now Cambodia is stable and have good investment climate for investors and also has the political stability, Macro-economics. “The investment from Australia and New Zealand is still limited figure and we have to enlarge more,” he said, adding that all sides also already inked the agreement of investment protection to provide the mutual benefits for all sides.
“We still have large of labor forces and have rooms for investors,” he noted. The government has considered that the private sector is driving engine force to speed up economic growth of the country,” He emphasized.
“We provided all facilitation and accession easily to attract the investment to be here and the country also gained the duty free and no tax from many friend countries including EU, China, US, and South Korea and Japan and others that is the chance to expand trade,” he said, adding that here foreign investors can run 100 per cent of their businesses or shareholders.
He recommended that investors should focus on the food processing, agriculture, mine, oil, gas, tourism, training unskilled labor, and infrastructure.
“We also just ratified the ASEAN-New Zealand and Australia Free Agreement Area and that will foster more trade and investment,” he noted. . He recommended that investors should focus on the food processing, agriculture, mine, oil, gas, tourism, training unskilled labor, and infrastructure.
The developing Cambodia 2010 seminar organized by the Australian Trade Commission and New Zealand trade and enterprise (NZTE) was supported by senior Cambodia government officials as well as major multi-national donor institutions including UNDP, ADB, AusAID, and the World Bank. This is first collaborative commercial initiative of austrade and NZTE to jointly promote trade and investment in Cambodia .
Ms Maurine Lam, Australia senior trade and investment commissioner to Thailand and Ms Karlene Davis made the announcement co-jointly. “We are delighted at such a signal initiative in the region and thereby implement our respective government’s clear policy on the two countries working more closely together in trade and investment matters,” said Ms Lam. Ms David said that the vision of the two governments was seen “in the shared resource that was being established in Phnom Penh,”.
Ms David highlighted Australia ’s and New Zealand ’s expertise across the region and the benefits that the developing Cambodia 2010 mission and seminar can bring. Australia and New Zealand are world leaders in providing consultancies across a range of fields to developing projects. These include in the areas of infrastructure, environmental challenges, clean water and sanitation, vocational education, governance and health outcomes. Australia and New Zealand companies have long histories of working effectively in the region and have earned reputations for high quality, reliable service provision, she said.
The data from the Australia embassy on June 16, 2010 said that the total trade volume of the two countries was worth about 67 million Australia dollars in 2009 and it increased about 14 per cent if comparing with 2008. In 2009, Australian export to Cambodia was worth 42 million Australia dollars decreasing minus 3. 7 per if comparing with 2008 and in 2009, import from Cambodia cost about 25 million Australian dollars increasing with 69.4 per cent if comparing with 2008.
###
Cambodian economic views from UNDP side
Excellency Keat Chhon, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance
Excellency Hang Chuon Naron, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Economy and Finance
Excellency Sok Chenda, Minister and Secretary General of the Council for the Development of Cambodia
Excellency Chea Chanto, Governor, National Bank of Cambodia
Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen
I am honoured to be here representing the UN in Cambodia and to welcome you to this important workshop on “Strengthening the response to the global financial crisis in Asia-Pacific: the role of macroeconomic policies”.
Before I begin, I would like to thank Excellency Keat Chhon and the Ministry of Economy and Finance, as well as our colleagues from the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, ESCAP, for hosting this timely event.
Cambodia demonstrated considerable progress in economic growth and social development in the past decade, but recently experienced difficult times, as did other countries in the region as a result of the global economic downturn. While economic growth shows signs of resumption this year, around 4 million people still live in poverty in Cambodia, and many more are near poor. Rural poor households, representing the majority of Cambodia’s population, are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of economic shocks such as this and are also affected by inequality.
The Royal Government of Cambodia defined ways to address these challenges in its Rectangular Strategy Phase II and the Update of the National Strategic Development Plan that was recently passed by the Senate. An important achievement in this respect has also been the progress in strengthening social protection for the poorest and most vulnerable – implementation of systematic measures in this area would represent a further important milestone in lessening hardship and vulnerabilities for those most affected.
The crisis highlighted a number of challenges for Cambodia. In particular:
How to mitigate the impact of similar economic downturns on vulnerable groups
How to mobilize additional domestic financial resources
How to coordinate macroeconomic policies to make them most effective
How to enhance the country’s competitiveness and diversify its economy, and
What structural reforms need to be made to preserve sustainable economic growth in the future.
Last year UNDP commissioned a synthesis study, “Global Financial Crisis and the Asia-Pacific Region”, incorporating evidence and experiences from a number of countries in the region. The study revealed that the global crisis has indeed adversely affected developing Asia, and some countries have been especially badly hit. At the same time, unlike many other regions of the world, on the whole, developing Asia is showing evidence of the ‘recovery’ that appears to be faster and more pronounced in this region. In this context, the potential for sharing experiences and learning within the region is truly enormous, and can provide invaluable insights and solutions, not only for immediate recovery, but also for longer-term improvements in countries’ resilience to shocks and in the protection of the most vulnerable populations.
Last year, the UN in Cambodia, with technical support from UNDP, teamed up to assess the impacts of the global economic downturn on Cambodia and to identify policy responses with the potential to address not only the immediate crisis, but also the longer-term strengthening of the economy. Drawing on the specialised expertise of each member of the UN family, we published The Global Economic Downturn: Opportunity or Crisis? in November of 2009. The UN’s ability to work together on comprehensive analysis and policy support tools such as this enables us to share a set of strategic policy recommendations with Government, development partners and other stakeholders as we work together to find concrete responses to these challenges.
This report provided a useful snapshot of how the Cambodian economy fared the economic downturn, but its findings were also incorporated in the UNDP Regional synthesis report on the crisis, giving us a clearer picture of how the entire region had been affected.
The report also outlined recommendations to help Cambodia emerge from the crisis with a stronger and more resilient economic base. Some of the key findings included: the need to diversify the economy, both in goods and in markets; provision of a comprehensive and nationwide social safety net system, particularly targeting the most vulnerable; and educational reform to match education and training programmes to the skills needed in the marketplace. By addressing these challenges, we can work to build a stronger economy that is more resilient to external shocks. From a development perspective, one of the most crucial factors is ensuring there is a nationally integrated social protection system in place to support vulnerable Cambodians facing sudden shocks such as the global economic downturn.
Investment in social safety nets now will have positive effects for Cambodia long after Cambodia’s economy has fully recovered. It is the UN’s view that a strong social safety net system should complement other measures taken to strengthen the country’s economy, such as a trade diversification strategy, as well as effective monetary, fiscal and macroeconomic policies.
Such as system could include conditional cash transfers, labour-based public works schemes and food for work, civil service pensions and health insurance. Already, informal social safety net programmes are being implemented by Government, development partners and civil society. But there are limited formal programmes in place.
At the beginning of the economic downturn, the Royal Government asked the UN to assist in developing a comprehensive national social safety net system for Cambodia. Our work with Government on social safety nets is one of our proudest success stories and we look forward to Government’s endorsement of the strategy. Addressing these priorities will go a long ways toward strengthening Cambodia’s economic foundation and reducing the country’s future vulnerability.
Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,
The economic downturn threatened Cambodia’s progress in reducing poverty, which is the first of the Millennium Development Goals. We remain concerned about the effects that the current global economic crisis will have on achieving these Goals. As Cambodia regains its economic momentum, we need to work harder than ever to ensure these goals are reached. Over the past two years – as in many countries in the region and around the world – Cambodia has suffered significant job losses, particularly in the garment and construction sectors. We have also seen a reduction in household income for many homes. In this context, we should not only be concerned about the 30 percent of Cambodians who live in poverty – we must also consider those who live just above the poverty line. Poor and near poor households that suffered losses of income and savings as they struggled to get through the recent lean times will take time to rebuild and recover.
The UN Development Assistance programme for 2011-2015 focuses our energies in the last five years until the MDG target date of 2015 to look at how we can support the Royal Government to achieve its targets by localising progress assessments, and tailoring efforts to meet local needs.
But we understand that this cannot be done in isolation. A strong economy, as well as good governance, are the necessary foundations on which we can build. This is why workshops like this one are so important. Over the next three days, we will examine aspects of monetary, fiscal and exchange rate policies that can be streamlined to help the country prepare for the future.
Importantly, the workshop also provides an opportunity for participants to learn from neighbouring countries’ experiences, to discuss best practices, and understand why some policies may work in some contexts, but not in others. I am pleased to note that discussions will take this knowledge exchange a step further – we will also explore opportunities for enhanced cooperation across countries in the region, to enhance capacities to effectively mobilize financial resources for long-term development.
The UN in Cambodia remains committed to working with the Royal Government of Cambodia to ensure that the poorest and most vulnerable are not left behind as the Cambodian economy regains its place among the fastest growing in the region.
I wish you a successful workshop.
###
Excellency Hang Chuon Naron, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Economy and Finance
Excellency Sok Chenda, Minister and Secretary General of the Council for the Development of Cambodia
Excellency Chea Chanto, Governor, National Bank of Cambodia
Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen
I am honoured to be here representing the UN in Cambodia and to welcome you to this important workshop on “Strengthening the response to the global financial crisis in Asia-Pacific: the role of macroeconomic policies”.
Before I begin, I would like to thank Excellency Keat Chhon and the Ministry of Economy and Finance, as well as our colleagues from the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, ESCAP, for hosting this timely event.
Cambodia demonstrated considerable progress in economic growth and social development in the past decade, but recently experienced difficult times, as did other countries in the region as a result of the global economic downturn. While economic growth shows signs of resumption this year, around 4 million people still live in poverty in Cambodia, and many more are near poor. Rural poor households, representing the majority of Cambodia’s population, are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of economic shocks such as this and are also affected by inequality.
The Royal Government of Cambodia defined ways to address these challenges in its Rectangular Strategy Phase II and the Update of the National Strategic Development Plan that was recently passed by the Senate. An important achievement in this respect has also been the progress in strengthening social protection for the poorest and most vulnerable – implementation of systematic measures in this area would represent a further important milestone in lessening hardship and vulnerabilities for those most affected.
The crisis highlighted a number of challenges for Cambodia. In particular:
How to mitigate the impact of similar economic downturns on vulnerable groups
How to mobilize additional domestic financial resources
How to coordinate macroeconomic policies to make them most effective
How to enhance the country’s competitiveness and diversify its economy, and
What structural reforms need to be made to preserve sustainable economic growth in the future.
Last year UNDP commissioned a synthesis study, “Global Financial Crisis and the Asia-Pacific Region”, incorporating evidence and experiences from a number of countries in the region. The study revealed that the global crisis has indeed adversely affected developing Asia, and some countries have been especially badly hit. At the same time, unlike many other regions of the world, on the whole, developing Asia is showing evidence of the ‘recovery’ that appears to be faster and more pronounced in this region. In this context, the potential for sharing experiences and learning within the region is truly enormous, and can provide invaluable insights and solutions, not only for immediate recovery, but also for longer-term improvements in countries’ resilience to shocks and in the protection of the most vulnerable populations.
Last year, the UN in Cambodia, with technical support from UNDP, teamed up to assess the impacts of the global economic downturn on Cambodia and to identify policy responses with the potential to address not only the immediate crisis, but also the longer-term strengthening of the economy. Drawing on the specialised expertise of each member of the UN family, we published The Global Economic Downturn: Opportunity or Crisis? in November of 2009. The UN’s ability to work together on comprehensive analysis and policy support tools such as this enables us to share a set of strategic policy recommendations with Government, development partners and other stakeholders as we work together to find concrete responses to these challenges.
This report provided a useful snapshot of how the Cambodian economy fared the economic downturn, but its findings were also incorporated in the UNDP Regional synthesis report on the crisis, giving us a clearer picture of how the entire region had been affected.
The report also outlined recommendations to help Cambodia emerge from the crisis with a stronger and more resilient economic base. Some of the key findings included: the need to diversify the economy, both in goods and in markets; provision of a comprehensive and nationwide social safety net system, particularly targeting the most vulnerable; and educational reform to match education and training programmes to the skills needed in the marketplace. By addressing these challenges, we can work to build a stronger economy that is more resilient to external shocks. From a development perspective, one of the most crucial factors is ensuring there is a nationally integrated social protection system in place to support vulnerable Cambodians facing sudden shocks such as the global economic downturn.
Investment in social safety nets now will have positive effects for Cambodia long after Cambodia’s economy has fully recovered. It is the UN’s view that a strong social safety net system should complement other measures taken to strengthen the country’s economy, such as a trade diversification strategy, as well as effective monetary, fiscal and macroeconomic policies.
Such as system could include conditional cash transfers, labour-based public works schemes and food for work, civil service pensions and health insurance. Already, informal social safety net programmes are being implemented by Government, development partners and civil society. But there are limited formal programmes in place.
At the beginning of the economic downturn, the Royal Government asked the UN to assist in developing a comprehensive national social safety net system for Cambodia. Our work with Government on social safety nets is one of our proudest success stories and we look forward to Government’s endorsement of the strategy. Addressing these priorities will go a long ways toward strengthening Cambodia’s economic foundation and reducing the country’s future vulnerability.
Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,
The economic downturn threatened Cambodia’s progress in reducing poverty, which is the first of the Millennium Development Goals. We remain concerned about the effects that the current global economic crisis will have on achieving these Goals. As Cambodia regains its economic momentum, we need to work harder than ever to ensure these goals are reached. Over the past two years – as in many countries in the region and around the world – Cambodia has suffered significant job losses, particularly in the garment and construction sectors. We have also seen a reduction in household income for many homes. In this context, we should not only be concerned about the 30 percent of Cambodians who live in poverty – we must also consider those who live just above the poverty line. Poor and near poor households that suffered losses of income and savings as they struggled to get through the recent lean times will take time to rebuild and recover.
The UN Development Assistance programme for 2011-2015 focuses our energies in the last five years until the MDG target date of 2015 to look at how we can support the Royal Government to achieve its targets by localising progress assessments, and tailoring efforts to meet local needs.
But we understand that this cannot be done in isolation. A strong economy, as well as good governance, are the necessary foundations on which we can build. This is why workshops like this one are so important. Over the next three days, we will examine aspects of monetary, fiscal and exchange rate policies that can be streamlined to help the country prepare for the future.
Importantly, the workshop also provides an opportunity for participants to learn from neighbouring countries’ experiences, to discuss best practices, and understand why some policies may work in some contexts, but not in others. I am pleased to note that discussions will take this knowledge exchange a step further – we will also explore opportunities for enhanced cooperation across countries in the region, to enhance capacities to effectively mobilize financial resources for long-term development.
The UN in Cambodia remains committed to working with the Royal Government of Cambodia to ensure that the poorest and most vulnerable are not left behind as the Cambodian economy regains its place among the fastest growing in the region.
I wish you a successful workshop.
###
Cambodian mine cleaners returned home from chad, central africa, and sudan
Cambodian monk chief blessed water on soldiers before departture to sudan
94 Cambodian peacekeepers returned from Sudan, Chad and central Africa94 Cambodian peacekeepers on Tuesday returned safely after one year mission in Sudan, Chad and central Africa.
52 Of those helped cleaning mine and uxos in Sudan and others are Police Military in Chad and Central Africa under UN mission. In Chad and Central Africa, Cambodian peacekeepers inspected the order and security to provide safety for people and officials.
Cambodia is a country passing through civil war but now it has ability to send troops to join UN mission in other subsequently. That is great honor and pride for the people,” Tea Banh, minister of defense said in home –coming ceremony at military airbase in Phnom Penh.
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Cambodia's macroeconomic policies in june 2010 after financial crisis
Cambodia hosts seminar on role of macroeconomic policies after global financial crisis
Cambodia in cooperation with UNESCAP on Tuesday conducted a seminar on “Response to Global Financial Crisis in Asia-Pacific and role of macroeconomic policies to ensure about financial development of country and economic growth and implementation in millennium development.
“The workshop is jointly organized by UNESCAP and the Ministry of Economy and Finance to provide an opportunity for Cambodia’s high level officials, policy makers and experts to conduct a focused discussion of concrete policy options to address challenges facing the country’s economy,” the statement from Ministry of economy said, adding that UNESCAP has invited experts and high level officials from key partner countries of Cambodia such as China, Thailand, Viet Nam, Republic of Korea, and India as well as experts from ESCAP, ADB, UNDP, IMF and the World Bank.
The seminar will be strengthening the response to the global financial crisis in Asia-Pacific: the role of macroeconomic policies”. “Over the next three days, we will examine aspects of monetary, fiscal and exchange rate policies that can be streamlined to help the country prepare for the future,” Douglas Broderick, UN resident coordinator. He added that the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific, ESCAP, is great for hosting this timely event.
He continued that investment in social safety nets now will have positive effects for Cambodia long after Cambodia’s economy has fully recovered. It is the UN’s view that a strong social safety net system should complement other measures taken to strengthen the country’s economy, such as a trade diversification strategy, as well as effective monetary, fiscal and macroeconomic policies.
“the system could include conditional cash transfers, labor-based public works schemes and food for work, civil service pensions and health insurance. Already, informal social safety net programmes are being implemented by Government, development partners and civil society. But there are limited formal programmes in place,” he noted.
“The economic downturn threatened Cambodia’s progress in reducing poverty, which is the first of the Millennium Development Goals. We remain concerned about the effects that the current global economic crisis will have on achieving these Goals. As Cambodia regains its economic momentum, we need to work harder than ever to ensure these goals are reached,” he added.
He said that over the past two years – as in many countries in the region and around the world – Cambodia has suffered significant job losses, particularly in the garment and construction sectors. We have also seen a reduction in household income for many homes. In this context, we should not only be concerned about the 30 percent of Cambodians who live in poverty – we must also consider those who live just above the poverty line. Poor and near poor households that suffered losses of income and savings as they struggled to get through the recent lean times will take time to rebuild and recover. ###
former king and queen mother, king visit Vietnam june 22, 2010
Cambodian King, Former King and queen mother leave for Vietnam’s visit
Cambodian king Norodom Sihamoni and former King Norodom Sihanouk and Queen Mother Monineat Sihanouk departed here to pay private visit to Vietnam.
The royal families also accompanied the former king, king and queen mother at this time.
Former king said in the statement posted on his website that his visit to Vietnam this time is "private" only, not any thing beside that.
Before departure of Phnom Penh international airport this morning, hundreds of Cambodian governmental officials including Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Se, senate president Chea Sim, National assembly president Heng Samrin welcomed the king, former king and queen mother.
this visit also accompanies by other top officials from royal palace.
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Cambodian king Norodom Sihamoni and former King Norodom Sihanouk and Queen Mother Monineat Sihanouk departed here to pay private visit to Vietnam.
The royal families also accompanied the former king, king and queen mother at this time.
Former king said in the statement posted on his website that his visit to Vietnam this time is "private" only, not any thing beside that.
Before departure of Phnom Penh international airport this morning, hundreds of Cambodian governmental officials including Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Se, senate president Chea Sim, National assembly president Heng Samrin welcomed the king, former king and queen mother.
this visit also accompanies by other top officials from royal palace.
###
France provides aid to restore Angkorian Empire’s Baphoun Temple
France on Tuesday provided the additional aid of 480,000 EURO to Cambodian government to restore and maintain the Angkorian Empire’s Baphoun temple in Angkor wat temple compound in Siem Reap province.
The agreement was signed by Sun Sapheon, secretary of state for foreign ministry and French ambassador to Cambodia, Jean-François DESMAZIERES at Cambodia’s Foreign Ministry this morning.
“n total, we has helped 7.8 million euro to restore Baphoun temple for 15 years and it has started since 1995, and the far eastern school (EFEO in French) has worked as implementing agency in cooperation with Cambodian experts,” French ambassador said.
“We thanked to French side that continued to help restoring Cambodian ancient temples,” sun said. The ancient temple is one of the symbols of Khmer architecture and cultures.
The agreement was signed by Sun Sapheon, secretary of state for foreign ministry and French ambassador to Cambodia, Jean-François DESMAZIERES at Cambodia’s Foreign Ministry this morning.
“n total, we has helped 7.8 million euro to restore Baphoun temple for 15 years and it has started since 1995, and the far eastern school (EFEO in French) has worked as implementing agency in cooperation with Cambodian experts,” French ambassador said.
“We thanked to French side that continued to help restoring Cambodian ancient temples,” sun said. The ancient temple is one of the symbols of Khmer architecture and cultures.
France helps fighting fake medicine in Cambodia
France on Tuesday provided 123, 5 00 Euro to fight against illegal and fake medicines in Cambodia for 2010 project.
The signing ceremony of one of two conventions was inked at Cambodia’s foreign ministry between H.E. Mrs SUN Saphoeun, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and H.E. Jean-François Desmazières, Ambassador of France in Cambodia.
Those fake medicine has affected health’s local people and others and the project is under the framework of Mekong river Cooperation including Vietnam,, Laos and Cambodia in combating illegal and fake drugs in region,” Jean said.
The fund will be used to train experts, promote law enforcement, and inspired the inter-ministry,’ he noted. Cambodia is working with other countries to fight against illegal and fake drugs.
Cambodia is one of country related with fake malaria drug and that is core of treatement because those malaria drugs are accustomed with medicine. Infected people are not cured properly. ##
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