Road accidents claim 801 lives in Cambodia in first 5 months

   PHNOM PENH, June 7 (Xinhua) -- Road accidents had killed 801 Cambodian people in the first five months of this year; there is no sign of decline despite the government’s efforts in law enforcement and education, said a senior transport official on Tuesday.

   Peou Maly, a deputy director general of the ministry of public works and transport, said that from January to May this year, 2001 traffic accidents had occurred nationwide and killed 801 people. 

   “We noticed that road accidents are crueler at the present due to increasing number of vehicles, good roads, over-speeding, overtaking, and alcohol driving,” he said during opening a two-day seminar on educational campaign on road safety.

   The death toll of road accidents has become the No. 1 killer in Cambodia among those of HIV/AIDS and mine casualties.

   In 2010, 1,816 people were killed by road accidents; 70 percent of the deaths were motorcycle drivers, according to the reports by the ministry.

   The country lost 279 million U.S. dollars from road accidents last year. (Nguon Sovan)

Cambodia, China trade hits 498 mln U.S.D in Q1, up 216 pct: gov’t report

   PHNOM PENH, June 7 (Xinhua) -- The bilateral trade between Cambodia and China reached 498 million U.S. dollars in the first quarter of this year, 216 percent rise from 157.5 million U.S. dollars at the same period last year, showed to the statistics from the ministry of commerce on Tuesday.

   Of the figure, from January to March this year, Cambodia’s exports to China worth 42 million U.S. dollars, increased by 342 percent from 9.5 million U.S. dollars at the same period last year, and Cambodia’s imports from China reached 456 million U.S. dollars, up 208 percent from 148 million U.S. dollars.

   Cambodia’s main imports from China were garment raw materials, machinery, foodstuffs, electronics, furniture, light products, medicines and cosmetics.

   Cambodia’s main exports to China were agricultural products, rubbers, fishery, timbers, and some garments and textiles.

   “The sharp rise is thanked to better economic recovery and closer economic and social ties between the two countries,” Kong Putheara, director of the commerce ministry’s statistics department, said Tuesday.

   The two countries’ trade value was 1.4 million U.S. dollars in 2010; and the two governments pledged to boost it to 2.5 billion U.S. dollars in 2012.  (Nguon Sovan)

Cambodian, Thai information officials meet to strengthen cooperation despite border row

 PHNOM PENH, June 6 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian and Thai information officials met here on Monday to strengthen and expand cooperation on information and broadcasting between the two neighboring countries despite ongoing bitter border row. 
   Ladavan Bua-aim, deputy director general of the public relations department at the National Broadcasting Services of Thailand, said that despite the border dispute, Cambodia and Thailand still have enjoyed close cooperation at all levels in terms of economic and social development.
   “As ASEAN members, I am confident that our two countries are working together to realize an ASEAN community by 2015, and we will move even closer together,” he said in the fourth meeting of Cambodian and Thai informaiton officials. 
   Cambodia and Thailand signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the cooperation in the field of information and broadcasting in February 2006.
   “Although the MoU has not produced a very high result, but it helps foster better understanding and relation between the people of the two countries,” Thach Phan, a secretary of state for Cambodian ministry of information, said.
   Cambodia and Thailand have border conflict just a week after Cambodia’s Preah Vihear temple was enlisted as a World Heritage Site on July 7, 2008.
   Since then, both sides have built up military forces along the border and periodic clashes have happened, resulted in the deaths of troops and civilians on both sides.  (Nguon Sovan)

Cambodian PM denies he agrees with ex-Thai deputy army chief on troop withdrawal, joint management plan

 PHNOM PENH, June 6 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said Monday he has never agreed with Gen. Wichit Yathip, the former Thai deputy army chief, on troop withdrawal, joint management plan, and joint-living of Cambodian and Thai monks at a pagoda next to the 11th century Preah Vihear temple.
   His denial was made after Thai print media and TVs reported that Gen. Wichit Yathip said that before the armed clashes between the two countries’ troops broke out in February, he had talked with Prime Minister Hun Sen and the premier suggested a three-point solution.
   They were that both countries should withdraw troops from the (disputed) area, jointly manage the 4.6 square kilometer overlapping border area, and have Thai and Cambodian monks live together at the Keo Sikha Kiri Svara pagoda, which is in the disputed area.
   Hun Sen acknowledged that he met with Wichit during a wedding ceremony of the son of Cambodian deputy prime minister, minister of defense Tea Banh in Phnom Penh.
   “Wichit Yathip just paid a short courtesy call on me and we had not discussed anything concerning to the Thai-claimed overlapping area near the temple because Cambodia has never known where the 4.6 square kilometer area is,” he said at the graduation ceremony at the Royal School of Administration. “I don’t know where he has these remarks from.”
   “Wichit should clarify on his remarks, or he would lose his value,” said the premier.
   The premier said that if Cambodia agreed to these points, there would be no Cambodia’s complaints to international bodies.
   Wichit, is a close aide of former Thai premier Chavalit Yongchaiyudh, who has close ties with Cambodia.
   Cambodian and Thai border has never been fully completed. The conflict occurred just a week after Cambodia’s Preah Vihear temple was enlisted as a World Heritage Site on July 7, 2008.
   Thailand claims the ownership of 4.6 square kilometers (1.8 square miles) of scrub next to the temple.
   Since then, both sides have built up military forces along the border and periodic clashes have happened, resulted in the deaths of troops and civilians on both sides. (Nguon Sovan)

Cambodian PM: No withdrawal of Preah Vihear temple case at ICJ

PHNOM PENH, June 6 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia will not withdraw its request for the interpretation of the Court’s judgment of 1962 on the case concerning the temple of Preah Vihear temple, said the Prime Minister Hun Sen on Monday.
   “For the temple case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), Cambodia will not withdraw its complaint at any cost, even in this government’s mandate or next mandate, let’s the Court to proceed it,” he said during a graduation ceremony at the Royal School of Administration.
   The premier made the remarks after the Bangkok Post online newspaper reported that Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said on June 5 Cambodia should withdraw all border dispute cases from international bodies and return to talks with Thailand.
   “Cambodia should first show good will by withdrawing his country's request that the International Court of Justice (ICJ) interpret its 1962 ruling on Preah Vihear temple,” said Abhisit.
   He also insisted that a joint management plan for the disputed area near Preah Vihear temple must be made, and that Cambodia must also withdraw the temple from world heritage listing.
   Hun Sen said: “It’s impossible for the joint management plan for Preah Vihear temple with Thailand.”
   “Cambodia has never known and heard about the overland overlapping areas with Thailand; Cambodia does not know where the 4.6 square kilometer area is.”
   He reiterated that the dispute between Cambodia and Thailand on the border dispute near Preah Vihear temple has already reached in the hands of international bodies-the United Nations Security Council, the ASEAN and the Hague, “it is no way to return to bilateral talks as insisted by Thailand.”
   “Cambodia cannot withdraw its troops from its own territory in order to exchange with the deployment of a few Indonesian observers,” he said.
   Cambodian and Thai border has never been fully completed. The conflict occurred just a week after Cambodia’s Preah Vihear temple was enlisted as a World Heritage Site on July 7, 2008.
   Thailand claims the ownership of 4.6 square kilometers (1.8 square miles) of scrub next to the temple.
   Since then, both sides have built up military forces along the border and periodic clashes have happened, resulted in the deaths of troops and civilians on both sides.
   The latest flare-up between the two countries’ troops occurred from April 22 until May 3 at the 13th century Ta Moan temple and Ta Krabei temple in Oddar Meanchey province, leaving 19 people on both sides killed and nearly 100,000 civilians fled homes for safe shelters.
   The two sides agreed to accept Indonesian observers to monitor a ceasefire on their respective border side on Feb 22 at the ASEAN foreign ministers meeting in Jakarta, but the deployment was always delayed because Thailand demanded that Cambodian soldiers and locals be withdrawn from the disputed area of 4.6 sq km near the temple first. (Nguon Sovan)

China’s Guangdong forms association in Cambodia

   PHNOM PENH, June 5 (Xinhua) -- A group of Chinese businesspeople from China’s Guangdong province on Sunday officially opened an association in Cambodia, aiming at bridging closer relations among Chinese themselves and boosting closer relation between Guangdong and Cambodia, said the association president.
   “At the start, the association has roughly 35 Chinese from Guangdong province as members,” Chen Ming Xin, the president of the Guangdong-Cambodia Association, said during the inauguration ceremony.
   He estimated that in Cambodia, there are over 1,000 Guangdong Chinese are living and doing businesses ranging from small businesses, imports and exports to garment industry.
   “The association will be a venue for Chinese to meet and share ideas and will also be a voice to talk with Cambodian government in business affairs,” said Chen Ming Xin, who is also the chairman of Tong Hai Import and Export Co.
   The Association was officially registered at the ministry of interior and Phnom Penh municipality earlier this year, he said.
   Guangdong is a province on the southern coast of China.  (Nguon Sovan)

Cambodian PM: environmental protection most vital for economic development

PHNOM PENH, June 4 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said the protection of environment is the most important factor to guarantee the country’s substantial development of economy.
   In his message to mark the 17th International Environment Day, which was celebrated in Phnom Penh on Saturday, the premier said:  “the government of Cambodia sees the international relation and cooperation on environment issues as a priority, and the environmental protection is the most important measure for Cambodia to ensure the sustainability of the country’s economic development.”
   He also appealed to all ministries, institutions, armed forces, local authorities, monks and people in all walks of life to maintain and protect environment for the country’s interests and their well-being.
   The Saturday’s event was presided over by the environment minister Mok Mareth and Phnom Penh governor Kep Chuk Tema, and attended by some 500 government officials, environmental activists and students.
   "In an effort to protect our environment, the mininstry, in collaboration with all stakeholders, has worked hard to manage natural resources, to prevent logging,and to encourage re-planting tree seedlings," said Mok Mareth.
   There had also been an environment exhibition at the event, which displays a variety of forest-made products, organic home-grown fruits and vegetables, and environmental services provided by NGOs and companies.   (Nguon Sovan)

Cambodia warns Thailand for airspace violations along border: defense statement

 PHNOM PENH, June 3 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian ministry of defense on Friday evening issued a statement warning Thailand for repeatedly violating Cambodian airspace along the disputed border areas.
   The statement said that Thai forces on May 31 and June 1 at noon flew a military surveillance aircraft L19 over Cambodian territory along the border in Banteay Meanchey province, and also on June 3 in the morning, a group of black-uniformed Thai troops rode an engine-driven parachute to spy along the border in Cambodia’s Battambang province.
   “The repeated airspace violations by Thai troops can be considered as a provocative act in an attempt to renew armed clashes,” it said. “With this provocative act, Thai troops must be responsible for any eventual accident at the present time and in the future.”
   “The Royal Cambodian Armed Forces calls for Thai troops relevant to the violations to stop abruptly this provocative act,” it said.
   The statement said that the situation along Cambodia and Thailand is still “quite fragile” and armed clashes can happen all the time.
   Cambodia and Thailand has border dispute just a week after Cambodia’s Preah Vihear temple was enlisted as a World Heritage Site on July 7, 2008.
   The conflict is due to Thailand claims the ownership of 4.6 square kilometers (1.8 square miles) of scrub next to the temple.
   Since then, both sides have built up military forces along the border and periodic clashes have happened, resulted in the deaths of troops and civilians on both sides.
   The latest flare-up between the two countries’ troops occurred from April 22 until May 3 at the 13th century Ta Moan temple and Ta Krabei temple in Oddar Meanchey province, leaving 19 people on both sides killed and nearly 100,000 civilians fled homes for safe shelters.
   The two sides agreed to accept Indonesian observers to monitor a ceasefire on their respective border side on Feb 22 at the ASEAN foreign ministers meeting in Jakarta, but the deployment was always delayed because Thailand demanded that Cambodian soldiers and locals be withdrawn from the disputed area of 4.6 sq km near the temple first.  (Nguon Sovan)

Cambodian gov’t approves establishment of Khmer language council

PHNOM PENH, June 3 (Xinhua) -- The government of Cambodia on Friday passed a draft royal decree on the establishment of the National Council for Khmer Language (NCKL), said a press release after the meeting of the council of ministers.
   “The council will be a national mechanism to conserve and develop language use substantially with maintaining the country’s national identifications,” the statement said.
   The NCKL has obligations to make uniform in “word writing, word pronouncing, word using and word borrowing from languages”.
   Cambodia is in need of resources to improve its language use and development, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said in a speech last month.
   The country has been under shortage of language expertise as for every law written, there has to have a lexicon attached to it, he said.  “We need to have a unified form of language use.”  (Nguon Sovan)

Cambodia’s city port reports 34 pct rise in shipments in first five months

PHNOM PENH, June 3 (Xinhua) -- Container traffic through Phnom Penh Autonomous Port increased by 34 percent in the first five months of this year versus the same period last year, showed the port’s statistics on Friday.
   From January to May this year, the port has received 28,144 twenty-foot-equivalent units, or TEUs, up 34 percent from 20,997 TEUs (standard-sized containers) at the same period last year, said the report.
   Common goods have been exported through the port are garment products and agricultural products, and imported products via the port are construction materials, agricultural machinery, raw materials for garment production.
   Hei Bavy, the port’s director general, said that the rise is due to the increasing imports and exports as the economic situation is recovering well.
   “Also, we have observed that the country's rice exports are on the rise constantly,” he said.
   The Phnom Penh Autonomous Port is the Kingdom’s second largest port, linking with Cai Mep deepwater port in southern Vietnam.
   The goods shipped from the port will be unloaded at Cai Mep port and then sail directly to Europe and the United States and other destinations. (Nguon Sovan)

Cambodia’s real estate development rises 161 pct in first four months

PHNOM PENH, June 2 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia has seen 161 percent growth in real estate development investments in the first four months of this year, compared with the same period last year, according to the statistics from the ministry of land management, urban planning and construction on Thursday.
   The reports showed that from January to April this year, the ministry had approved nearly 700 construction projects worth 482 million U.S. dollars, 161 percent rise from 184 million U.S. dollars at the same period last year.
   “The country’s real estate sector has been seeing a sign of recovery since it had been hard hit by the global financial crisis in 2008,”  Lao Tip Seiha, director of the ministry's construction department, said Thursday.
   Since the start of the year, many of mega-projects, commercial development projects, tourism facility projects and housing development have been applied for construction licenses and some have been actively constructing.
   Cambodia’s construction and real estate sector have faced the downturn since the global financial crisis in 2008.
   The ministry’s report showed that the investments on the country’s real estate developments have constantly declined from 3.1 billion U.S. dollars in 2008 to 1.98 billion U.S. dollars in 2009 and further drop to 840 million U.S. dollars in 2010. (Nguon Sovan)

Sinohydro Corp completes a 193 megawatt dam construction in Cambodia

 PHNOM PENH, June 2 (Xinhua) -- The Sinohydro Corporation, the China's leading dam builder, has successfully completed the construction of a 193 megawatt Kamchay hydroelectric dam in Kampot province, some 150 kilometers Southwest of Phnom Penh, said the firm representative on Thursday.
   “We have already completed the dam construction project on schedule,” said Kim Sovan, the firm representative. “The operations of power supply will begin from December this year.”
   He added that the power will be sold to the state-owned Electricite du Cambodge (EDC).
   The Sinohydro Corporation received a 40 year concessional contract from Cambodian government to build-operate-transfer (BOT) the dam.
   The construction has been begun in 2008 with the investment of 280 million U.S. dollars.
   Kamchay hydropower dam is one of the five dams invested by China with the total investments of 1.6 billion U.S. dollars with a total capacity of 915 megawatts.
   The other four dams being constructed are Kirirom 3 with the capacity of 18 megawatt, Tatay river hydropower dam with the capacity of 246 megawatt, Atay hydropower dam of 120 megawatt and the Russei Chrum Krom with the capacity of 338 megawatts.
   Cambodia’s economy has rapidly developed since 2005 and the shortage of electricity has been posing a concern for investors.
   With the operation of the Kamchay hydropower dam by the end of this year, it is expected that the cost of power in this country will be cheaper.   (Nguon Sovan)

Cambodia has advantage over Thailand on temple issues at ICJ: Deputy PM

PHNOM PENH, June 2 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia has the advantage over Thailand in the legal battle between the two countries at the Hague, the Netherlands, said Cambodian deputy prime minister Hor Namhong, minister of foreign affairs on Thursday.
   “With the internationally legal mechanism, Cambodia is in a better advantageous position than Thailand as we have internationally recognized documents and maps to support on the issues of Preah Vihear temple,” he said at Phnom Penh International Airport upon his return from the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the Netherlands, where he joined the two-day public hearing on the issues of Preah Vihear temple on May 30-31.
   “However, the decision is up to the Court,” he said.
   The public hearing was held after Cambodia, on April 28, submitted a request to the Court for the interpretation of the Court’s judgment of 1962 on the case concerning the temple of Preah Vihear. Also, it submitted a request to the ICJ to take conservatory measures for the temple.
   During the hearing on Cambodia's request for conservatory measures, Hor Namhong suggested the Court to issue provisional measures ordering Thailand to withdraw all its forces from those parts of Cambodian territory situated in the area of the temple of Preah Vihear, to cease on all military activity by Thailand in the area of the temple, and to refrain Thailand from any act or action which could interfere with the rights of Cambodia until the Court's interpretation of the ICJ’s 1962 judgment.
   “All the points I suggested, Thailand has insisted the Court not to agree with,” he said.
    However, the Court's decision will be made within 40 to 45 days.
   “Whatever the decision the Court makes will not damage Cambodia because Cambodia is the requester,” he said.
   The ICJ awarded Preah Vihear temple to Cambodia in 1962 and the temple was enlisted as a World Heritage Site on July 7, 2008.
   The border conflict between Cambodia and Thailand has occurred just a week after the enlistment due to Thailand claims the ownership of 4.6 square kilometers (1.8 square miles) of scrub next to the temple.
   Since then, both sides have built up military forces along the border and periodic clashes have happened, resulted in the deaths of troops and civilians on both sides.
   The two sides agreed to accept Indonesian observers to monitor a ceasefire on their respective border side on Feb 22 at the ASEAN foreign ministers meeting in Jakarta, but the deployment was always delayed because Thailand demanded that Cambodian soldiers and locals be withdrawn from the disputed area of 4.6 sq km near the temple first.  (Nguon Sovan)

SKorea’s Woori bank in talks with Cambodia for branch opening

 PHNOM PENH, June 2 (Xinhua) -- Woori Bank, the South Korea’s largest finance group, has been in talks with the National Bank of Cambodia (NBC), the regulator for the kingdom’s banking industry, in order to open its branch here, a NBC’ senior official said Thursday.
   “The bank has expressed its interest in Cambodia’s market and has studied about the potential of Cambodian banking industry a few months ago,” Nguon Sokha, the NBC’s director general, told Xinhua.
   She added that a meeting between the bank’s management and NBC officials will be held within this month towards the proposal for branch opening.
   “In principle, the NBC is pleased to welcome foreign large banks to Cambodia in order to strengthen the country’s banking industry,” she added.
   “Large banks here will reflect their trust on Cambodia,” she said. “Also, they will bring new sources of capital to develop the economy and new sophisticated banking technology for banking development.”
   Nguon Sokha said that although there have been up to 29 commercial banks in Cambodia now, there still be room to grow for new comers.
   “The ratio of the banks’ lending to GDP is 27 percent at the moment, it’s still low, we want to see it rise to around 40 percent of GDP,” she said.
   The country’s GDP in 2010 was roughly 11.7 billion U.S. dollars.
   According to Cambodian law, to open a commercial bank, the investor is required to have the minimum registered capital of 37.5 million U.S. dollars.
   Currently, four South Korea’s banks are operating in Cambodia, including two commercial banks and two specialized banks. (Nguon Sovan)

Cambodia sees big rise in tourism investments in first 4 months

PHNOM PENH, June 01 (Xinhua) -- The Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC) on Wednesday reported that the domestic and foreign investments in Cambodia in the first four months of this year hit 2.5 billion U.S. dollars, 176 percent rise from 907 million U.S. dollars at the same period last year.
   Of the figure, only two approved investment projects in tourism are worth up to 2.1 billion U.S. dollars, it’s a big jump if compared to the same period last year of only 17 million U.S. dollars.
   A CDC’s official said Wednesday that the investors have been putting their money to tap the country’s tourism potentials.
   “There has been a huge surge in tourism investments since the start of this year,” Yuon Heng, director of the CDC’s Evaluation and Incentive Department.
   “This reflects the investors’ trust in the country’s cultural and natural tourism,” he added before declining to give the details.
   Besides tourism investments, the report recorded 204 million U.S. dollar investments in garment factories and other industries, 192 million U.S. dollars in services and telecommunications, and 4 million U.S. dollars in agriculture.
   Domestic investors are leading the investments with 1.23 billion U.S. dollars, following by China and the United States of America with 1.09 billion U.S. dollars and 94 million U.S. dollars respectively.
   In 2010, Cambodia approved the investment projects worth 2.69 billion U.S. dollars.  Enditem (Nguon Sovan)

PHNOM PENH, June 1 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen called for “high attention” to children on the occasion of the 62th anniversary of International Children’s Day. In his message to mark the day on June 1, the premier said: “I’d like to appeal to all national institutions, communities and all Cambodian people to pay particular attention to children as they are the backbone of the country in the future generations.” He added that the government has vowed to increase interventions in social affairs through the increase of the national budget expenditures on education, health and children welfare improvement programs in order to meet the basic needs of children. “On behalf of the government, I fully support all activities aiming at assisting basic needs of children,” he said. In a related event on Wednesday, a well-known local right group Licadho also marked the event by distributing food and materials to children and pregnant women in 14 of Cambodia. The government reports showed that some 730 juvenile prisoners have been incarcerated in Cambodia’s 25 prisons as of April. Also, Cambodia’s prisons are home to approximately 14 pregnant women and nearly 40 children who live with their incarcerated mothers. Enditem (Nguon Sovan)

PHNOM PENH, June 1 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen called for “high attention” to children on the occasion of the 62th anniversary of International Children’s Day.
   In his message to mark the day on June 1, the premier said: “I’d like to appeal to all national institutions, communities and all Cambodian people to pay particular attention to children as they are the backbone of the country in the future generations.”
   He added that the government has vowed to increase interventions in social affairs through the increase of the national budget expenditures on education, health and children welfare improvement programs in order to meet the basic needs of children.
   “On behalf of the government, I fully support all activities aiming at assisting basic needs of children,” he said.
   In a related event on Wednesday, a well-known local right group Licadho also marked the event by distributing food and materials to children and pregnant women in 14 of Cambodia's prisons.
   The government reports showed that some 730 juvenile prisoners have been incarcerated in Cambodia’s 25 prisons as of April.
   Also, Cambodia’s prisons are home to approximately 14 pregnant women and nearly 40 children who live with their incarcerated mothers. (Nguon Sovan)

Japan’s Nidec Corp to invest in IT device manufacturing plant in Cambodia

PHNOM PENH, May 31 (Xinhua) -- The Tokyo-based Nidec Corporation is going to invest in an IT hardware manufacturing factory in Cambodia, the firm’s chairman said here on Tuesday.
   During a meeting with the prime minister Hun Sen, Shigenobu Nagamori, Chairman of the Board, President & Chief Executive Officer of Nidec Corporation, said that the Nidec Corporation is the world's leading manufacturer of the tiny electric motors that power hard disk drives on personal computers and other digital electronics.
   “I am here today to express my strong desire to invest in information technology industry in Cambodia.” he told the premier.
   He did not disclose the investment amount the company planned for Cambodia.
   Nidec has presence in 28 countries, employing 130,000 workers. Last year’s total revenues was
8.5 billion U.S. dollars, he said.
   The company has successfully invested 100 million U.S. dollars in Thailand and 40 million U.S. dollars in Vietnam for IT device manufacturing factories.
   Meanwhile, the premier expressed his support for the company’s desire to invest in Cambodia and recommended the company to work with the Council for the Development of Cambodia in order to learn about investment procedures and incentives. (Nguon Sovan)

Cambodia receives one million foreign tourists in first four months, up 13 pct

 PHNOM PENH, May 31 (Xinhua) -- International visitors to Cambodia increased by 13 percent to one million in the first four months of this year from 884,716 at the same period last year, according to the statistics released by the Ministry of Tourism on Tuesday.
   Of the figure, 53 percent, or 534,094 visitors, travelled to Cambodia by air and the rest by land and water.
   Among the top ten markets arrivals to Cambodia in the first four months, Vietnamese tourists rated first with 181,832, up 18 percent, South Korea ranked second with 130,233, up 22 percent and China at third with 85,175, up 34 percent.
   The report showed that Thai tourists to Cambodia had declined up to 35 percent to 34,811 due to the twice deadly armed clashes over the disputed border areas between the two countries’ troops on Feb. 4 to 7 and on April 22 to May 3.
   Tourism industry is one of the main four pillars supporting Cambodian economy. In 2010, the sector received 2.5 million foreign tourists generating the total revenue of 1.75 billion US dollars. (Nguon Sovan)

Cambodia’s coastline awarded as world most beautiful bay

PHNOM PENH, May 31 (Xinhua) -- Club of the World’s Most Beautiful Bays has officially recognized Cambodia’s coastal areas as its member last week, the minister of tourism, Thong Khon confirmed Tuesday.
   The recognition was made after Cambodia’s proposal in May last year.
   “With the club’s recognition, we have optimism that our clean and well-preserved beaches will attract more foreign tourists,” he said. “It will also be an impetus to encourage more investors to the areas.”
   Cambodia’s coastline is stretching in the length of 450 kilometers in four provinces of Koh Kong, Sihanoukville, Kampot and Kep.
   It is the country’s second most popular destination for tourists after Siem Reap’s Angkor Wat temple, the world heritage site.
   The club was established in March 1997, in Berlin, Germany. Including Cambodia, it has 27 countries as member with 33 bays to be recognized as the most beautiful bays in the world, said the minister.
   According to the club’s criteria, to be listed as the world’s most beautiful bay, a bay must be under protection project with a wildlife and flora area. Also, it must be recognized by both local and regional level, and it must possess at least two features recognized by UNESCO in the cultural or natural assets categories.
   Tourism industry is one of the main four pillars supporting Cambodian economy. In 2010, the sector received 2.5 million foreign tourists generating the total revenue of 1.75 billion U.S. dollars.

Cambodia launches new forest, biodiversity project in four provinces

PHNOM PENH, May 30 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia on Monday launched a new project worth over 3.8 million U.S. dollars to help preserve forests and biodiversity in four provinces: Kampong Speu, Kampong Chhnang, Pursat and Battambang, said a press release at the launching ceremony.
   The project is funded by the United Nations Development Programme and the Global Environment Facility; it will be implemented by Cambodia’s forestry administration through February 2015.
   The four selected provinces are home to forests that have globally significant biodiversity and can also act as major carbon reserves, it said.
   Activities to be undertaken by the new project include establishment and management of forest-based businesses in approximately 30 community forests and 10 community protected areas.
   Villagers, women in particular, will receive training in production of energy efficient cook stoves to generate incomes and help reduce consumption of firewood and emission of carbon dioxide, it added.
   Chheng Kimsun, head of the forestry administration, said at the launching ceremony that the government is aiming to establish 2 million hectares of community forestry sites throughout the country by 2029.
   “This project will undoubtedly aide further our endeavors to protect, manage and preserve our forests,” he said.
   Sophie Baranes, deputy country director of UNDP-Cambodia, said in her remarks at the launch that in Cambodia, forest resources contribute from 30 to 40 percent of total household livelihood of rural people living near forests. Therefore, providing them with means to earn incomes to support their families is a crucial incentive to involve them in forest conservation.
   Forest cover in Cambodia is estimated to be currently at 57 percent and the government aims to restore it back to 60 percent by 2015, said the forestry administration’s report. (Nguon Sovan)

Cambodia to launch stock market on July 11: gov't statement

PHNOM PENH, May 30 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia is scheduled to inaugurate the long-awaited Cambodia Securities Exchange (CSX) on July 11, according to the statement of the finance ministry released to the media on Monday.
   And the first securities trading will begin towards the end of 2011, added the statement dated on May 26.
  The ministry explained that the above two different dates being planned are based on the experience of some countries, which scheduled the start of the securities market operator first, in order for this operator to have enough time in preparing the process of the first securities training. 
   The CSX is a securities market operator, a securities clearing and settlement facility operator, and a depository operator.
   The head-office of the CSX is located in the kingdom’s tallest building, Canadia Tower in Phnom Penh.
   Three state-owned enterprises--Sihanoukville Autonomous Port, Telecom Cambodia and Phnom Penh Water Supply Authority--have been preparing IPO (Initial Public Offering) to list in the upcoming CSX.
   The plan to open CSX was initiated by Korean Exchange in 2007. (Nguon Sovan)

Cambodia’s insurance industry sees 27 pct rise in revenues in Q1

PHNOM PENH, May 30 (Xinhua) -- Premium revenues in the Kingdom’s nascent insurance industry increased by 27 percent in the first three months of this year, compared to the same period last year, according to the industry’s report released on Monday.
   From January to March this year, the industry earned a total premium revenue of 6.78 million US dollars, 27 percent up from 5.34 million U.S. dollars at the same period last year, according to the latest report of the General Insurance Association of Cambodia (GIAC).
   During the period, the industry had paid for the claims in the amount of 1.3 million U.S. dollars, 11 percent decline.
   The figure was collected from the kingdom’s six general insurance firms and one Cambodia-Re-insurance Company.
   It recorded that the main sources of premium were fire insurance of 29 percent, following by miscellaneous insurance of 29 percent and motor insurance of 24 percent.
   Chhay Rattanak, GIAC’s chairman, said Monday that the industry expected to see 28 percent rise in premium revenues in 2011 thanks to better business environment.
   Cambodia has six insurance companies: Forte Insurance, CAMINCO, Asia Insurance, Campubank Lonpac, Infinity Insurance, and Cambodia-Vietnam Insurance. There is also one domestic reinsurance company.
   The industry earned the premium revenues of 24.9 million U.S. dollars in 2010. (Nguon Sovan)

Cambodian activists call for cigarette tax increase on World No Tobacco Day

 PHNOM PENH, May 30 (Xinhua) -- Some 300 Cambodian tobacco-free activists on Monday gathered here to mark the World No Tobacco Day and called for the government to raise taxes on tobacco products in order to discourage smokers.
   “Tax increases for cigarettes will be the most effective means to reduce the number of death caused by tobacco use,” Mom Kong, the executive director of the NGO-Cambodia Movement for Health, said during the event. “Moreover, the increase will generate more tax revenues for the state coffer.”
   Meanwhile, Ho Naun, the National Assembly’s chairwoman of the Commission on Public Health and Social Welfares, expressed her full support to the demand of tobacco tax increase.
   “I believe that it’s a major measure to discourage smokers,” she said.
   According to the statistics of the planning ministry, currently, nearly 2 million out of the country’s 7.5 million Cambodian adults have been using tobacco by smoke or smokeless tobacco (betel quid).
  It is estimated that about 99 million U.S. dollars has been spent for cigarettes and tobacco annually in Cambodia. (Nguon Sovan)

Cambodia confident temple’s management plan to be officially accepted by UNESCO

PHNOM PENH, May 29 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia is firmly confident that the UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee (WHC) will officially accept the management plan of Preah Vihear temple in the 35th WHC meeting in Paris on June 19-29 despite the groundless objection by Thailand, said a top government official on Sunday.
   “In the next month’s meeting, the World Heritage Committee will make the official decision on the management plan of Preah Vihear temple, which Cambodia submitted in the last year’s annual WHC meeting,”  the cabinet minister Sok An, Chairman of the Cambodian National Commission for UNESCO, said Sunday at Phnom Penh International Airport upon his arrival from Paris, where he held talks with Thai Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Suwit Khunkitti on Preah Vihear temple issues under the mediation by the UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova.
   “Cambodia has enough legal documents, which are internationally recognized, to support that the temple’s management plan is done in Cambodian territory,” he said. “The plan has also been admired by UNESCO for its good and standardized preparation in the last year’s committee meeting.”
   However, the Bangkok Post online newspaper reported on Sunday that Suwit Khunkitti said the UNESCO has not made decision yet on whether the WHC will debate Cambodia’s management plan.
   He added that Thailand and Cambodia would hold more talks over Cambodia's management plan for the disputed 4.6-square-kilometre area around Preah Vihear temple ahead of the 35th WHC meeting next month.
   In response, Sok An said that Cambodia welcomed more meetings with Thailand under the UNESCO arrangements prior to the next month's WHC meeting in June.
   The International Court of Justice (ICJ) awarded Preah Vihear temple to Cambodia in 1962 and the temple was enlisted as a World Heritage Site on July 7, 2008.
   The border conflict between Cambodia and Thailand occurred just a week after the enlistment as Thailand claims the ownership of 4. 6 square kilometers (1.8 square miles) of scrub next to the temple.
   Since then, both sides have built up military forces along the border and periodic clashes have happened, resulting in the deaths of troops and civilians on both sides.
   The two sides agreed to accept Indonesian observers to monitor a ceasefire on their respective border side on Feb. 22 at the ASEAN foreign ministers meeting in Jakarta, but the deployment was always delayed because Thailand demanded that Cambodian soldiers and locals be withdrawn from the disputed area of 4.6 sq km near the temple first. (Nguon Sovan)

Cambodia says UNESCO not postpone Preah Vihear temple’s management plan

PHNOM PENH, May 27 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has not postponed the consideration of the management plan for Preah Vihear temple, scheduled for June 19-29 at the 35th session of World Heritage Committee, the cabinet minister Sok An, Chairman of the Cambodian National Commission for UNESCO, said on Friday night.
   Sok An’s assertion was made after the Thai state media MCOT online news reported on Friday Thai Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Suwit Khunkitti said the UNESCO supported Thailand's request for the agency's World Heritage Committee (WHC) to postpone consideration of the management plan for the areas surrounding the World Heritage-listed temple, pending demarcation of the border between Thailand and Cambodia.
   Sok An said that Suwit Khunkitti had raised the postponement request to the UNESCO during the meeting on May 25-26 on Preah Vihear temple issues at the UNESCO’s headquarters in Paris, France under the mediation by the UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova.
   “But the Thai request has not fulfilled because we (Cambodia) disagreed to postpone it,” he said in a live telephone interview from Paris by the local Cambodian Television Network. “It is completely untrue that Thailand said the UNESCO agreed to postpone the consideration of the Preah Vihear temple’s management plan.”
  The International Court of Justice (ICJ) awarded Preah Vihear temple to Cambodia in 1962 and the temple was enlisted as a World Heritage Site on July 7, 2008.
   The border conflict between Cambodia and Thailand occurred just a week after the enlistment as Thailand claims the ownership of 4. 6 square kilometers (1.8 square miles) of scrub next to the temple.
   Since then, both sides have built up military forces along the border and periodic clashes have happened, resulting in the deaths of troops and civilians on both sides.
   The two sides agreed to accept Indonesian observers to monitor a ceasefire on their respective border side on Feb. 22 at the ASEAN foreign ministers meeting in Jakarta, but the deployment was always delayed because Thailand demanded that Cambodian soldiers and locals be withdrawn from the disputed area of 4.6 sq km near the temple first. (Nguon Sovan)

Multi-national military exercise “Angkor Sentinel 2011” concludes in Cambodia successfully

PHNOM PENH, May 27 (Xinhua) -- The multi-national military exercise "Angkor Sentinel 2011" came to an end successfully on Friday afternoon after the twelve-day practice at the Training School for Multi-national Peacekeeping Forces in Kampong Speu province, some 50 kilometers west of Phnom Penh, said a press release from the Embassy of the United States to Cambodia.
   The closing ceremony was presided over by Gen. Tea Banh, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense and Brig. Gen. Alexander Kozlov, Deputy Commanding General of United States Army Pacific (USARPAC).
   “Angkor Sentinel 11” is a bilateral training exercise supporting peace support operations co-sponsored by U.S. Army Pacific and the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces designed to provide an environment for Cambodian Army and United States Army partnership, the statement said.
   The exercise also included a Command Post Exercise in which Cambodian and U.S. battalion staffs trained together how to operate in a complex peacekeeping environment, as well as pre-deployment force protection training.
   Engineering Civic Action Projects during the exercise included construction of a new three-room school, a well for drinking water, and a health clinic, as well as medical treatment, it added.
   The exercise had been participated by 300 Cambodian armed forces, 200 forces of U.S. Army Pacific, and some forces from Mongolia, Indonesia, and Nepal. (Nguon Sovan)

Malaysian investors observe Cambodian financial opportunity

PHNOM PENH, May 27 (Xinhua) -- A group of Malaysian investors on Friday observed investment opportunity in Cambodia, especially in the financial industry.
   The group consisted of more than 10 investors of Malaysian firms in the fields of banking and finance and manufacturing industries.
   They were led by Henry Ong, the chairman of the Young Chinese Entrepreneurs of the Malaysian Chamber of Commerce.
   “This is the first time we come to explore business opportunity in Cambodia,” Henry Ong, said on Friday during a meeting with Cambodia’s commerce officials. “Our main impression here is the Cambodia’s plan to launch the stock market in July this year.”
   “We have observed that the country has potentials in financial sector and the sector has a lot of room to grow,” said Peter Soon, head of Futures and Options at ECM Libra Investment Bank. “We have expertise in this sector for long time and we want to provide advisory services for this new industry in Cambodia.”
   Pan Sorasak, a secretary of state for the commerce ministry, said the group’s visit was on the right as the country is full of political stability and macro-economic stability. Moreover, the country’s investment law provides investors with many preferences and incentives.
   “The upcoming stock market will be a new choice for capital mobilization for business development in Cambodia,” he said. “It’s a wise thought that investors put their investments in the bourse at the beginning.”
   Earlier in the day, the Malaysian delegation also met with officials at the Security and Exchange Commission of Cambodia.
   Cambodian Securities Exchange is set to launch by July this year ‘at any cost’ after twice delays.
   Malaysia is the third largest investor in Cambodia. The first two largest investors are China and South Korea respectively.  (Nguon Sovan)

Cambodia plans 3 bln U.S.D new town in Phnom Penh’s peninsula

PHNOM PENH, May 27 (Xinhua) --  A well-known local firm, Overseas Cambodia Investment Corporation (OCIC), said Friday the firm has received approval-in-principle from Prime Minister Hun Sen to develop a new satellite city in Phnom Penh’s Chroy Changvar peninsula.
   “Prime Minister Hun Sen has already given the green light for the OCIC to develop the new town, now we’re working with the Phnom Penh municipality in order to reach an official agreement,” Pung Kheav Se, president of Canadia bank, the country’s third largest bank, and chairman of OCIC, which is the developer of the current Diamond Island City.
   The would-be new town dubbed the Chroy Changvar, or “City of the Future” project will cover the area of 387 hectares in Russei Keo district’s Prek Leap area, just across Cambodia-Japan Friendship Bridge (Chroy Changvar Bridge) from the central Phnom Penh.
   When this new mega-project comes online, it will be the fifth satellite city project in Phnom Penh. The other four developing satellite cities are Camko City, Grand Phnom Penh International City, Koh Pich or Diamond Island City, and Boeung Kak Town.
   Pung Kheav Se said that the expected new city would consists of upscale development of residential units, condominiums, commercial venues, shopping malls, financial centers, hotels, recreational facilities, schools, hospitals, park, and a multi-purpose national stadium.
   It will take from 10 to 15 years to complete with the estimated investment of 3 billion U.S. dollars.
   He declined to disclose where the sources of the capital for the development come from.
   The development of new towns is the government’s strategy to meet the growing economy and the population growth.
   Phnom Penh is currently residing about 1.5 million people. It is estimated that the growth is about 20 percent year on year, according to the city hall.  (Nguon Sovan)

Cambodia says no GBC meeting unless “package solution” complied

PHNOM PENH, May 26 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian defense ministry on Thursday evening rejected the information that “Cambodia agrees to host General Border Committee (GBC) meeting with Thailand”. 
   The rejection was made after Thai media reported that Gen Prawit Wongsuwan, Thai defense minister, said Thursday the Thai-Cambodian GBC meeting will be held in Cambodia after an Indonesian Survey Team arrives at the Thai-Cambodian disputed border near Preah Vihear temple.  
   “Cambodia is now ready to hold 8th GBC meeting,” the Bangkok Post online newspaper quoted Prawit as saying. "Gen. Tea Banh has already informed me that GBC will certainly be arranged in Cambodia."
   “Cambodian defense ministry absolutely rejected this fabricated information by Thai defense minister Gen. Prawit Wongsuwan,” said the statement on Thursday evening.  
   “This information is contradicted to the spirit of the package solution which Cambodian, Thai and Indonesia foreign ministers agreed on May 9 in Jakarta, Indonesia,” it said.
   The statement added that the package solution has already pointed out the procedures for the solution.
  “So the first and indispensable implementation is: Thailand must respond positively to the package solution,” it said. “It is absolutely unacceptable to act otherwise and inconsistent with the package solution.”
   According to the package solution on May 9, it consisted of six points.
   At points one and two, both sides have to first exchange letters of acceptance on the terms of reference (TOR) for the deployment of Indonesian observer team and at the meantime, both sides announce the dates of the meetings of the General Border Committee (GBC) and the Joint Border Commission (JBC).
   At points three and four, five days after both sides have sent the letters of acceptance on TOR to Indonesia, Indonesia will send a Survey Team of Indonesian observers team to inspect the disputed area and at the same time, the GBC and JBC will hold their meetings.
   And the points five and six, ten days after both sides have sent the letters of acceptance on TOR to Indonesia, Indonesia will send the full assignment of the Indonesian observers to the disputed border area.
   The border conflict between Cambodia and Thailand occurred just a week after the enlistment as Thailand claims the ownership of 4.6 square kilometers (1.8 square miles) of scrub next to the temple.
   Since then, both sides have built up military forces along the border and periodic clashes have happened, resulted in the deaths of troops and civilians on both sides.
   The two sides agreed to accept Indonesian observers to monitor a ceasefire on their respective border side on Feb 22 at the ASEAN foreign ministers meeting in Jakarta, but the deployment was always delayed because Thailand demanded that Cambodian soldiers and locals be withdrawn from the disputed area of 4.6 sq km near the temple first. (Nguon Sovan)

Cambodia expects annual 12 mln U.S.D. revenues from its city’s land tax

PHNOM PENH, May 26 (Xinhua) -- Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia, will begin to collect the first-ever annual land tax from September this year, the governor Kep Chuk Tema said on Thursday, estimating the city can earn up to 12 million U.S. dollars in tax revenues in the first year.
   “The tax on land is one of the main sources of revenues to increase the country’s national budget,” he said. “The tax collection will begin in September.”
   In a bid to increase the state’s revenues, in November 2009, the National Assembly passed the first-ever law for a tax on all real estate, including land, houses, apartments, and other infrastructure constructed on that land.
   The law will be implemented from this year.
   Under the law, the property tax will be an annual payment calculated as 0.1 percent of the value of the property as estimated by a evaluation committee, based on market prices. Only those properties worth 100 million riel, (25, 000 U.S.D.) or more will be taxed. (Nguon Sovan)

ASEAN’s legislators, experts meet in Cambodia for anti-drug efforts

PHNOM PENH, May 26 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia on Thursday hosted the 8th meeting of ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Fact Finding Committee (AIFOCOM) to combat the drug menace.
   The meeting has attended by ASEAN’s parliamentarians, representatives of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, and ASEAN senior officials on Drugs Matters.
   Speaking during opening ceremony, Heng Samrin, the President of Cambodian National Assembly, said the meeting was very significant to find strategic ways and effective resolutions to prevent, manage and combat drug menace in the region.
   “Currently, illicit drugs are posing the main common concern over our region,” he said. “Therefore, a joint effort among ASEAN legislators and law practitioners is indispensable to fight the drug menace in order to attain the ASEAN’s vision: a drug-free ASEAN community by 2015.”
   The two-day meeting would discuss and adopt the draft resolution on the Harmonization of Illegal Drug Laws on Capture and Seizure of Assets used in or Possessed from Drug Related Cases; the control of Reactants and Precursors and Demand Reduction Interventions, according the meeting’s programs.
   Also, it would pass the draft resolution on the establishment of ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Working Group to Combat the Drug Menace.
   The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. (Nguon Sovan)