Better Factories Cambodia Slammed by Stanford Researchers
February 20th, 2013, The Cambodia Daily, Foreign Aid, Garment Industry, Industry, News Source, Technical Assistance
The International Labor Organization’s (ILO) Better Factories Cambodia program (BFC) must employ more transparency in their monitoring of Cambodia’s factories in order to effectively bring change to the country’s working and wage conditions, a report launched yesterday says. …
According to “Monitoring in the Dark” a new report by researchers from Stanford Law School, wages and basic job security have actually declined for Cambodian garment workers in the past decade, and during the time the BFC has been in operation. …
Dene-Hern Chen
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/better-factories-cambodia-slammed-by-stanford-researchers-11011/
Move to lift energy efficiency in Cambodia
February 20th, 2013, The Phnom Penh Post, Electricity, Energy, Environment & Natural Resources, Green Energy, Infrastructure, International Relations, Technical Assistance
A national energy efficiency policy is currently in development, officials told the Post last week. Experts at the Ministry of Industry, Mines, and Energy (MIME) and the multi-donor fund EU Energy Initiative Partnership Dialogue Facility (EUEI PDF) are in discussions about details of the policy, which they plan to publish in May. …
“Cambodia’s total energy consumption is projected to grow at an average annual rate of 5.2 per cent for the period 2009 to 2035. The industrial sector is expected to have the highest growth followed by residential/commercial sectors,” the document said, emphasizing the importance of adequate political and regulatory frameworks.
“The national projected energy consumption annual growth rate can be reduced down to 4.3 per cent, representing an overall reduction of future energy demand of 20 per cent by 2035, compared to the ‘business as usual’ projections,” the EUEI PDF document continued. …
The project team is now working on the definition of the strategic objectives of the Energy Efficiency Policy and the development of a detailed Action Plan. The final draft policy, strategy and action plan will be presented at a workshop in Phnom Penh in early May.
Sarah Thust
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/2013022061465/Business/move-to-lift-energy-efficiency-in-cambodia.html
Hun Sen and EU Ambassador Talk Elections, Land Reform
February 20th, 2013, The Cambodia Daily, Disputed Land, Economic Land Concessions, Foreign Aid, Land Tenure, News Source, Technical Assistance
The European Union’s ambassador to Cambodia raised issues of judicial reform, land reform and the upcoming national elections in a meeting with Prime Minister Hun Sen yesterday morning. …
The European Commission’s directorate-general for trade is currently reviewing a report by the U.N.’s human rights envoy to Cambodia, Surya Subedi – which blamed the country’s policy of economic land concessions for serious and widespread human rights violations – to decide whether to launch its own investigation of the government’s land policies. …
Neou Vannarin
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/hun-sen-and-eu-ambassador-talk-elections-land-reform-11009/
Study set to streamline customs procedures in Cambodia
February 20th, 2013, The Phnom Penh Post, Business & Commercial Development, Domestic Investment, Economics, Foreign Investment, International Relations, Technical Assistance, Trade
Customs procedures are being examined in a time-release study to identify issues that can affect Cambodia’s trade competitiveness. According to experts, the study is an important tool to improve the Kingdom’s investment climate. …
The study will be conducted and organised by the GDCE with support from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and World Customer Organisation. Results are expected in May. …
Corporate: China powers its way through Cambodia
February 19th, 2013, HydroWorld.com, Business & Commercial Development, Construction, Energy, Environment & Natural Resources, Environmental change, Foreign Aid, Foreign Investment, Hydroelectricity, Infrastructure, Lakes/Rivers, News Source, Technical Assistance, Water
In the hilly wilderness across southwestern Cambodia, the foundations of the country’s strengthening bonds with China are taking root. It is there that large dams supported by Chinese money are being built to literally bring the impoverished Southeast Asian nation out of darkness.
The largest of them so far, the US$280 million (RM865.2 million) Kamchay Dam in Kampot province, came to life a year ago, helping to brighten the nights in Phnom Penh. It is one of five dams backed by Chinese investments aimed at easing the electricity deficit in the country of 14.9 million people â [sic] ” where only a quarter of the population has access to power from the national grid.
The howls of protests from villagers and green groups have not deterred China’s dam builders, which have committed a total investment of US$1.6 billion to produce an estimated 915mw of power by harnessing the untamed rivers that gush down that remote terrain. The largest symbol of this Cambodian-Chinese alliance is the 338mw Russei Chrum Krom hydropower project, which is being built at a cost of US$500 million. …
Marwaan Macan
http://www.hydroworld.com/news/2013/02/18/corporate-china-powers-its-way-through-cambodia.html
Cambodia launches project to develop biomass-fuelled energy technologies
February 14th, 2013, Global Times, Agriculture & Agri-business, Agro-Industry, Banking & Finance, Energy, Environment & Natural Resources, Environmental change, Foreign Aid, Green Energy, Industry, International Relations
Cambodia’s Ministry of Industry, Mines and Energy on Thursday launched a four year project, aiming at promoting the development of biomass-fueled renewable energy generation technologies in industrial sector, officials said.
The 5.6 million US dollar project will provide technical and partial financial support for the implementation of biomass-based renewable energy projects in five sectors: food processing, garment factory, brick kiln, rubber factory, and rice milling, the national project coordinator Chea Chan Thou said. …
The project is technically and financially supported by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and Global Environment Fund (GEF).
Global Times Staff
http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/761510.shtml
Concern Over Chinese Investment
February 8th, 2013, Radio Free Asia, Banking & Finance, Borrowing, Business & Commercial Development, Construction, Economics, Electricity, Energy, Environment & Natural Resources, Environmental change, Extractive Industries, Foreign Investment, Garment Industry, Hydroelectricity, Industry, Infrastructure, International Relations, Lakes/Rivers, Mining, Technical Assistance, Timber/Wood
Cambodia’s largest opposition party has expressed concern that China’s investment in the country is heavily skewed towards exploiting natural resources, wreaking havoc on the environment.
China is Cambodia’s largest investor by a wide margin, having poured U.S. $9.7 billion into the country over the past 18 years, a government report said Wednesday. …
But opposition Sam Rainsy Party lawmaker Son Chhay warned that China is having excessive control over Cambodia’s natural resources as companies from the Asian giant carry out extensive mineral exploration and logging and embark on hydropower projects in the impoverished country. …
Cambodia, Beijing’s top Southeast Asian ally, has borrowed vast sums from China in recent years to finance road, hydropower and defense projects, many of which are contracted to Chinese firms.
“China gives us loans, but they allow companies to set high prices,” Son Chhay said.
Cambodia owes about U.S. $3 billion dollars in loans from China, he said, adding that the debt gives the giant neighbor too much political influence in the country. …
Radio Free Asia
http://www.rfa.org/english/news/cambodia/china-02072013175545.html
French Firm Out of Railway Rehabilition Project
February 8th, 2013, The Cambodia Daily, Construction, Foreign Aid, Infrastructure, News Source, Technical Assistance
The head of the government department in charge of railways made a dramatic about-face yesterday, saying that French construction firm TSO (Cambodia) Co. Ltd. was being thrown off the donor-funded railway rehabilitation project.
Contacted on Tuesday, Ly Borin, director of the Transport Ministry’s railway department, denied a local newspaper report in which he was quoted as saying that TSO would no longer be involved in the repairs of the railway line between Phnom Penh and Serei Saophoan City in Banteay Meanchey province.
But yesterday, Mr. Borin clarified his comments and said that TSO was being dropped from the project completely. …
Eang Mengleng, P.21
www.cambodiadaily.com
Project set to develop franchising
February 8th, 2013, The Phnom Penh Post, Business & Commercial Development, Economics, Industry, International Relations, Technical Assistance
The University of Sydney Business School has launched a research project in an effort to identify barriers to franchising in Southeast Asia, including Cambodia, and to develop a strategy to boost the sector’s growth in the region.
The two-year project, funded by AusAID, targets structural, regulatory, commercial and legal barriers, and will audit conditions affecting the franchise sector in the individual countries, a press release said. …
Associate Professor Nigel Finch told the Post yesterday that the structural barriers for Cambodia are related to human capital, financial capital and the protection of intellectual property. …
Reuters reported last week that Thailand’s biggest convenience store operator, CP All, plans to apply for licences to open 7-Eleven stores in Cambodia by 2015. …
Anne Renzenbrink
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/2013020861250/Business/project-set-to-develop-franchising.html
Government Orders Railway Repairs to Start
February 7th, 2013, The Cambodia Daily, Construction, Foreign Aid, Infrastructure, News Source, Technical Assistance
The government has ordered French construction firm TSO (Cambodia) Co. Ltd. to resume work repairing the railway line between Phnom Penh and Serei Saophoan City in Banteay Meanchey province, an official said yesterday.
The French firm has been contracted to rehabilitate the France-build railway – a $14.6 million aid-funded project that has run into problems and is now short on cash. …
Eang Mengleng, P.19
www.cambodiadaily.com
India to supply HR development assistance
February 5th, 2013, The Phnom Penh Post, Foreign Aid, International Relations, Labor, News Source, Technical Assistance
Cambodia has asked India to provide more assistance in the development of human resources to promote economic growth and enhance bilateral co-operation.
Deputy Prime Minister Sok An made the request during a meeting with Indian human resource development minister Mangapati Pallam Raju in Phnom Penh on Sunday, Ek Tha, a spokesman for the Office of the Council of Ministers, told reporters after the meeting. …
May Kunmakara
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/2013020561182/Business/india-to-supply-hr-development-assistance.html
Australia Courted for Further Railway Funding
February 5th, 2013, The Cambodia Daily, Construction, Foreign Aid, Infrastructure, International Relations, News Source, Technical Assistance
The government has asked Australia to provide more funding to help complete the rehabilitation of the dilapidated railway line between Phnom Penh and the Thai border, a spokesman said yesterday.
Foreign Affairs Minister Hor Namhong met with Lieutenant General John Sanderson, former chief of the Australian Army, at Prime Minister Hun Sen’s office building in Phnom Penh. …
An estimated $75 million to $125 million more is needed to fix the colonial-era tracks and many bridges damaged by years of war on the part of the line connecting Phnom Penh and Banteay Meanchey province. …
Eang Mengleng, P.18
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/business/australia-courted-for-further-railway-funding-9422/
Government Asks for Asian Development Bank’s Help on Railway
January 29th, 2013, The Cambodia Daily, Business & Commercial Development, Construction, Exports, Foreign Aid, Imports, Infrastructure, News Source, Technical Assistance
The government yesterday asked the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to continue to help Cambodia’s troubled railway rehabilitation project, which is in desperate need of more funding in order to complete the network’s northern line.
Foreign Affairs Minister Hor Namhong met with the ADB’s recently appointed country director, Eric Sidgwick, in Phnom Penh. Following the meeting, Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman Koy Kuong told reporters that Mr. Namhong had brought up the rail project, to which the ADB has already contributed $84 million, making it the project’s largest financer. …
Eang Mengleng and Simon Lewis, P.17
www.cambodiadaily.com
Israel envoy pledges to boost tourism, agriculture ties with Cambodia
January 28th, 2013, Xinhuanet News, Business & Commercial Development, Foreign Aid, Foreign Investment, Industry, International Relations, News Source, Technical Assistance, Tourism
Bangkok-based new ambassador of Israel to Cambodia Simon Roded on Monday expressed Israel’s desires to promote bilateral ties with Cambodia in tourism and agriculture.
Speaking during presenting credentials to President of Cambodia ‘s National Assembly Heng Samrin, who received the credentials on behalf of King Norodom Sihamoni, Simon Rodded pledged to strengthen and expand friendship relations and cooperation between Israel and Cambodia during his diplomatic mission. …
Meanwhile, Heng Samrin said Cambodia wanted to see better relations and cooperation between the two countries, especially in trade, investment and tourism. …
Xinhuanet
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2013-01/28/c_132133078.htm
Ecuador, Cambodia Sign Antiquities Agreement
January 24th, 2013, The Cambodia Daily, Economics, Foreign Aid, News Source, Technical Assistance
Government officials yesterday met with representatives from the Republic of Ecuador to discuss ways to improve economic and political ties between the two countries, Foreign Ministry Secretary of State Ouch Borith said. The two countries also signed a memorandum of understanding to protect Cambodian artifacts and prevent their import into the Latin American nation. …
Eang Mengleng, P.18
www.cambodiadaily.com
Cambodia inaugurates China-financed new container terminal
January 22nd, 2013, Xinhuanet News, Business & Commercial Development, Construction, Economics, Exports, Foreign Aid, Imports, Infrastructure, International Relations, News Source, Technical Assistance, Trade
Cambodia on Tuesday inaugurated a new container terminal of the Phnom Penh Autonomous Port, turning the port as a large hub for logistics supply and goods collection and distribution.
The inauguration ceremony was presided over by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Pan Guangxue and was attended by 15,000 participants, including senior government officials, diplomats, residents and students.
The construction of the 10-hectare [sic] terminal was begun in March, 2011 by Shanghai Construction (Group) General Company with a soft loan of 28.2 million U.S. dollars financed by the Government of China, Hun Sen said at the event. …
Xinhuanet
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/china/2013-01/22/c_132119517.htm
Japan Marks 60 Years of Relations With Cambodia
January 22nd, 2013, The Cambodia Daily, Business & Commercial Development, Economics, Foreign Aid, Foreign Investment, International Relations, News Source, Technical Assistance
This year marks the 60th anniversary since the start of diplomatic relations between
Cambodia and Japan – the country’s largest bilateral donor – and to celebrate, the Japanese Embassy is planning an array of cultural events. …
Speaking at a ceremony to mark the anniversary, Japanese Ambassador Masafumi Kuroki noted that Japan has supported programs in Cambodia focused on poverty reduction, construction of economic and social infrastructure and capacity building. …
Cooperation between the governments of Japan and Cambodia has
strengthened over the years, and Japanese investment – particularly in Cambodia’s
manufacturing industry – more than tripled between 2011 and 2012, totaling $300 million, Mr. Kuroki said.
Denise Hruby, P.19
www.cambodiadaily.com
Government to invest $4.4B in Public Sector
January 21st, 2013, The Cambodia Daily, Business & Commercial Development, Domestic Investment, Economics, Infrastructure, Technical Assistance
The government has approved more than $4 billion of investment in the public sector over the next three years in a bid to stimulate economic growth, the council of ministers said in a statement obtained yesterday. …
“The rolling plan will focus om four main sectors” … 40 percent would go toward infrastructure, 37 percent would go directly into stimulating the economy, 16 percent would go toward social spending and 7 percent across all other sectors. …
Neou Vannarin, P.18
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/
ADB to provide 230 mln USD to Cambodia for development projects
January 17th, 2013, Xinhuanet News, Economics, Foreign Aid, Infrastructure, International Relations, Technical Assistance
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Thursday signed up to provide 230 million U.S. dollars to Cambodia for six development projects, aiming at promoting inclusive growth and reducing poverty in Cambodia, according to the bank’s media statement.
The financing agreements were inked between Eric Sidgwick, country director of ADB to Cambodia, and Cambodian deputy Prime Minister and finance minister Keat Chhon. …
To date, he said, the bank’s cumulative amount of project loans and grants extended to Cambodia has reached 1.85 billion U.S. dollars, of which ADB has financed 1.5 billion U.S. dollars as loans for 63 projects and 350 million U.S. dollars as grants for 33 projects. …
Xinhuanet Staff
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2013-01/17/c_132109387.htm
Groups slam ministers’ failure to discuss Xayaburi Dam
January 17th, 2013, The Nation, Construction, Disasters & Disaster Management, Energy, Environment & Natural Resources, Foreign Aid, Hydroelectricity, Infrastructure, International Relations, Lakes/Rivers, News Source, Technical Assistance, Water
Regional conservationists criticised the Mekong River Commission (MRC) yesterday for leaving the controversial Xayaburi Dam off its agenda at this week’s annual ministerial meeting in Luang Prabang, Laos.
Laotian authorities said they would confirm their decision to go ahead with the hydropower project in the mainstream Mekong River if there were any special request to discuss the matter at the meeting. …
“By failing to address the Xayaburi Dam at the Council Meeting, the Mekong River Commission governments are evading their responsibilities,” said Niwat Roykaew of the Chiang Khong Conservation Group. …
Downstream countries Cambodia and Vietnam have urged Laos to reconsider its decision. The MRC also agreed earlier on a prior-consultation process to take any negative impacts of the dam into consideration. A committee advised Vientiane to delay construction until necessary studies were carried out. …
Supalak Ganjanakhundee
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/aec/Groups-slam-ministers-failure-to-discuss-Xayaburi--30198036.html