Cambodia secures $11bn funding to boost iron exports
January 24th, 2013, E&T Magazine, Business & Commercial Development, Construction, Exports, Extractive Industries, Industry, Infrastructure, International Relations, Mining
Work will start this year on a 400km railway line and a new seaport in Cambodia, with most of the funding coming from Chinese sources.
Cambodia Iron and Steel Mining Industry Group (CISMIG) and China Railway Major Bridge Engineering have signed an agreement to jointly invest US$11.2 million in the projects.
CISMIG is 70 per cent Chinese-owned. …
William Dennis
http://eandt.theiet.org/news/2013/jan/cambodia-railway.cfm
A road runs through them
January 23rd, 2013, The Economist, Construction, Disputed Land, Economic Land Concessions, Infrastructure, Land Tenure, Social Concerns
UP AND down a 4km stretch of highway on the northern outskirts of Phnom Penh, about 3,000 of Cambodia’s Cham minority have built a life. Their distinctive Muslim culture thrives in conditions of close-knit community, a stark contrast to the shattering days the country endured through the rule of the Khmer Rouge and the civil war that followed. For a generation the Cham were isolated and, at times, slaughtered.
Since those wars ended in 1998, political stability has brought Cambodia many of its usual rewards. The economy has expanded on the back of foreign aid and fledgling industries like garment manufacture and tourism, as well as by timber and other natural resources. …
Yet for this cluster of villages strung along the highway, the future is cast under shadow. Property prices are soaring everywhere and their tract has been picked for expropriation. This section of the national Route Five, which links Phnom Penh with the provincial city of Battambang in the north-west, has been earmarked for an upgrade. The highway will be widened by between eight and 25 meters on each side of the road. The surrounding land is to be re-zoned for industrial use. …
The Economist Staff
http://www.economist.com/blogs/banyan/2013/01/cambodia%E2%80%99s-cham
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
Chinese Mining Firm Plans Siem Reap Extraction
January 22nd, 2013, The Cambodia Daily, Business & Commercial Development, Construction, Economic Land Concessions, Extractive Industries, Foreign Investment, Industry, Infrastructure, International Relations, Land Tenure, Mining
A Chinese conglomerate headed by an adviser to Senate President Chea Sim plans to begin extracting gold and copper in Siem Reap province in two months, the firm’s chairman said yesterday.
Khmer Holding, a group of companies that claims vast mineral interests in Cambodia, opened an office in Hong Kong last week to drum up investment for their plans in Cambodia. …
Cao Yunde- who says he is an adviser to Mr. Sim but that the Senate president is not directly involved in his mining business- said in an interview at his office in Phnom Penh that Khmer Holding already has a licence to extract minerals on 36 square km of land in Siem Reap’s Chi Kreng district.
Chea Bunlong, director of the Siem Reap provincial department of Industry, Mines and Energy said he had not heard of Khmer Holdings, or a subsidiary names Khmer First Wealth Holding, which company literature says holds the Chi Kreng mining licence. …
Chi Kreng district police cheif Toch Sakal said that Nim Meng was the only company he was aware of operating in the area, but they had since ceased operations.
“They stopped and I’m not sure who they transferred [the project] to,” he said.
Simon Lewis and Kaing Menghun, P.18
www.cambodiadaily.com
Petronas still eyeing Cambodia
January 21st, 2013, The Edge Malaysia.com, Business & Commercial Development, Disputed Waters, Energy, Extractive Industries, Foreign Investment, Industry, Infrastructure, International Relations, Land Tenure, Natural Gas, Oil
After closing the last of its 19 petrol stations in Cambodia in April 2010, Petroliam Nasional Bhd (Petronas) is again eyeing the country’s oil and gas (O&G) sector. This will see Chevron and its partners developing the country’s first offshore oil field this year.
According to Petronas president and CEO Tan Sri Shamsul Azhar Abbas, the Malaysian national oil company will deliberate on the merits of re-entering the Indochinese nation should the company be able to work out a win-win deal with the Cambodian authorities. …
Cambodia’s offshore oil fields are categorized under Blocks A to F, which are also claimed by Thailand. Both countries are negotiating how they will jointly capitalise on the O&G reserves within the Gulf of Thailand.
Onshore [sic], Cambodia was reported to have licensed blocks to state-run Vietnam Oil and Gas Group or PetroVietnam, and Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corp, or Jogmec. …
Petronas Chemicals Group Bhd president and CEO Dr Abd Hapiz Abdullah was quoted as saying that the company is planning to grow its regional presence in Myanmar and Cambodia from 2013.
Chong Jin Hun
http://www.theedgemalaysia.com/highlights/229579-petronas-still-eyeing-cambodia.html
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/
Disputed land to be returned to villagers
January 21st, 2013, The Phnom Penh Post, Agriculture & Agri-business, Business & Commercial Development, Construction, Disputed Land, Economic Land Concessions, Environment & Natural Resources, Forests, Infrastructure, International Relations, Land Tenure, Social Concerns, Timber/Wood
More than 8,000 hectares of land was cut from economic and forest land concessions owned by some of the country’s biggest tycoons and awarded to villagers last month, according to documents from the Council of Ministers.
Four sub-decrees signed by Prime Minister Hun Sen order that land from four high-profile disputed areas be divided among nearly 3,500 families in four provinces.
The land is from controversial concessions in Pursat, Stung Treng, Siem Reap and Preah Sihanouk provinces — each of which has been involved in long-standing land disputes. …
Nearly 2,000 families in Stung Treng’s Thala Barivat district were awarded 3,553 hectares from concessions granted to Pheapimex Fuchang.
The re-assignment follows months of land demarcation undertaken by cadastral officials working for provincial land management committees on behalf of Hun Sen’s large-scale land-titling initiative.
In May, amid mounting pressure, the premier issued a moratorium on economic land concessions and called for a reexamination of existing concessions. …
May Titthara
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/2013012160890/National/disputed-land-to-be-returned.html
Cambodian miner Khmer Resources plans to tap Hong Kong capital market
January 18th, 2013, South China Morning Post, Business & Commercial Development, Construction, Domestic Investment, Economics, Extractive Industries, Foreign Investment, Industry, Infrastructure, International Relations, Mining
Khmer Resources Investment, which is backed by the Cambodian government, aims to list in Hong Kong within two years, chairman Cao Yunde said.
“We intend to leverage the capital market of Hong Kong to finance our growth through a public listing so as to maximise the benefits for Cambodia and its people,” said Cao at the opening of Khmer Resources’ Hong Kong office yesterday.
“The mission of Khmer Resources and Khmer Hong Kong is to boost the social and economic development of Cambodia, transform Cambodia’s comparative advantage in natural resources into economic benefits, and adopt the capital market approach to the mining industries.” …
Khmer Resources’ shareholders included Chinese state-owned enterprises, listed and private Chinese companies and Australian firms, said Cao without revealing details. …
In Cambodia, Khmer Resources has a 280 square kilometre coal mine, a 120 sqkm nickel and cobalt mine, a 288 sqkm rare-earth mine, a 218 sqkm rare-earth mine, a 198 sqkm copper and gold mine, a 198 sqkm rare-earth mine and an 80 sqkm copper and gold mine. …
Toh Han Shih
http://www.scmp.com/business/commodities/article/1130588/cambodian-miner-khmer-resources-plans-tap-hong-kong-capital
Viet Nam, Cambodia, Laos boost transport co-operation
January 18th, 2013, Vietnamnet, Business & Commercial Development, Construction, Infrastructure, International Relations
Transport Ministers of Viet Nam, Laos and Cambodia signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to accelerate road transport cooperation.
…
It will facilitate the transportation of goods and passengers among the three countries, including via sea ports, and boost socio-economic development in each country, especially the development triangle region. …
Vietnam News Staff
http://vietnamnews.vn/politics-laws/235407/viet-nam-cambodia-laos-boost-transport-co-operation.html
US Seeks Infrastructure Deals in Cambodia
January 18th, 2013, The Cambodia Daily, Business & Commercial Development, Construction, Economics, Foreign Investment, Infrastructure, News Source, Trade
Looking to compete with Chinese influence in the region, the U.S. government is making plans to help American companies win large-scale infrastructure projects in Cambodia, U.S. officials said yesterday in Phnom Penh.
The plans, which come as part of a strategic and economic embracing of Asia by the administration of U.S. President Barack Obama, look to challenge China’s near monopoly on big undertakings, such as roads and hydropower dams in the country.
“To pivot to Asia…is not only a security focus, it’s an economic focus because in order for us to be successful in the long term, we have to be economically involved in this region,” said Lorain Hariton, U.S. State Department special representative for commercial and business affairs, who spoke to reporters during a round-table meeting at the U.S. Embassy in Phnom Penh. …
“We are looking to get some good winds here and work on some deals that will allow us to play a large role in this region.” …
Simon Lewis
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/business/us-seeks-infrastructure-deals-in-cambodia-7945/
Laos defends actions on Xayaburi at MRC meet
January 18th, 2013, The Phnom Penh Post, Construction, Electricity, Energy, Environment & Natural Resources, Environmental change, Hydroelectricity, Infrastructure, International Relations, Lakes/Rivers, Social Concerns, Water
Laos yesterday defended its decision to begin building the Xayaburi dam amid criticism from Cambodia on a lively final day of the Mekong River Commission’s annual council meeting in Luang Prabang, Laos.
According to separate sources who attended, Cambodia spoke out against Laos for “misinterpreting” the 1995 Mekong Agreement and the prior consultation process that was designed to have prevented it from constructing the 1,285-megawatt dam without approval from its neighbours. …
Kirk Herbertson, Southeast Asia policy coordinator for environmental group International Rivers, said he was happy Cambodia had raised concerns about the 1995 agreement and the shortcomings of the Xayaburi prior consultation process – which is still technically active – and added that Vietnam called for a halt to all mainstream development. “But what happened were words,” he said. …
Shane Worrell
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/2013011860867/National/laos-defends-actions-on-xayaburi-at-mrc-meet.html
Mesco, Angkor to mine gold
January 18th, 2013, The Phnom Penh Post, Business & Commercial Development, Construction, Extractive Industries, Foreign Investment, Industry, Infrastructure, International Relations, Mining
Mesco Gold, an associated company of India-based Mesco Steel, will sign an agreement with Angkor Gold to mine the Phum Syrang prospect on one of its economic land concessions in Ratanakkiri province. …
“We’ve been exploring the area since 2006. We’ve been drilling holes and there’s plenty of gold there,” Stanger said.
Daniel de Carteret
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/2013011860848/Business/mesco-angkor-to-mine-gold.html
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
Cambodia’s economy to grow by 6.7% this year: WB
January 16th, 2013, Xinhuanet News, Business & Commercial Development, Construction, Economics, Garment Industry, Industry, Infrastructure, News Source, Tourism, Trade
Cambodia’s economy is expected to grow by 6.7 percent in 2013 thanks to anticipating increases in agriculture, foreign direct investment (FDI) and tourism, the World Bank said in its latest outlook Wednesday. “The growth is based on achieving the dividends from focus on higher rice production, inflows of FDI into the growing garment industry and a growing tourism industry,” the bank’s Global Economic Prospects said, forecasting that the country’s growth will be up to 7 percent in 2014.
It foresaw that Cambodia’s exports would grow at a slower pace this year due to weak external demand, especially in Europe and the United States. …
Xinhuanet
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/business/2013-01/16/c_132106591.htm
Corruption? Not on foreign projects: PM
January 15th, 2013, The Phnom Penh Post, Business & Commercial Development, Construction, Foreign Aid, Infrastructure, International Relations, Social Concerns, Technical Assistance
Prime Minister Hun Sen lashed out at unnamed critics yesterday, saying there was no corruption in large-scale development projects backed by foreign aid.
“[For example] as for the Neak Leung bridge or Kizuna bridge… Japan runs its bids in Tokyo. Therefore, only Japanese companies have the right to bid,” he said, speaking at a graduation ceremony at the National Institute of Education in Phnom Penh. …
It is unclear what accusations the premier is referring to, though opposition lawmakers have raised questions at the National Assembly over bidding processes in development projects. …
Meas Sokchea
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/2013011560783/National/corruption-not-on-foreign-projects-pm.html
Xayaburi dam stirs debate on Mekong River Commission
January 14th, 2013, Bangkok Post, Construction, Electricity, Energy, Environment & Natural Resources, Environmental change, Hydroelectricity, Infrastructure, International Relations, Lakes/Rivers, Water
When ministers from the four member countries of the Mekong River Commission and donors meet in Luang Prabang, Laos this week, the future role of the agency will be on the table.
Questions about the effectiveness of the Mekong River Commission, set up in 1995 to jointly manage sustainable development, have been raised by Laos’ decision in November to go ahead with the US$3.5-billion (105 billion baht) Xayaburi dam project. …
Cambodia and Vietnam, two downstream countries that stand to suffer the most from the dam, have tempered their reaction to Xayaburi.
“We wish Laos would continue its study on environmental impacts and to work up the final design of Xayaburi dam, and work with Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand on the comprehensive, in-depth study on accumulative environmental and socio-economic impacts of all the hydropower projects in the Mekong River mainstream,” the Vietnamese government said.
Cambodia has been similarly diplomatic. …
Member countries may be reluctant to question the Xayaburi dam, but donors whose contributions account for the lion’s share of the commission’s budget are expected to raise objections.
“If decision-making continues to occur outside of the MRC, the institution will soon lose its legitimacy and 300 million dollars of international donor support to the commission will be wasted,” said Jian-hua Meng, sustainable hydropower specialist at the World Wildlfie Fund.
Bangkok Post Staff
http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/asia/330603/xayaburi-dam-stirs-up-debate-on-mekong-river-commission
Police reopen OZ, Cochlear bribery cases
January 14th, 2013, The Sydney Morning Herald, Business & Commercial Development, Extractive Industries, Foreign Investment, Industry, Infrastructure, International Relations, Mining
THE Australian Federal Police will reopen corruption inquiries into major Australian companies OZ Minerals and Cochlear, after searing criticism that it was lax in its investigations. …
OZ Minerals will be targeted following discussions with the OECD about the AFP’s previous investigation of alleged foreign bribery in OZ Minerals’ Cambodian goldmining operations.
In 2011, The Cambodia Daily newspaper alleged OZ Minerals paid more than $US1 million to three women on the board of its joint-venture partner Shin Ha when it bought the company in 2009. The women were closely related to Cambodian officials, some of whom worked in the mining ministry, the newspaper alleged.
According to the OECD report, Australian Federal Police dismissed the allegations before a formal investigation was opened ”because it received information from the AFP’s overseas network that the transaction had been undertaken with due diligence and that all payments were made at the joint venture partner’s request.” …
Maris Beck and Ben Butler
http://www.smh.com.au/business/police-reopen-oz-cochlear-bribery-cases-20130112-2cmrt.html
Phnom Penh’s Historic Quarter to go to Pedestrian
January 14th, 2013, The Phnom Penh Post, Business & Commercial Development, Industry, Infrastructure, International Relations, Tourism
A new tourist promenade is to open in the heart of Phnom Penh’s old French quarter. Scheduled for a February opening, the tourist walk zone will provide an outdoor leisure area on street 13 that will be closed to cars and motorbikes on weekends from 6pm until 12 am, as well as on national holidays. …
According to UNESCO Head of office Anne Le Maistre, it is not just tourists who stand to benefit.
“Phnom Penh has a unique chance to have a gardern city image with large avenues and trees, which is extremly rae for a capital in the region.” …
UNESCO is supporting the efforts of Heritage Mission, which is attached to the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts, to make the old French Quarter a special heritage protected zone. …
Bennett Murray, P.19
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/2013011460756/Lifestyle/phnom-penh-s-historic-quarter-to-go-pedestrian.html
Families say eviction forced
January 14th, 2013, The Phnom Penh Post, Construction, Disputed Land, Economic Land Concessions, Infrastructure, Land Tenure, Social Concerns, Social Land Concessions
Hundreds of families in Ratanakkiri province have asked rights group Adhoc to intervene, saying local authorities in Bakeo district’s Laminh commune are illegally forcing them from their homes.
Village representative, Ek Orm, 52, said that authorities were forcing villagers to relocate to make way for a number of government buildings and commercial projects slated for the land and accused authorities of bulldozing their homes and crops. …
Laminh commune police chief Men Ren denied the allegations. “These villagers are living on state land anarchically. They do not have any legal documents. They cause social disorder and argument,” he said. …
Phak Seangly
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/2013011460762/National/families-say-eviction-forced.html