Despite ELC ban, minister talks of new land deals

Two-and-a-half years after Prime Minister Hun Sen imposed a freeze on the granting of economic land concessions (ELCs), Environment Minister Say Sam Al on Monday appeared to leave the door open to the government giving more companies access to the often-controversial land holdings.

At a press conference at the ministry, Mr. Sam Al said the contract period of new ELCs would be slashed from the current maximum of 99 years to 50 years for any company that signed “new” ELC agreements. …

Environment Ministry spokesman Sao Sopheap said Monday that the prime minister’s moratorium still stood and the new 50-year contract period mentioned by the minister would apply only to firms that had already been awarded concessions by the government but had yet to complete the necessary paperwork. …

Aun Pheap
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/despite-elc-ban-minister-talks-of-new-land-deals-68632/