| Written by Meas Sokchea | |
| Tuesday, 05 May 2009 | |
Community leaders say monkeys taken from forests around Peuk village are being sold in Vietnam and authorities are doing nothing. ILLEGAL logging and poaching in Preah Vihear province's Chey Sen district has left a once-heavily forested, animal-filled area almost completely depleted of wildlife, local officials told the Post Sunday. The head of the Peuk village community in Putrea commune, Chea Nan, said the forest and its formerly large monkey population had been nearly exhausted due to large- and small-scale illegal trafficking gangs. "They have logged it so much that it is almost an empty piece of land," said Chea Nan. "There are not many monkeys left either, as most of them have been caught and sold." They have logged it so much that it is almost an empty piece of land. Chea Nan said illegal activity had been going on since December last year, although the situation had improved in April and May. He said the forests being targeted were Romkum, Srang, Tbal, Chrey and Long forests. "I would estimate that around 30 monkeys are caught each month and sold. They have almost all disappeared, and the authorities have not intervened," he said. Vietnam monkey market The deputy chief of Peuk village, So Po, says the monkeys are being sold in Vietnam as they fetch a high price there - 100,000 to 400,000 riels (US$24.26 to $97.06) each. "The forest has almost become an empty field. [People] have cut down the trees and then caught the monkeys to sell to the Vietnamese," So Po said. Preah Vihear's provincial governor, Preap Tann, could not be reached for comment on Monday. Both Putrea's commune Chief Chum Keang and the police Chief Chan Dy told the Post on Sunday that they did not know the details of the issue. However, they acknowledged that heavy illegal logging and poaching had taken place in January and February, but declined to specify why it has been so bad this year. Chan Dy blamed local villagers for logging the trees and catching the monkeys. The chief of the Forestry Administration unit in Chey Sen district, Hak Sothy, said Sunday his officials were unable to enforce the forestry laws in the area as the forest is 30 kilometres from his office, which was too far away. "It would not be safe to crack down there. I only have two personnel and we would need many to crack down," Hak Sothy said. "Also, there is dense forest along the road, and we would have to sleep and eat there." The director general of the Forestry Administration unit, Ty Sokhun, said he knew nothing of the issue when contacted on Monday. |
Showing posts with label good new. Show all posts
Showing posts with label good new. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Trees, monkeys lost in Preah Vihear forest zone: official
Trees, monkeys lost in Preah Vihear forest zone: official
| Written by Meas Sokchea | |
| Tuesday, 05 May 2009 | |
Community leaders say monkeys taken from forests around Peuk village are being sold in Vietnam and authorities are doing nothing. ILLEGAL logging and poaching in Preah Vihear province's Chey Sen district has left a once-heavily forested, animal-filled area almost completely depleted of wildlife, local officials told the Post Sunday. The head of the Peuk village community in Putrea commune, Chea Nan, said the forest and its formerly large monkey population had been nearly exhausted due to large- and small-scale illegal trafficking gangs. "They have logged it so much that it is almost an empty piece of land," said Chea Nan. "There are not many monkeys left either, as most of them have been caught and sold." They have logged it so much that it is almost an empty piece of land. Chea Nan said illegal activity had been going on since December last year, although the situation had improved in April and May. He said the forests being targeted were Romkum, Srang, Tbal, Chrey and Long forests. "I would estimate that around 30 monkeys are caught each month and sold. They have almost all disappeared, and the authorities have not intervened," he said. Vietnam monkey market The deputy chief of Peuk village, So Po, says the monkeys are being sold in Vietnam as they fetch a high price there - 100,000 to 400,000 riels (US$24.26 to $97.06) each. "The forest has almost become an empty field. [People] have cut down the trees and then caught the monkeys to sell to the Vietnamese," So Po said. Preah Vihear's provincial governor, Preap Tann, could not be reached for comment on Monday. Both Putrea's commune Chief Chum Keang and the police Chief Chan Dy told the Post on Sunday that they did not know the details of the issue. However, they acknowledged that heavy illegal logging and poaching had taken place in January and February, but declined to specify why it has been so bad this year. Chan Dy blamed local villagers for logging the trees and catching the monkeys. The chief of the Forestry Administration unit in Chey Sen district, Hak Sothy, said Sunday his officials were unable to enforce the forestry laws in the area as the forest is 30 kilometres from his office, which was too far away. "It would not be safe to crack down there. I only have two personnel and we would need many to crack down," Hak Sothy said. "Also, there is dense forest along the road, and we would have to sleep and eat there." The director general of the Forestry Administration unit, Ty Sokhun, said he knew nothing of the issue when contacted on Monday. |
City's eviction deadline for Group 78 arrives
| Written by May Titthara and Sebastian Stragio | |
| Tuesday, 05 May 2009 | |
But May 5 deadline brings determination to remain at the site.  Photo by: HENG CHIVOAN Group 78 resident Hnueng, a coconut seller, and her daughter outside their house on Monday. Residents are facing forced eviction at the hands of the Phnom Penh Municipality, which says they are living on a public road. AHEAD of their May 5 eviction deadline, residents at the city's besieged Group 78 community say they are worried about an impending forced eviction but remain confident of their legal rights to the strip of land in Tonle Bassac commune. "I am a little bit worried about the situation in the area after tomorrow's deadline because I heard City Hall will kick me out to the outskirts of the city," said resident Lim Likean, 64. An eviction letter signed by Phnom Penh Governor Kep Chuktema on April 20 said the 70 families were living on a public road and on land owned by Sour Srun Enterprises, a local developer, giving residents 15 days to accept compensation and vacate their properties. After this time, it said authorities would take unspecified "administrative measures", and that City Hall would bear no responsibility for any property lost. Community representative Lim Sambo said he was also worried but was "depending on the law" to solve the dispute peacefully. "Tomorrow if the authorities come to enforce their eviction letter ... I will not fight back. I will go out from my house with empty hands because I don't want to have an argument," he said. He added that commune officials had set up a table at the site Monday, encouraging people to sign forms accepting the municipality's compensation package. City Hall has offered residents US$5,000 cash and a 5-metre-by-12-metre plot of land in the city's Dangkor district in exchange for moving out ahead of Tuesday's deadline. Scared of expulsion Lim Sambo said nine out of the community's 70 families had taken the cash and land package out of fear they will meet a similar fate to the nearby Dey Krahorm community, forcibly evicted in January. But other residents said they would ignore compensation offers and hold out to the end. |
I WILL GO OUT FROM MY HOUSE WITH EMPTY HANDS BECAUSE I DON't WANT [TO ARGUE].
"I will not move out or accept City Hall's compensation because the eviction letter said all residents living on Sour Srun's land and the public road must move out in 15 days, but they did not mention the residents in Group 78. So it doesn't concern us," said Lim Likean.
Photo by: HENG CHIVOAN
The Group 78 community in Tonle Bassac commune could face eviction beginning Tuesday. On Wednesday, the community's lawyers filed a complaint at the Phnom Penh Municipal Court requesting a delay of the eviction deadline.
But Sourng Sophea, a lawyer at the Community Legal Education Centre, said all involved parties had been summoned to court May 18, leaving Group 78 families open to eviction in the meantime.
"We asked the court to postpone the eviction, but [they] said they had no time to look at the case. We are very worried about [an eviction] because the court's procedures are very slow," he said.
Fiona Cochaud, first secretary of the Australian embassy, said she was aware of the plight of the community, which sits next door to the country's new embassy compound, but said it was "not appropriate" for the Australian government to comment on specific land dispute cases.
But she said the embassy had "encouraged local authorities and citizens to work together to find mutually acceptable, equitable ways to resolve issues relating to land disputes".
Tonle Bassac commune Chief Khat Narith said he would "comply with City Hall's orders" but that he did not know what would happen after Tuesday's deadline.
Mann Chhoeun, the deputy governor, could not be reached for comment Monday, but according to municipal timetables, he is to chair a meeting of the Urban Poor Development Fund at 8am today.
At the meeting, the fund is scheduled to procure 50 million riels (US$12,124) from Sour Srun Enterprises to help shift residents from Group 78 to the relocation site at Dangkor district's Trapaing Anhchanh village.
City's eviction deadline for Group 78 arrives
| Written by May Titthara and Sebastian Stragio | |
| Tuesday, 05 May 2009 | |
But May 5 deadline brings determination to remain at the site. Photo by: HENG CHIVOAN Group 78 resident Hnueng, a coconut seller, and her daughter outside their house on Monday. Residents are facing forced eviction at the hands of the Phnom Penh Municipality, which says they are living on a public road. AHEAD of their May 5 eviction deadline, residents at the city's besieged Group 78 community say they are worried about an impending forced eviction but remain confident of their legal rights to the strip of land in Tonle Bassac commune. "I am a little bit worried about the situation in the area after tomorrow's deadline because I heard City Hall will kick me out to the outskirts of the city," said resident Lim Likean, 64. An eviction letter signed by Phnom Penh Governor Kep Chuktema on April 20 said the 70 families were living on a public road and on land owned by Sour Srun Enterprises, a local developer, giving residents 15 days to accept compensation and vacate their properties. After this time, it said authorities would take unspecified "administrative measures", and that City Hall would bear no responsibility for any property lost. Community representative Lim Sambo said he was also worried but was "depending on the law" to solve the dispute peacefully. "Tomorrow if the authorities come to enforce their eviction letter ... I will not fight back. I will go out from my house with empty hands because I don't want to have an argument," he said. He added that commune officials had set up a table at the site Monday, encouraging people to sign forms accepting the municipality's compensation package. City Hall has offered residents US$5,000 cash and a 5-metre-by-12-metre plot of land in the city's Dangkor district in exchange for moving out ahead of Tuesday's deadline. Scared of expulsion Lim Sambo said nine out of the community's 70 families had taken the cash and land package out of fear they will meet a similar fate to the nearby Dey Krahorm community, forcibly evicted in January. But other residents said they would ignore compensation offers and hold out to the end. |
I WILL GO OUT FROM MY HOUSE WITH EMPTY HANDS BECAUSE I DON't WANT [TO ARGUE].
"I will not move out or accept City Hall's compensation because the eviction letter said all residents living on Sour Srun's land and the public road must move out in 15 days, but they did not mention the residents in Group 78. So it doesn't concern us," said Lim Likean.
Photo by: HENG CHIVOAN
The Group 78 community in Tonle Bassac commune could face eviction beginning Tuesday. On Wednesday, the community's lawyers filed a complaint at the Phnom Penh Municipal Court requesting a delay of the eviction deadline.
But Sourng Sophea, a lawyer at the Community Legal Education Centre, said all involved parties had been summoned to court May 18, leaving Group 78 families open to eviction in the meantime.
"We asked the court to postpone the eviction, but [they] said they had no time to look at the case. We are very worried about [an eviction] because the court's procedures are very slow," he said.
Fiona Cochaud, first secretary of the Australian embassy, said she was aware of the plight of the community, which sits next door to the country's new embassy compound, but said it was "not appropriate" for the Australian government to comment on specific land dispute cases.
But she said the embassy had "encouraged local authorities and citizens to work together to find mutually acceptable, equitable ways to resolve issues relating to land disputes".
Tonle Bassac commune Chief Khat Narith said he would "comply with City Hall's orders" but that he did not know what would happen after Tuesday's deadline.
Mann Chhoeun, the deputy governor, could not be reached for comment Monday, but according to municipal timetables, he is to chair a meeting of the Urban Poor Development Fund at 8am today.
At the meeting, the fund is scheduled to procure 50 million riels (US$12,124) from Sour Srun Enterprises to help shift residents from Group 78 to the relocation site at Dangkor district's Trapaing Anhchanh village.
Fête du travail au Cambodge : les syndicats autorisés à descendre dans la rue
| Par Duong Sokha et Stéphanie Gée |
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| 01-05-2009 | |||||
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Phnom Penh (Cambodge), le 1er mai 2009. Plus d'un millier d'ouvriers d'usines de confection textile se sont rassemblés devant l'ancien bâtiment de l'Assemblée nationale, avant de converger sur le lieu où le leader syndical Chea Vichea fut assassiné Quelque 1 500 travailleurs de la capitale cambodgienne, ouvrières de la confection textile en tête, ont répondu à l'appel de sept syndicats pour aller porter dans la rue leurs revendications en cette 123e Journée internationale du travail, assombrie par la crise économique mondiale dont les effets commencent à se faire sentir dans le royaume. Une fois n'est pas coutume, les représentants des forces de l'ordre étaient en retrait et moins armées qu'à l'habitude. La foule bigarrée de manifestants a pu marcher, sans encombre et sous un soleil de plomb, de l'ancien siège de l'Assemblée nationale vers le nouvel édifice hébergeant les députés, avant de repartir au carrefour du boulevard Sihanouk et de la rue Pasteur rendre un hommage au "héros des ouvriers", Chea Vichea, tombé sous les balles d'inconnus le 22 janvier 2004.
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Fête du travail au Cambodge : les syndicats autorisés à descendre dans la rue
| Par Duong Sokha et Stéphanie Gée |
| ||||
| 01-05-2009 | |||||
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Phnom Penh (Cambodge), le 1er mai 2009. Plus d'un millier d'ouvriers d'usines de confection textile se sont rassemblés devant l'ancien bâtiment de l'Assemblée nationale, avant de converger sur le lieu où le leader syndical Chea Vichea fut assassiné Quelque 1 500 travailleurs de la capitale cambodgienne, ouvrières de la confection textile en tête, ont répondu à l'appel de sept syndicats pour aller porter dans la rue leurs revendications en cette 123e Journée internationale du travail, assombrie par la crise économique mondiale dont les effets commencent à se faire sentir dans le royaume. Une fois n'est pas coutume, les représentants des forces de l'ordre étaient en retrait et moins armées qu'à l'habitude. La foule bigarrée de manifestants a pu marcher, sans encombre et sous un soleil de plomb, de l'ancien siège de l'Assemblée nationale vers le nouvel édifice hébergeant les députés, avant de repartir au carrefour du boulevard Sihanouk et de la rue Pasteur rendre un hommage au "héros des ouvriers", Chea Vichea, tombé sous les balles d'inconnus le 22 janvier 2004.
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Health Ministry tightens preventive measures
All Thais returning from Mexico have tested negative to the A(H1N1) virus, Deputy Public Health Minister Manit Nopamornbodi announced yesterday.
Seven students and seven teachers, who had been living in Mexico since August last year, only just flew back after the outbreak was reported there. However, three students, two of them girls, were found to have cold-like symptoms
Bamrasnaradura Institute director Dr Preecha Tantanathip said, as of 2am yesterday, one had a high fever of 38 degrees Celsius, which later dropped to 36.5 degrees, while the other tested at 31.5 degrees. The boy, who has been isolated, is suffering from a stuffed nose.
Meanwhile, the Public Health Ministry yesterday tightened measures to control the spread of the virus by installing another 32 infrared thermal scanners nationwide.
Public Health Minister Witthaya Kaewparadai said he will today ask the Cabinet for funds to purchase another ten scanners after Deputy Prime Minister Sanan Kajornprasart, who is overseeing the outbreak-prevention operations, instructed him to tighten measures.
He added that even though there have been no outbreaks in the Southeast Asian region, people travelling to and from neighbouring countries would be checked at the borders. Travellers will have to provide every detail of their trip and anyone arriving from Mexico would have to undergo a physical examination.
While Witthaya was waiting to welcome the teachers and students who flew in from Mexico on Sunday night at Suvarnabhumi Airport, he noticed that immigration officers were not wearing surgical masks to protect themselves, and were asking all travellers to take off their masks for identification.
"From this incident, I realised that immigration officers are not cooperating in the prevention of an outbreak," he said. "It appears as if the immigration officers don't know that they need to prevent infections."
He said he would instruct the Disease Control Department's director general Dr Somchai Chakrabhand to train all immigration officers, especially those at the borders, about disease control and prevention.
Somchai said his agency had already trained immigration officers at southern border checkpoints, including Betong, Sungai Kolok, Padang Besar, Sadao, Malang and Hat Yai, about preventive measures. However, so far only Sadao and Padang Besar have infrared thermal scanners.
Meanwhile, Witthaya has instructed medical workers across the country to be prepared for an outbreak and increase their capacity to diagnose and treat the A(H1N1) influenza. Preecha said his institute had reserved 62 beds people who might be infected with the virus.
In related news, Food and Drug Administration's secretary-general Dr Pipat Yingseri said the Mexican embassy had sent an official letter announcing that pork and pork products from Mexico were not contaminated by the A(H1N1) virus and were safe for consumption. However, he said, Thailand does not import pork and pork products from Mexico or Canada, where 200 pigs were infected by the A(H1N1) virus.
He also said that sausages imported from the US were safe for consumption.
Health Ministry tightens preventive measures
All Thais returning from Mexico have tested negative to the A(H1N1) virus, Deputy Public Health Minister Manit Nopamornbodi announced yesterday.
Seven students and seven teachers, who had been living in Mexico since August last year, only just flew back after the outbreak was reported there. However, three students, two of them girls, were found to have cold-like symptoms
Bamrasnaradura Institute director Dr Preecha Tantanathip said, as of 2am yesterday, one had a high fever of 38 degrees Celsius, which later dropped to 36.5 degrees, while the other tested at 31.5 degrees. The boy, who has been isolated, is suffering from a stuffed nose.
Meanwhile, the Public Health Ministry yesterday tightened measures to control the spread of the virus by installing another 32 infrared thermal scanners nationwide.
Public Health Minister Witthaya Kaewparadai said he will today ask the Cabinet for funds to purchase another ten scanners after Deputy Prime Minister Sanan Kajornprasart, who is overseeing the outbreak-prevention operations, instructed him to tighten measures.
He added that even though there have been no outbreaks in the Southeast Asian region, people travelling to and from neighbouring countries would be checked at the borders. Travellers will have to provide every detail of their trip and anyone arriving from Mexico would have to undergo a physical examination.
While Witthaya was waiting to welcome the teachers and students who flew in from Mexico on Sunday night at Suvarnabhumi Airport, he noticed that immigration officers were not wearing surgical masks to protect themselves, and were asking all travellers to take off their masks for identification.
"From this incident, I realised that immigration officers are not cooperating in the prevention of an outbreak," he said. "It appears as if the immigration officers don't know that they need to prevent infections."
He said he would instruct the Disease Control Department's director general Dr Somchai Chakrabhand to train all immigration officers, especially those at the borders, about disease control and prevention.
Somchai said his agency had already trained immigration officers at southern border checkpoints, including Betong, Sungai Kolok, Padang Besar, Sadao, Malang and Hat Yai, about preventive measures. However, so far only Sadao and Padang Besar have infrared thermal scanners.
Meanwhile, Witthaya has instructed medical workers across the country to be prepared for an outbreak and increase their capacity to diagnose and treat the A(H1N1) influenza. Preecha said his institute had reserved 62 beds people who might be infected with the virus.
In related news, Food and Drug Administration's secretary-general Dr Pipat Yingseri said the Mexican embassy had sent an official letter announcing that pork and pork products from Mexico were not contaminated by the A(H1N1) virus and were safe for consumption. However, he said, Thailand does not import pork and pork products from Mexico or Canada, where 200 pigs were infected by the A(H1N1) virus.
He also said that sausages imported from the US were safe for consumption.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Vietnam steel plant set for construction: reports
| Written by Chun Sophal | |
| Tuesday, 16 December 2008 | |
| Local media say a Vietnamese company is planning a $70 million steel plant in Cambodia capable of producing 5,000 tonnes per month  Photo by: Tracey Shelton Steel beams in Phnom Penh. Media reports say a Vietnamese company is set to build a steel plant in Cambodia. "We want the steel factory to begin production in two or three years," Tran Totu, chairman of the Thep Viet Steel Corp, told Kampuchea Thmey last week, adding that the investment would help fill a vital need for the Kingdom's rapidly developing infrastructure. Thep Viet Steel exports 5,000 tonnes of steel per month to Cambodia, Kampuchea Thmey reported. |
Cambodia is reported to have large iron deposits, and Vietnamese companies have been granted concessions to explore for the mineral - a major feedstock for steel production.
Trinh Ba Cam, spokesman for the Vietnamese embassy in Phnom Penh, said Vietnamese companies could play a major role in future development in Cambodia.
"Vietnamese investment will help fill a need in Cambodian markets because the country is badly in need of steel," he said.
Tann Kin Vin, secretary of state for the Ministry of Industry, Mines and Energy, said he had no information about the plant.
"We know nothing about the plan, but we think it could not be implemented that quickly because no evaluation study on the availability of iron ore has been conducted," he told the Post on Tuesday.
"If they do their research, they will be able obtain ore and earn a lot of profit," he said.
He said that Japan is providing technical training on ore extraction.
"Iron ore will be a big source of income if the country is able to utilise this natural resource," Tann Kin Vin said.
Prime Minister Hun Sen last year called on foreign investment to take advantage of Cambodia's iron resources.
"I think Cambodia may have enough iron ore to sustain operations in a number of provinces in the centre and in the north of the country," said Mom Sambath, executive director of Development and Parntership in Action, an organisation that conducts research on mining operations in Ratanakkiri and Mondulkiri provinces.
He added that Cambodia could also support large-scale bauxite production
Vietnam steel plant set for construction: reports
| Written by Chun Sophal | |
| Tuesday, 16 December 2008 | |
| Local media say a Vietnamese company is planning a $70 million steel plant in Cambodia capable of producing 5,000 tonnes per month Photo by: Tracey Shelton Steel beams in Phnom Penh. Media reports say a Vietnamese company is set to build a steel plant in Cambodia. "We want the steel factory to begin production in two or three years," Tran Totu, chairman of the Thep Viet Steel Corp, told Kampuchea Thmey last week, adding that the investment would help fill a vital need for the Kingdom's rapidly developing infrastructure. Thep Viet Steel exports 5,000 tonnes of steel per month to Cambodia, Kampuchea Thmey reported. |
Cambodia is reported to have large iron deposits, and Vietnamese companies have been granted concessions to explore for the mineral - a major feedstock for steel production.
Trinh Ba Cam, spokesman for the Vietnamese embassy in Phnom Penh, said Vietnamese companies could play a major role in future development in Cambodia.
"Vietnamese investment will help fill a need in Cambodian markets because the country is badly in need of steel," he said.
Tann Kin Vin, secretary of state for the Ministry of Industry, Mines and Energy, said he had no information about the plant.
"We know nothing about the plan, but we think it could not be implemented that quickly because no evaluation study on the availability of iron ore has been conducted," he told the Post on Tuesday.
"If they do their research, they will be able obtain ore and earn a lot of profit," he said.
He said that Japan is providing technical training on ore extraction.
"Iron ore will be a big source of income if the country is able to utilise this natural resource," Tann Kin Vin said.
Prime Minister Hun Sen last year called on foreign investment to take advantage of Cambodia's iron resources.
"I think Cambodia may have enough iron ore to sustain operations in a number of provinces in the centre and in the north of the country," said Mom Sambath, executive director of Development and Parntership in Action, an organisation that conducts research on mining operations in Ratanakkiri and Mondulkiri provinces.
He added that Cambodia could also support large-scale bauxite production
Trade expo opens as commerce minister predicts strong growth
| Trade expo opens as commerce minister predicts strong growth |  |  |  |
| Written by Nguon Sovan and Khouth Sophak Chakrya | |
| Tuesday, 16 December 2008 | |
| Foreign trade could remain largely unaffected by global market instability if Cambodia boosts the production of goods for export, Cham Prasidh says, predicting growth of 9pc  Photo by: HENG CHIVOAN Ministers Khieu Kanharith (left) and Cham Prasidh at the One Province, One Product Exhibition. "The speed of economic growth will be lower, but if there are efforts to produce goods that meet market demand and to tailor agricultural output for the market, I believe that growth will not be much lower - at least nine percent," Cham Prasidh said. |
The expected dip in growth, though slight, could be mitigated if farmers join together to bolster production of export goods, Cham Prasidh said.
He said the agricultural sector could be a major source of growth through the establishment of a trade surplus.
"The expo is a golden opportunity for rural producers to introduce their products to consumers and investors, as well as a chance for businesspeople to look for business and investment partners," Cham Prasidh said.
THE CRISIS HAS NOT SEVERELY IMPACTED FOREIGN TRADE.
The expo, he said, aims to address export promotion and greater market access.
At its heart, though, is the idea of "one province, one product", where entire communities focus on producing a single, unique item for sale.
Mao Thora, a secretary of state for the Commerce Ministry, said that the expo, which runs through Thursday, would showcase 135 companies from 10 countries, including Thailand, China, Vietnam, Japan, Korea, India, Malaysia, Singapore, the United States and South Africa.
Goods displayed at the expo would range from agricultural products and related services to information technology services, Mao Thora said.
The expo also highlights key Cambodian agricultural exports, such as rice, cashew nuts, pepper, corn, beans, potatoes and silks, he added.
Tuesday's events will include a special forum on business and investment and a seminar and trade meeting for potential business partnerships, followed on Wednesday by a series of cultural concerts, Mao Thora said.
"The expo will provide an opportunity to promote indigenous and forest-based community products - truly Cambodian-made products," said Seng Teak, country director for the World Wildlife Fund for Nature, who led communities from Mondulkiri, Kampot, Ratanakkiri and other provinces to display non-timber forest products at the expo for the first time.
"Three main non-timber forest products - wild honey, resins and handicrafts - will be featured at the expo," Seng Teak said.
Cambodia's foreign trade reached US$8.4 billion in 2007, including exports of $4.6 billion and imports of $3.8 billion, according to the Commerce Ministry, which told the Post trade projections for 2008 were not currently available.
"The crisis has not severely impacted foreign trade. Trade with Vietnam and Thailand is still on the rise, and we expect that Cambodia's imports and exports will increase this year," Mao Thora said.
"But we have not yet calculated current figures compared to 2007," he added.
Trade expo opens as commerce minister predicts strong growth
| Trade expo opens as commerce minister predicts strong growth | | | |
| Written by Nguon Sovan and Khouth Sophak Chakrya | |
| Tuesday, 16 December 2008 | |
| Foreign trade could remain largely unaffected by global market instability if Cambodia boosts the production of goods for export, Cham Prasidh says, predicting growth of 9pc Photo by: HENG CHIVOAN Ministers Khieu Kanharith (left) and Cham Prasidh at the One Province, One Product Exhibition. "The speed of economic growth will be lower, but if there are efforts to produce goods that meet market demand and to tailor agricultural output for the market, I believe that growth will not be much lower - at least nine percent," Cham Prasidh said. |
The expected dip in growth, though slight, could be mitigated if farmers join together to bolster production of export goods, Cham Prasidh said.
He said the agricultural sector could be a major source of growth through the establishment of a trade surplus.
"The expo is a golden opportunity for rural producers to introduce their products to consumers and investors, as well as a chance for businesspeople to look for business and investment partners," Cham Prasidh said.
THE CRISIS HAS NOT SEVERELY IMPACTED FOREIGN TRADE.
The expo, he said, aims to address export promotion and greater market access.
At its heart, though, is the idea of "one province, one product", where entire communities focus on producing a single, unique item for sale.
Mao Thora, a secretary of state for the Commerce Ministry, said that the expo, which runs through Thursday, would showcase 135 companies from 10 countries, including Thailand, China, Vietnam, Japan, Korea, India, Malaysia, Singapore, the United States and South Africa.
Goods displayed at the expo would range from agricultural products and related services to information technology services, Mao Thora said.
The expo also highlights key Cambodian agricultural exports, such as rice, cashew nuts, pepper, corn, beans, potatoes and silks, he added.
Tuesday's events will include a special forum on business and investment and a seminar and trade meeting for potential business partnerships, followed on Wednesday by a series of cultural concerts, Mao Thora said.
"The expo will provide an opportunity to promote indigenous and forest-based community products - truly Cambodian-made products," said Seng Teak, country director for the World Wildlife Fund for Nature, who led communities from Mondulkiri, Kampot, Ratanakkiri and other provinces to display non-timber forest products at the expo for the first time.
"Three main non-timber forest products - wild honey, resins and handicrafts - will be featured at the expo," Seng Teak said.
Cambodia's foreign trade reached US$8.4 billion in 2007, including exports of $4.6 billion and imports of $3.8 billion, according to the Commerce Ministry, which told the Post trade projections for 2008 were not currently available.
"The crisis has not severely impacted foreign trade. Trade with Vietnam and Thailand is still on the rise, and we expect that Cambodia's imports and exports will increase this year," Mao Thora said.
"But we have not yet calculated current figures compared to 2007," he added.
One-party state cannot bring about democracy
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Tuesday, 16 December 2008
Written by Mu Sochua, MP
Letter to The Phnom Penh Post
The Phnom Penh Post article published December 11, 2008, titled "Kingdom at crossroads as CPP extends control over government" is a good food for thought for all of us who are direct or indirect actors in the building of democracy in Cambodia.
We can have endless debates about what type of democracy Cambodia should enjoy or what is the path to democracy. But we cannot accept that a one-party state may be the foundation Cambodia needs for genuine democratic development, because the fundamental element of democracy is the existence of diversified ideas, voices and choices. A one-party state eliminates the environment for democracy to be rooted and to grow. The tight control of people's lives at the village level, and the culture of merits rather than rights for development and the "step-by-step" approach are all part of the carefully crafted democracy that the rulers will allow Cambodia to have.
The slow pace of reforms is not because of the lack of human resources, but it is rather a well-crafted pace to extend the power of the rulers. Corruption provides the means to control the power base and to even expand it. Stability comes at a high price for the poor, for the voiceless, for the human rights defenders and the activists.
Debates in parliament are controlled with rules and procedures that shut off the opposition. Mechanisms for checks and balances to control corruption, rule of law and reforms are weak, while donors continue to accept the same promises made.
How much longer will we let the elephants weep?
Mu Sochua, MP
Sam Rainsy Party
One-party state cannot bring about democracy
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Tuesday, 16 December 2008
Written by Mu Sochua, MP
Letter to The Phnom Penh Post
The Phnom Penh Post article published December 11, 2008, titled "Kingdom at crossroads as CPP extends control over government" is a good food for thought for all of us who are direct or indirect actors in the building of democracy in Cambodia.
We can have endless debates about what type of democracy Cambodia should enjoy or what is the path to democracy. But we cannot accept that a one-party state may be the foundation Cambodia needs for genuine democratic development, because the fundamental element of democracy is the existence of diversified ideas, voices and choices. A one-party state eliminates the environment for democracy to be rooted and to grow. The tight control of people's lives at the village level, and the culture of merits rather than rights for development and the "step-by-step" approach are all part of the carefully crafted democracy that the rulers will allow Cambodia to have.
The slow pace of reforms is not because of the lack of human resources, but it is rather a well-crafted pace to extend the power of the rulers. Corruption provides the means to control the power base and to even expand it. Stability comes at a high price for the poor, for the voiceless, for the human rights defenders and the activists.
Debates in parliament are controlled with rules and procedures that shut off the opposition. Mechanisms for checks and balances to control corruption, rule of law and reforms are weak, while donors continue to accept the same promises made.
How much longer will we let the elephants weep?
Mu Sochua, MP
Sam Rainsy Party
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