The newly-formed Cambodia Rice Federation (CRF), a body that aims to unite the rice sector under one representative body in the country, just elected its first chairman and he happens to be the son of Cambodia’s deputy prime minister. He is also the CEO of <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/new-chairman-of-the-cambodia-rice-federation-viewed-with-suspicion-by-local-media-agenda-will-focus-on-raising-rice-quality-lower-borrowing-rates/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

A joint stAtement signed by 63 CAmbodiAn civil society orgAnisAtions (CSOs) releAsed FridAy requested the government immediAtely repeAl the recent sub-decree on the EstAblishment of A NAtionAl Internet GAtewAy, citing the potentiAl for restrictions on internet users’ freedoms And privAcy.   <A href='https://opendevelopmentcAmbodiA.net/news/csos-urge-government-to-drop-internet-gAtewAy-sub-decree/ ' clAss='cAmbodiA-color'>...A>

The Cambodian Higher Education association released a statement on Saturday defending its members against claims made last week by CNRP President Sam Rainsy, who criticized the quality of Cambodia’s postsecondary education system. <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/education-association-hits-back-at-sam-rainsy/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

Small pig farmers are struggling to stay in business as illegal imports of pigs from neighbouring countries rise, squeezing them out of the market, industry insiders say. Srun Peu, deputy director of the Cambodia Pig Farmers association, an organisation with 4,000 members, said the increase in <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/farmers-suffer-from-illegal-pig-imports/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

The annual Khmer Cakes and Desserts Exhibition was launched yesterday with a ceremony on Phnom Penh’s riverfront near Wat Ounalom attended by officials from the municipality and Ministry of Culture. Noting that it was the second year the event had been held, Phnom Penh Governor Kep <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/khmer-cakes-desserts-make-a-sweet-display/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

Voters in next year’s elections will now have to make their choices under the watchful eye of the army after the government issued a decree yesterday establishing permanent military forces at national and sub-national election sites between 2016 and 2019. <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/army-to-guard-voting-stations/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

Kith Meng, chairman of the Royal Group, was reelected president of the Cambodia Chamber of Commerce yesterday in a landslide vote at its Phnom Penh office. The tycoon, whose interests span television, banking, telecoms and property, was also reelected president of the Phnom Penh Chamber <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/tycoon-reelected-president-of-two-chambers-of-commerce/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

Pen Sovann, Cambodia’s first prime minister after the Vietnamese invasion in January 1979 that swept the Khmer Rouge from power and a serving opposition member of parliament, passed away at his home in Takeo province’s Duan Keo town on Saturday evening aged 80. <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/post-khmer-rouge-pm-dies/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

Security forces including riot police were deployed to Phnom Penh’s Borei Keila neighborhood on Tuesday to keep a watchful eye over activists in the area, as rights groups, undeterred by arrests of eight protesters on “Black Monday,” began planning next week’s demonstration.   <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/tension-builds-before-next-black-monday/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

Cambodia Microfinance association (CMa) yesterday said it has taken steps to fulfill its tax obligations to the government. <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/microfinance-commits-to-fulfilling-tax-obligations/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

Thousands of garment workers from four factories have gone back on strike this week to protest a decision by their employers to withhold pay for the days they did not work during recent nationwide strikes. Between 8,500 and 12,500 workers at four factories&mdash;two in Phnom Penh, <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/garment-workers-go-back-on-strike-over-unpaid-wages/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

Cambodia’s customs officials on Wednesday called on all importers to pay”tax fees as stated by law, not pay bribe”to customs officers. The appeal came after some Chinese importers have complained that Cambodian customs officers have increased tariffs for their imported products, or not allowed their <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/cambodias-customs-officials-urge-importers-to-pay-tax-fees-not-pay-bribe/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

Some 10 months after leading protests during which Vietnamese flags were burned outside the country’s embassy in Phnom Penh, members of the Khmer Krom community took a more conciliatory approach Thursday as they marked the 66th anniversary of France’s formal splitting of Cochinchine. Thousands of monks <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/k-krom-mark-66-years-since-cochinchine-pact/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

Rights group Adhoc hAs hit bAck At AccusAtions from the BAr AssociAtion of the Kingdom of CAmbodiA thAt it interferes in judiciAl proceedings involving its lAwyers, sAying thAt the group hAd merely requested thAt A bAcklog of cAse files be moved from the home of <A href='https://opendevelopmentcAmbodiA.net/news/Adhoc-tells-bAr-request-for-cAse-files-ordinAry/ ' clAss='cAmbodiA-color'>...A>

Open Development Cambodia Organization (ODC) is pleased to announce the Opening of registration for a full-day training session scheduled for 3 May 2024 in Kampot City, Kampot Province. The training marks the implementation of the project “Strengthening Informal Economies and SMEs in Cambodia through Open <a href='https://Opendevelopmentcambodia.net/announcements/call-for-training-participants-smes-and-informal-economies-in-kampot-and-kep/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

The Constitutional Council is planning to meet later this week to discuss amendments to the Constitution, including changes to an article guaranteeing the right for citizens to form organisations and political parties. The document, a letter of invitation to local media, outlines an agenda for the <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/government-looks-to-make-controversial-amendments-to-constitution/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

A construction teAm composed of 200 workers from ChinA hAs Arrived in the Kingdom to begin work on An expresswAy thAt will connect Phnom Penh And SihAnoukville, with the groundbreAking ceremony expected before the end of MArch. <A href='https://opendevelopmentcAmbodiA.net/news/sihAnoukville-expresswAy-neArs-construction/ ' clAss='cAmbodiA-color'>...A>

Cambodia’s 35 microfinance institutions had lent $1.18 billion to their customers by the end of September this year, a 33 percent rise from $890 million at the end of last year, a report of the Cambodia Microfinance association (CMa) said Friday. On the deposit side, the <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/cambodias-micro-lenders-report-33-pct-loan-growth-in-9-months/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

The dismissal of a worker allegedly fired by Xin Lan (Cambodia) garment factory in Kandal province’s ang Snuol district for frequently relieving himself on the factory’s perimeter fence has sparked a mass strike of about 1,000 fellow workers &ndash; almost all of the factory’s staff. Nov <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/worker-relieved-of-factory-job/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

The owner of the under-construction 10-storey building located on the corner of Street 178 and Norodom Boulevard, who asked not to be identified, said the building will be used as office space and apartments. The three floors on the top of the building will be apartments <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/new-10-storey-office-building-on-norodom-boulevard-2/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>