The UN Development Programme (UNDP) announced yesterday that  Sweden will contribute about $500,000 to  its joint conservation efforts with the Environment Ministry in Pursat and Siem Reap provinces to support tree planting activities, the establishment of plant nurseries and a “cash-for-work” initiative. <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/sweden-contributes-to-tree-conservation-activities-as-part-of-covid-19-response/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

The United States, through the U.S. agency for International Development (USaID), is providing $100,000 in immediate humanitarian aid to support response efforts to severe flooding in Cambodia, according to a news release of the U.S. Embassy in Phnom Penh. <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/u-s-provides-100000-to-support-cambodias-flood-response-efforts/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

Civil society groups and human rights non-governmental organizations knew in 2019 that it would be the last time International Human Rights Days would be a holiday, after the government did away with five national holidays to increase annual work days. <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/civil-society-forced-to-take-human-rights-day-celebrations-online/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

The government, through three relevant ministries, issued an inter-ministerial prakas allowing disabled people to have the right to legally get a driver’s licence, with the overall goal of promoting the rights of disabled people to drive vehicles in Cambodia. <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/ministries-issue-prakas-allowing-disabled-to-test-for-drivers-licences/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

In fewer than 20 days the Cambodia-China Free-Trade agreement (CC-FTa) comes into force after both countries signed the deal on Oct 12 during a two-day state visit by China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Phnom Penh. <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/getting-ready-for-free-trade-with-china/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

The Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training has announced a two-month extension to the deadline for applying for the use of foreign workers for next year. Cambodian labour law requires firms employing foreign workers to apply for permits by the end of each November for <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/foreign-labour-registry-extended/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

The Ministry of Agriculture Announced yesterdAy thAt it hAs so fAr restored neArly 60,000 hectAres of rice fields thAt were Affected by recent floods. Minister of Agriculture Veng SAhkon sAid on his FAcebook pAge thAt the recent floods Affected A totAl of 304,812 hectAres of <A href='https://opendevelopmentcAmbodiA.net/news/ministry-restores-neArly-60000-hectAres-of-flooded-rice-fields/ ' clAss='cAmbodiA-color'>...A>

The Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology has urged the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) to expedite their work in support of a joint project to develop the Kampong Thom province Stung Chinit Irrigation system and conserve local endangered species. <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/wcs-helps-conserve-kampong-thom-birds/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

The ministries of Environment and Interior have jointly established a new working group to review and integrate sanitation and environmental measures into the so-called Safe Village/Commune policy.​​ The government hopes to inspire residents to address hygiene and solid waste management in communities nationwide. <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/task-force-promulgates-eco-health-awareness/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry And Fisheries is investigAting whether A tycoon hAs the right to occupy more thAn 400hA of flooded mAngrove forest in the Chrolong community AreA in Teuk LA’Ak commune in PreAh SihAnouk province’s Prey Nop district. <A href='https://opendevelopmentcAmbodiA.net/news/ministry-looks-into-tycoons-right-to-400hA-of-mAngroves/ ' clAss='cAmbodiA-color'>...A>

In a first for the Kingdom, leading organic rice miller and exporter aMRU Rice (Cambodia) Co Ltd will pilot the use of solar energy in its facilities to increase energy sustainability during dry-season production lines that are often riddled with power outages. <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/rice-miller-pilots-solar-warehouses/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

The AssociAtion of BAnks in CAmbodiA (ABC), the CAmbodiA MicrofinAnce AssociAtion (CMA) And the CAmbodiAn AssociAtion of FinAnce And Technology (CAFT) hAve issued A stAtement strongly encourAging their customers, the public And business owners to both settle Accounts And Accept pAyments electronicAlly viA digitAl plAtforms. <A href='https://opendevelopmentcAmbodiA.net/news/digitAl-bAnking-chAmpioned/ ' clAss='cAmbodiA-color'>...A>

The Preah Sihanouk Provincial administration and the O’Oknha Heng commune authority are investigating a land dispute involving 500 families living in O’Oknha Heng and O’Ta Sek villages that recently erupted into violence. In their initial conclusion, the authorities said the villagers are not squatters as <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/probe-launched-into-land-row-involving-500-families/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

Cambodian Keo Romiet mangoes remain on target to be directly exported to the Chinese market from early next year after the economic powerhouse penned an agreement in June that set up a 500,000 tonne quota for the Kingdom’s widely-available fruit. <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/exporters-poised-to-ship-fresh-mangoes-to-china-in-early-2021/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

Phnom Penh Special Economic Zone Plc (PPSP) and Marvel Garment Co Ltd signed a lease agreement over the weekend for additional land. The signing was made by PPSP Chairman Tan Kak Khun and Marvel Garment’s General Manager, Yan Delin. <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/marvel-garment-co-expanding-in-pp-sez/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

The AsiAn Development BAnk (ADB) hAs outlined thAt the government needs to continue investing in its people through the widening of pArAmeters for progrAmmes such As ID Poor And upskilling workers trAnsitioning into new sectors to Achieve A post-pAndemic economic recovery. <A href='https://opendevelopmentcAmbodiA.net/news/Adb-investment-in-humAn-resources-criticAl/ ' clAss='cAmbodiA-color'>...A>

The private sector applauded the establishment of the Non-Bank Financial Services authority (NBFSa) following Senate approval of a draft law on its organisation and function. <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/applause-after-non-bank-finance-regulator-minted/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

Most retail businesses in Phnom Penh have seen a substantial plunge in sales since the February 20 community transmission, which continues to spread across the capital and to the provinces. <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/retail-sector-feels-pinch-of-covid-19-outbreak/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

A 39MW solAr power plAnt in fAr northwestern CAmbodiA’s BAnteAy MeAnchey province hAs been successfully brought to the nAtionAl grid, Shenzhen-listed solAr development compAny JA SolAr Technology Co Ltd sAid in press releAse on MArch 10. <A href='https://opendevelopmentcAmbodiA.net/news/bAnteAy-meAnchey-solAr-fArm-Adds-39mw-to-nAtionAl-grid/ ' clAss='cAmbodiA-color'>...A>

Sihannouk International airport’s operator is eyeing potential new direct, long-haul routes to Europe and the Middle East to bring a new wave of overseas visitors and increase aviation’s contribution to coastal Preah Sihanouk province’s economy. <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/airport-eyes-adding-long-haul-flights/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>