ASEAN is poised to become AsiA’s next low-cost mAnufActuring powerhouse As wAges in ChinA’s PeArl River DeltA (PRD) fActory belt continue to creep up, sAid An economist. <A href='https://opendevelopmentcAmbodiA.net/news/AseAn-set-to-become-AsiAs-next-low-cost-mAnufActuring-powerhouse/ ' clAss='cAmbodiA-color'>...A>

Singapore-based firm KrisEnergy, which operates Cambodia’s offshore Block a, is now reviewing bids submitted by contractors for integrated drilling services and a facilities platform. They were submitted during the second quarter. <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/krisenergy-set-to-review-bids-for-drilling-services/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

Faced with slower growth at home and rising labor costs, Chinese entrepreneurs are seeking foreign markets as never before. But as they rush abroad, they are grappling for the first time with unruly trade unions, independent courts and meddlesome journalists. and for many, navigating the <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/chinese-companies-face-culture-shock-in-countries-that-arent-like-china/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

Rapidly increasing logistics costs and low regional rice prices would hinder Cambodia’s rice-export target this year, with one expert saying that milled-rice exports could fall to half of last year’s shipments. The cost of shipping rice to Europe climbed by more than 50 per cent between <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/slow-outlook-for-2012-rice-exports/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

Executives at Singapore-listed energy firm KrisEnergy Ltd say they have settled terms with the Cambodian government and are ready to sign a long-awaited production-sharing agreement that would pave the way for the first-ever extraction of petroleum from Cambodian territorial waters. <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/oil-firm-ready-to-ink-production-sharing-agreement/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

Following a complaint from the Free Trade Union (FTU) over the Ministry of Labor’s refusal to register 10 local branches of its organization, a ministry official said Wednesday that the constitutional right to Freedom of association has been suspended until a new trade union law <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/govt-suspends-Freedom-of-association-for-unions/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

TK Garment Co Ltd, a leading Thai original equipment manufacturer for fashion lines in Thailand, is relocating its largest production site to Cambodia to escape high wage costs, the Bangkok Post reported yesterday. according to Ken Loo, secretary general of the Garment Manufacturers association in <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/cambodias-cheap-labour-attracts-interest/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

Businesses with supply chains and operations in Burma, Bangladesh and Cambodia are benefiting from the world’s lowest labour costs, according to a new global ranking. Risk analytics company Verisk Maplecroft’s Labour costs Index measures a combination of wages, employment regulations, social security contributions and labor productivity <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/burma-bangladesh-and-cambodia-have-worlds-lowest-labour-costs/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

A luxury twin-condo with 35 floors And 256 units is set to AppeAr just to the southeAst of the Olympic StAdium by the end of 2017. Sky VillA is A lArge project developed by the CrystAl OrAnge Construction, with A hefty $100 million of cApitAl <A href='https://opendevelopmentcAmbodiA.net/news/An-olympiAn-endeAvour/ ' clAss='cAmbodiA-color'>...A>

Thirty-eight civil society groups have formed a situation room to monitor the upcoming commune elections in a bid to ensure a free and fair electoral process. During a press conference in Phnom Penh yesterday, members of the situation room explained that despite having insufficient observers <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/civil-society-groups-to-watch-poll/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

Now about six months old, Hope is still a little clumsy when climbing trees. Hope’s sidekick, named “173,” follows her around as if they were inseparable twins. Together, they swing in a hammock, bathe in a pool and, sometimes, climb up the metal bars of their <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/saved-from-the-soup-rescued-sun-bears-thrive/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

Prime Minister Hun Sen has signed off on four more economic land concessions (ELCs), all in protected areas, despite placing a moratorium on granting such leases on May 7. Since the May 7 sub-decree, the premier has now signed off on seven concessions totalling 56,586 hectares <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/hun-sen-grants-four-economic-land-concessions/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

Garment and footwear industry workers were promised a range of services from Prime Minister Hun Sen yesterday, including free bus rides, a minimum wage hike and health insurance. <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/bus-rides-and-health-insurance-for-workers/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

Market competition resulting from costly domestic rice remains a key factor driving Thai exporters to seek openings in neighbouring countries where the rice trade is more prosperous. Exporters say their performance was weak last year, mirroring the country’s overall decline in rice exports, which plunged <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/greener-pastures/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

Cambodia’s land-titling review process lacks transparency and clarity and is in danger of leaving behind Phnom Penh’s urban poor, according to a new report. Since the Systematic Land Registration (SLR) program was established in 2002, the Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction has granted <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/urban-poor-more-likely-to-lack-titles-report/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

The National Election Committee says voters will use stamps instead of pens for the next election in a bid to eliminate disputes over incorrectly marked ballots. NEC president Sik Bun Hok said on Friday that stamps would prevent a repeat of problems that arose at June’s <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/stamps-to-replace-pens-in-polls/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

The Ministry of Commerce has set up a working group to study and collect input from stakeholders and the private sector to develop strategies to maximize the implementation of the Free Trade agreement, of which Cambodia is a signatory. This was said by Pan Sorasak, <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/cambodia-sets-up-working-group-to-develop-strategy-to-take-advantage-of-Free-trade-agreement-with-china-korea/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

Voters will be able to instantly rate their lawmakers with a new program launched yesterday by the Committee for Free and Fair Elections in Cambodia (COMFREL). <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/new-lawmaker-rating-website-launched/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

Prime Minister Hun Sen issued a strong warning yesterday to NGO officials who analyze politics, while also repeating that there will be no amnesty for former opposition president Sam Rainsy. <a href='https://opendevelopmentcambodia.net/news/pm-warns-ngos-rainsy/ ' class='cambodia-color'>...a>

The Fisheries AdministrAtion of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry And Fisheries will orgAnize the first CAmbodiAn AquAculture Exhibition in November to promote AquAculture or locAl breeding products. <A href='https://opendevelopmentcAmbodiA.net/news/mAff-to-hold-first-cAmbodiAn-AquAculture-expo-in-nov/ ' clAss='cAmbodiA-color'>...A>