Aid and development
Multilateral development assistance
Economy still on track: World Bank
Despite better than predicted overall growth for global economies, the World Bank has slightly downgraded its 2017 forecast for Cambodia due to wage and price concerns in the Kingdom’s the garment industry as well as uncertainty surrounding next year’s national election. ...
Kali Kotoski
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/economy-still-track-world-bank
Economic changes needed, says ADB
A lead economist working with the Asia Development Bank (ADB) has said that Cambodia needs to rethink its economic model, which is heavily based on export-driven growth, as it prepares to shed least developed country (LDC) status, a transition that is expected to take place by ...
May Kunmakara
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/5084612/economic-changes-needed-says-adb/
Public transport a priority: WB
As the urban population continues to grow at rate of 2.6 percent per year, improving public transport and coming up with detailed urbanisation plans should be top priorities for authorities in Phnom Penh, as well as for other urban centres, including Sihanoukville and Siem Reap, ...
Chea Vannak
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/5084611/public-transport-priority-wb/
ADB offers $70M loan to improve transportation
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $70 million loan to develop the Kingdom’s transportation infrastructure with the majority of the funding going towards improvements of national roads in Prey Veng, Siem Reap and Svay Rieng provinces. ...
Kali Kotoski
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/adb-offers-70m-loan-improve-transportation
$50m boost for farming
The Asian Development Bank approved $50 million in additional financing to help boost agricultural productivity and improve smallholder farmers’ access to markets in 271 communes in the Tonle Sap basin, which is prone to natural calamities. ...
Sonny Inbaraj Krishnan
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/5083836/50m-boost-farming/
ADB stays hopeful on forecast for Kingdom
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) maintained its economic growth forecast for Cambodia at 7.1 percent for 2017 and 2018 buoyed by the strong performance of developing economies across Asia and the ongoing recovery of large industrial countries, according to a release yesterday. ...
Kali Kotoski
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/adb-stays-hopeful-forecast-kingdom
$64b GMS action plan
Cambodia as a member of the six-nation Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS) endorsed a five-year action plan framework that includes $64 billion in projects to help the sub-region achieve inclusive growth and sustainable development. ...
Sum Manet
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/5083528/64b-gms-action-plan/
Region backs safe food strategy
Agriculture ministers in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) on Friday endorsed a five-year strategy and action plan to build a region-wide food safety system. ...
Chea Vannak
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/5082183/region-backs-safe-food-strategy/
Nontariff barriers continue to hinder regional trade
While tariffs across the Asia-Pacific region have dropped over the last 20 years as a result of bilateral and multilateral trade agreements, nontariff barriers such as red tape and quotas continue to hinder the economic growth of Cambodia and other countries in the region, the ...
Kali Kotoski
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/nontariff-barriers-continue-hinder-regional-trade
Cambodia’s loss of LDC status will bring challenges: World Bank
As Cambodia continues its upward trajectory towards becoming a lower-middle-income country, it will face even greater challenges in reducing high levels of poverty as the Kingdom loses its preferential trade privileges and donor funding dries up, according to a new World Bank report. ...
Kali Kotoski and Hor Kimsay
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/cambodias-loss-ldc-status-will-bring-challenges-world-bank
Commune chief ordered to repair ADB-funded road
Kampong Cham provincial authorities have ordered a newly-elected commune chief to repair a road he had begun excavating to irrigate water away from villagers’ rice fields in Cheung Prey commune. ...
Pav Suy
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/5077496/commune-chief-ordered-repair-adb-funded-road/
Construction of international tourism port on the way
Cambodia has finalised architectural plan and design for the country’s first-ever international tourism port and been proceeding cost estimation and construction – thanks to the loan from the Asian Development Bank (ADB). ...
Mom Chandara Soleil
http://www.akp.gov.kh/?p=106465
World Bank commits $540 million to Cambodia
The World Bank will disburse some $540 million from 2018 to 2021 to finance economic development in Cambodia with a focus on supporting the implementation of the government’s Industrial Development Policy as well as other socio-economic projects. ...
May Kunmakara
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/5073984/world-bank-commits-540-million-cambodia/
Asian Development Bank needs to prioritize gender: review
The Asian Development Bank needs to be more involved in helping Cambodia implement gender equality policies in order to “tap the economic potential” for women and close “sizable gender equality gaps”, an internal evaluation has found. ...
Yesenia Amaro
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/asian-development-bank-needs-prioritise-gender-review
ADB plan aims for synergy in agro sector
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is close to finalising its five-year action plan for 2018 to 2022 that promotes agricultural-based value chains across the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS), an area that includes Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Thailand, Myanmar and the southern Chinese province of Yunnan, the ...
Kali Kotoski
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/adb-plan-aims-synergy-agro-sector
GMS gets closer to a food safety strategy
A draft five-year strategy for promoting safe and environment-friendly agriculture products in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) that would enhance regional food safety and promote trade is expected to be finalised today, according to the Asian Development Bank. ...
Sok Chan
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/40334/gms-gets-closer-to-a-food-safety-strategy/
Report warns on pier project
The Kampot Pier Project – a $10 million effort to attract tourists by building a passenger pier – could harm communities due to insufficient consultation, a new NGO report and community representatives claim. ...
Leonie Kijewski and Yon Sineat
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/report-warns-pier-project
World Bank subsidiary to train 2,000 contract rice farmers
A World Bank subsidiary will soon start training 2,000 farmers contracted to supply a leading Cambodian rice exporter on how to meet an international farming standard. ...
Hang Sokunthea
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/world-bank-subsidiary-to-train-2000-contract-rice-farmers-131561/
IMF: Make youth a demographic dividend
The International Monetary Fund says Cambodia’s young population compared with other regional countries will be a driving force for financial development and contribute to the emerging finance technology sector, or Fintech. ...
May Kunmakara
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/39134/imf--make-youth-a-demographic-dividend/
Tackle issues early to ensure growth: IMF official
Cambodia stands to benefit from an uptick in global and regional economic growth but will need to diversify its economy, improve infrastructure and reduce obstacles to doing business if it is to continue on its impressive growth track, a visiting International Monetary Fund (IMF) official ...
Cam McGrath
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/tackle-issues-early-ensure-growth-imf-official
Cambodia’s debt at $5.8 bil
The government signed concessional loan agreements with development partners – both bilateral and multilateral – amounting to about $8.3 billion from 1993 to the end of 2016, official figures show. ...
Sok Chan
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/37591/cambodia---s-debt-at--5-8-bil/
Kingdom’s debt grows to nearly $6 billion
Cambodia’s national debt stood at $5.8 billion at the end of 2016, totalling nearly a third of GDP, according to the latest debt bulletin released by the Ministry and Economy and Finance earlier this month. ...
Kali Kotoski
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/kingdoms-debt-grows-nearly-6-billion
World Bank loan of $100 million angers Boeng Kak activists
Boeng Kak supporters on Tuesday said they were dismayed at the World Bank’s announcement of a new $100 million loan to the Cambodian government amid ongoing harassment and jailings of land rights activists. ...
Brendan O’byrne and Sek Odom
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/world-bank-loan-of-100-million-angers-boeng-kak-activists-128160/
US cuts funding to UN women’s health fund
The US government has pulled any future funding from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), a group focused on reproductive rights for women and girls, over claims it has practiced coercive abortions and involuntary sterilizations in China. ...
Mark Tilly
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/37230/us-cuts-funding-to-un-women---s-health-fund/