Economy and commerce
Investment
Rubber company suspends projects as World Bank investigates
A World Bank-supported rubber company accused of land grabs has suspended some of its projects, as an investigation by the bank continues. The Hoang Anh Gia Lai company, which received support from the bank’s International Finance Corporation, said in a decision following an April 2 ...
Sok Khemara
http://www.voacambodia.com/content/rubber-company-suspends-projects-as-world-bank-investigates/1908775.html
Villagers’ crops destroyed over land dispute
Representatives of a community locked in a land dispute with a Vietnamese company in Kratie province returned home from Phnom Penh late Tuesday after failing to garner support from Prime Minister Hun Sen, while an official at the company said it had begun destroying villagers’ ...
Aun Pheap
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/villagers-crops-destroyed-over-land-dispute-58183/
Union says three workers arrested over wing star protest
At least three workers were arrested Tuesday morning outside the Wing Star Shoes factory in Kompong Speu province, where the Free Trade Union (FTU) has been leading a strike calling for benefits and back pay, according to police and a union representative. An FTU representative said ...
Mech Dara and Sany Sinary
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/union-says-three-workers-arrested-over-wing-star-protest-58169/
Momentum building for GTI
The next stage of Grand Twins International’s (GTI) listing on the Cambodia Stock Exchange – public subscriptions – has had a positive response, according to the head of one of the country’s brokerage firms. Svay Hay, CEO of Acleda Securities, a registered broker for GTI, said ...
Eddie Morton
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/momentum-building-gti
Vietnamese funding curbs will not delay hospital development
Despite Vietnamese state-owned companies withdrawing funding from projects outside of their core business, the $20 million expansion of the Vietnamese-backed Cho Ray Phnom Penh Hospital remains on track, the hospital’s head said yesterday. In July 2012 the Vietnamese government requested that state-owned enterprises withdraw investment in ...
Daniel de Carteret
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/vietnamese-funding-curbs-will-not-delay-hospital-development
Bus company sues strikers
After grappling with weeks of on-again, off-again strikes, the Phnom Penh Sorya Transportation bus firm has filed complaints against 20 former employees for incitement, making threats and using the company uniform without permission. General manager Chan Sophanna said yesterday that the company filed the complaints to ...
Mom Kunthear
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/bus-company-sues-strikers
Garment protest trial defendants deny charges
Defendants in a mass trial of 25 men and teenagers accused of joining a string of violent garment worker protests continued to profess their innocence during the second day of hearings at the Phnom Penh Municipal Court on Tuesday. Twenty-three of the men were arrested in ...
Khy Sovuthy and Eang Mengleng
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/garment-protest-trial-defendants-deny-charges-58166/
Families petition City Hall over wall built in road
More than 170 families in Phnom Penh’s Meanchey district submitted a petition to City Hall on Monday complaining about wealthy businessman Khun Sear’s decision to build a wall in the middle of a road in their neighborhood. The road in Chak Angre Leu commune is under ...
Ben Sokhean
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/families-petition-city-hall-over-wall-built-in-road-58176/
Giant development in Cambodia hinges on Chinese buyers
There is an island in Cambodia that, unlike others in Southeast Asia, is not the object of an ownership dispute. But it is equally clear whom its current owners would like to land there: Chinese property buyers. If all goes according to plan, Koh Pich — ...
Chris Horton
http://www.property-report.com/cambodias-mega-development-lures-chinese-investors-34672
Giant Development in Cambodia Hinges on Chinese Buyers
There is an island in Cambodia that, unlike others in Southeast Asia, is not the object of an ownership dispute. But it is equally clear whom its current owners would like to land there: Chinese property buyers. If all goes according to plan, Koh Pich — ...
Chris Horton
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/07/realestate/commercial/giant-development-in-cambodia-hinges-on-chinese-buyers.html?_r=1
Protest planned for 2nd day of garment protest trials
Some 500 supporters of union leader Vorn Pao and 24 others arrested during a string of garment worker protests since November will rally in front of the Phnom Penh Municipal Court on Tuesday on the second day of their trials, a union official said. All 25 ...
Khuon Narim
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/protest-planned-for-2nd-day-of-garment-protest-trials-58141/
A way of life falls with trees
The Phnong ethnic minority in Mondulkiri province have heard the promises of development before. With increasing investment and the selling off of the region’s forests will come new roads and schools, they are told. But people in this ancient community, tired of seeing their sacred forests handed ...
May Titthara
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/way-life-falls-trees
Families ask Hun Sen for help to reclaim farms
Dozens of representatives from at least 100 recently evicted families accused of illegally occupying state land in Kratie province traveled to Phnom Penh on Monday morning to petition Prime Minister Hun Sen for his help getting their land back. The families say local authorities have been ...
Aun Pheap
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/families-ask-hun-sen-for-help-to-reclaim-farms-58137/
Aeon microfinance booms with mall on horizon
When Sor Songheng, a manager for an accountancy firm, wanted to replace his cheap Nokia phone a few months ago, he set his heart on a top-of-the-line iPhone 5S worth $780—nearly his entire monthly salary of $800. But instead of scrimping and saving for months to ...
George Styllis
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/aeon-microfinance-booms-with-mall-on-horizon-58122/
Hun Sen to visit Russia
Russia invites some Ministers of Cambodia to visit Russia to sign Memorandum of Understanding on bilateral consultation between the two countries, a government official said. The invitation was made during a meeting Monday between Cambodia’s Foreign Minister Hor Namhong and Dmitry Tsvetkov, new Russian Ambassador to ...
The Cambodia Herald News Staff
http://thecambodiaherald.com/cambodia/detail/1?page=11&token=YjA5ODNhZGM4YzI
Ministry fails to settle fears over Koh Kong dam
A meeting at the Ministry of Mines and Energy on Friday about plans for a controversial hydropower dam in Koh Kong province failed to assuage fears among those trying to stop the project that construction had already been approved. During Friday’s meeting, officials from the ministry ...
Zsombor Peter and Hul Reaksmey
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/ministry-fails-to-settle-fears-over-koh-kong-dam-58021/
More Phnom Penh residents facing possible eviction
Dozens of villagers in Phnom Penh’s Russei Keo district are facing eviction after the National Cadastral Commission announced last week that a number of areas in Tuol Sangke commune are earmarked for future redevelopment. The commission’s plans for new projects, including a road widening, were posted ...
Ben Sokhean
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/more-phnom-penh-residents-facing-possible-eviction-58031/
Labor minister says solution to Bavet strike in the works
On the sidelines of a government event marking International Labor Day, Labor Minister Ith Sam Heng on Thursday blamed recent strikes in Bavet City on unnamed provocateurs, but said efforts were underway to resolve the dispute. He also said that a government-ordered shutdown of the 30-plus ...
Aun Pheap and Khuon Narim
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/labor-minister-says-solution-to-bavet-strike-in-the-works-57942/
Police make arrest, file complaints in Bavet strike
Police in Svay Rieng province on Tuesday arrested a garment worker for allegedly breaking a car window during a strike that turned violent in Bavet City the day before, and have filed complaints to the provincial court against two union representatives accused of defamation. The arrest ...
Aun Pheap
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/police-make-arrest-file-complaints-in-bavet-strike-57856/
Joint venture to embark on SoHo twin-tower project
Singaporean investors will invest $300 million to erect a twin-towered commercial building called The Bridge, in downtown Phnom Penh. The Bridge, which is a joint venture between Singapore Oxley Holdings and Cambodia World Bridge Land, aims to make its mark on the city landscape by constructing ...
Sum Manet
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/real-estate/joint-venture-embark-soho-twin-tower-project
Villagers in land dispute with Phanimex petition authorities
Four hundred Kandal villagers locked in a land dispute in Ponhea Leu district with development company Phanimex submitted a petition Wednesday to district authorities and rights group Adhoc calling for a solution. The petition came a day after villagers blocked National Road 5 for more than ...
Ben Sokhean
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/villagers-in-land-dispute-with-phanimex-petition-authorities-57882/
Areng Valley group, villagers to visit Mines Ministry
The Ministry of Mines and Energy invited the head of an NGO battling to stop construction of a highly criticized dam in a remote area of Koh Kong province to meet with ministry officials Friday. Signed by Mines Minister Suy Sem and dated April 25, the ...
Khuon Narim
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/areng-valley-group-villagers-to-visit-mines-ministry-57870/
Insurance industry revenue up 14 percent
Revenue among insurance firms increased 14 percent in the first quarter compared with the same period last year, according to figures released Tuesday by the Insurance Association of Cambodia (IAC). From January to March, insurance premiums generated $13.86 million compared to $12.15 million the year before, ...
Hul Reaksmey
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/business/insurance-industry-revenue-up-14-percent-57786/
Cambodia bans trade unions from marking May Day at capital's Freedom Park
Cambodian authorities on Wednesday refused permission for the 18 opposition-aligned trade unions and associations to celebrate an International Labor Day event on May 1 at the capital’s Freedom Park. “The Phnom Penh Municipality does not allow the trade unions and associations to organize this event at ...
Xinhuanet News Staff
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2014-04/30/c_133301779.htm