Economy and commerce
Cambodia’s citric acid exports prompt investigation in Europe
The European Commission has announced it is investigating the potential laundering of Chinese shipments of citric acid through Cambodia, allowing Chinese manufacturers to flout export restrictions. The European Commission (EC) imposed duties on Chinese citric acid in early 2015 after determining that the chemical was being ...
Robin Spiess and Cheng Sokhorng
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/cambodias-citric-acid-exports-prompt-investigation-europe
Chinese market widening for Cambodian exports
Cofco, China’s largest food processor, manufacturer and trader, will set up a working group in the kingdom to explore the possibilities available in the local agricultural market, including expanding the number of products it imports from Cambodia and investing in local infrastructure. ...
Sok Chan
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/5098014/chinese-market-widening-cambodian-exports/
Agriculture Ministry to ink $50 million mango pact
The Agriculture Ministry is set to sign a mango export investment deal with a Chinese firm worth up to $50 million, the second such deal in the country, Agriculture Minister Veng Sokhon said yesterday. ...
Cheng Sokhorng
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/agriculture-ministry-ink-50-million-mango-pact
Industrial development plan to boost economy is ‘90%’ on track
An ambitous 10-year plan to boost the country’s industrial development is “90 percent” on track and has earned the approval of Prime Minister Hun Sen, government representatives said yesterday. ...
Cheng Sokhorng
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/industrial-development-plan-boost-economy-90-track
Biological pest control agents given green light by government
Cambodia has just launched a new registry for companies that wish to import biological control agents (BCA), effectively allowing the importation of these organisms which are widely used in other countries for pest control. ...
Sok Chan
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/5097360/biological-pest-control-agents-given-green-light-government/
Hun Sen vows to launch new bank for SMEs
Prime Minister Hun Sen yesterday pledged to start a new bank with an initial capital of $100 million to provide financing for small and medium enterprises (SMEs), with industry players saying its success hinged on whether concessional or low interest rates could be provided to ...
Hor Kimsay
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/hun-sen-vows-launch-new-bank-smes
Local SMEs are urged to digitise payments
Cambodian businesses need to adapt and digitise their financial operations if they want to remain competitive regionally and around the world, industry insiders said yesterday. ...
Cheng Sokhorng
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/local-smes-are-urged-digitise-payments
Report targets corrupt business
Transparency International Cambodia yesterday released its first Business Integrity Country Agenda assessment report, aimed at reducing corruption and improving the overall business environment in the country. ...
Khuon Narim
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/5096822/report-targets-corrupt-business/
As Hun Sen goads West, minister quietly notes massive cost of sanctions
With Prime Minister Hun Sen publicly daring Western countries to impose sanctions in response to the recent dissolution of the country’s main opposition, the minister of commerce has quietly expressed concern at the staggering customs bill Cambodia would incur should the EU suspend its preferential ...
Hor Kimsay and Ananth Baliga
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national-politics/hun-sen-goads-west-minister-quietly-notes-massive-cost-sanctions
Hun Sen dares EU to impose sanctions
A European Parliament resolution last week calling for the possible suspension of Cambodia’s preferential trade status prompted a strong reaction from Prime Minister Hun Sen, who yesterday sternly dared the bloc to “cut it!” Speaking to garment factory workers on Koh Pich yesterday, the premier said Cambodia would ...
Ben Sokhean and Leonie Kijewski
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national-politics/hun-sen-dares-eu-impose-sanctions
EU firm sets plan for local rubber factory
Socfin Cambodia, the local branch of a Europe-based international rubber producing company that currently operates a 7,500-hectare rubber plantation in Mondulkiri, has announced plans to open the doors to its first rubber factory next April, with an initial investment of $5.7 million, a company executive ...
Hor Kimsay
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/eu-firm-sets-plan-local-rubber-factory
Business Insider: Boosting inclusion for online payment at Pi Pay
While Cambodia remains a largely cash-based society, the market for financial technology has begun to expand through online payment services and mobile e-wallets like Pi Pay. The Post’s Robin Spiess sat down with Pi Pay CEO Tomas Pokorny to discuss the future of economic digitisation in the Kingdom. ...
Robin Spiess
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/business-insider-boosting-inclusion-online-payment-pi-pay
New partnership to light up electronics sector in Cambodia
Legrand, a French manufacturer of electrical equipment, entered into an agreement on Friday with local company BMSC to distribute uninterruptible power supply (UPS) devices in the Cambodian market. ...
Sok Chan
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/5096455/new-partnership-light-electronics-sector-cambodia/
Government hopes decentralisation boosts business registration
To promote the registration of small- and medium-size enterprises (SMEs), the Ministry of Industry and Handicraft will begin early next year to decentralise the process by granting provincial government officials the authority to register businesses. ...
Cheng Sokhorng
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/government-hopes-decentralisation-boosts-business-registration
EU not taking action on garment industry
The European Union ambassador to Cambodia assured union officials on Tuesday that no sanctions on the garment sector had been taken. Former opposition leader Sam Rainsy and several civil society groups have called for sanctions on the garment industry following the dissolution of the opposition CNRP ...
Mom Kunthear
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/5095913/eu-not-taking-action-garment-industry/
Kingdom’s startups stuck in the middle with no capital
Despite Cambodia having a vibrant startup scene with entrepreneurs launching ventures on a near daily basis, businesses trying to tap into financial resources for growth have difficulty accessing capital and are stuck in the unbankable “missing middle”, according to a recent study. ...
Robin Spiess
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/kingdoms-startups-stuck-middle-no-capital
Government fails to recoup on rubber expenses
Despite a 31 percent increase in Cambodian rubber exports during the first 11 months of this year, the Ministry of Agriculture is failing to recoup on expenses it has spent sending expert technicians into the field in order to help boost production. ...
Cheng Sokhorng
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/government-fails-recoup-rubber-expenses
New forum to tackle problems in rice sector
Next month the Cambodia Rice Federation (CRF) will hold the sixth edition of the Cambodia Rice Forum, bringing major stakeholders in the sector together to discuss the future of the local rice industry and create a joint effort to ramp up production and exports. ...
Sum Manet
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/5095643/new-forum-tackle-problems-rice-sector/
Kingdom on track for good 2018, says AMRO
Cambodia’s economic growth is expected to remain stable this year and the next, but structural reforms and a rebalancing of the budget is critical in the medium term to sustain economic growth, the Asean+3 Macroeconomic Research Office (AMRO) said yesterday in a report. ...
Kali Kotoski
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/kingdom-track-good-2018-says-amro
Big trouble in little China? Exploring Chinese investment in Sihanoukville
The coastal city of Sihanoukville is undergoing a massive transformation. Once perceived as a seedy haunt for lethargic backpackers and expats, a flood of Chinese tourists and investors has begun to alter the landscape by setting up everything from gaudy casinos to towering luxury resorts ...
Kali Kotoski and Cheng Sokhorng
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/post-depth-business/big-trouble-little-china-0
EU countries move to limit rice imports from Cambodia
Italy, along with six other European Union countries, has filed a fresh request to European Commission to limit the volume of rice imported from the Kingdom by activating a “safeguard clause” that allows EU member states to impose barriers to protect against trade imbalances. ...
Cheng Sokhorng
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/eu-countries-move-limit-rice-imports-cambodia
Meat producers told to shape up
The government will not consider further reductions of import quotas for live pigs, nor will it ban imports of the livestock, a high-ranking official at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) recently said, adding that companies in the meat industry should rethink their ...
Sok Chan
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/5094594/meat-producers-told-shape/
Local officials given power to issue ag origin certificates
In a bid to decentralise the certificates of origin (COs) process to help promote international exports and ease cross-border trade, the Ministry of Commerce launched a pilot project yesterday that allows officials in the provinces of Battambang and Pailin to directly issue certification. ...
Cheng Sokhorng
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/local-officials-given-power-issue-ag-origin-certificates
Illegal imports hogging local market for pigs, say farmers
Cambodian pig farmers are facing a mounting crisis as the price of pigs has continued to plummet, with many blaming local officials for allowing Vietnam to illegally import pigs across the border, representatives from a farmers association said at a press conference yesterday. ...
Hor Kimsay
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/illegal-imports-hogging-local-market-pigs-say-farmers