Economy and commerce
Trade
Illegal wood exports to China tripled in 2013
Cambodia’s exports of protected rosewood and other high-value timber to China more than tripled last year, according to U.N. figures cited in a new report that blames lax law enforcement across the Mekong region and skyrocketing demand in China for pushing some species to the ...
Zsombor Peter
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/illegal-wood-exports-to-china-tripled-in-2013-58593/
Ivory haul investigation kept under wraps
Customs officials over the weekend said they will shed no further light on Friday’s massive haul of three tons of illegal elephant ivory at Sihanoukville Autonomous Port—Cambodia’s biggest-ever ivory seizure—until investigations are complete and a case can be sent to court. A scan on containers that ...
Saing Soenthrith
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/ivory-haul-investigation-kept-under-wraps-58470/
For Union Leader on Run, Militant Attitude Prevails
Tax revenue increased 9.5 percent to $353.46 million in the first quarter of the year, compared to the same period last year, according to a statement released Friday by the Ministry of Finance’s general department of taxation. Kong Vibol, general director of the taxation department, said ...
Hul Reaksmey
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/business/tax-revenue-up-9-5-percent-in-first-quarter-58489/
Standards must improve: official
Small food and beverage makers are at risk of being uncertified when the ASEAN economic community takes shape in 2015, with the vast majority far from achieving international quality and safety standards, a government official says. Him Phanith, the deputy director of National Productivity Center, said ...
Chan Muyhong
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/standards-must-improve-official
Economic expansion of Cambodia; an opportunity for Thai entrepreneurs
The retail marketing business in Cambodia has been growing at approximately 8% a year for the last 10 years and is expected to increase by 7.5% a year from 2014-2018. This economic expansion and greater purchasing power of Cambodians, is seen as presenting great opportunities ...
National News Bureau of Thailand
http://thainews.prd.go.th/centerweb/newsen/NewsDetail?NT01_NewsID=WNRPT5705080010001
Exports of rubber up, but prices on the fall
Despite a large increase in exports during the first quarter, natural rubber producers continue to see declining revenues, as world prices fall further. The latest figures from the Ministry of Commerce show natural rubber exports grew 26 per cent during the first quarter of 2014, compared ...
Chan Muyhong
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/exports-rubber-prices-fall
GI products closer to fruition
Three of Cambodia’s most iconic natural products – Thma Koul rice, Kampot durian and Cambodian silk – have been earmarked by the government to obtain the World Trade Organization’s Geographical Indication (GI) status. Speaking to reporters after a press conference on GI registration at the Ministry ...
Hor Kimsay
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/gi-products-closer-fruition
Cambodia-U.S. trade up 11 pct in Q1
Bilateral trade volume between Cambodia and the United States had amounted to 845 million U.S. dollars in the first three months of 2014. The number saw a 11-percent rise from 758 million U.S. dollars over the same period last year, figures release by the U.S. Department ...
Shanghai Daily
http://www.shanghaidaily.com/article/article_xinhua.aspx?id=216833
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
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/
Cambodia exports 120,291 tons rice January-April, 2014; up 1.5% from last year
Cambodia exported about 120,291 tons of rice in first four months of calendar year 2014, up about 1.5% from about 118,504 tons rice exported in the same period last year, according to data from the Secretariat of One Window Service of Rice Export Formality (SOWS-REF). ...
Oryza News Staff
http://oryza.com/news/rice-news/cambodia-exports-120291-tons-rice-january-april-2014-15-last-year
Ibis Rice exports on horizon
The Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) says its Ibis Rice project has recorded a production surplus for the first time in its five-year history, prompting a bid to export the boutique product overseas. Concentrated in Preah Vihear province, Ibis Rice farmers produced more than 435 tonnes of ...
Eddie Morton
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/ibis-rice-exports-horizon
Flood concerns eased by cassava price hikes
Despite flood damage causing reduced production levels, cassava farmers in Pailin province are benefiting from an increase in the purchasing price, provincial department of agriculture officials say. “This year’s harvest dropped to 25 tonnes per hectare from 30 tonnes per hectare last season because of the ...
Chan Muyhong
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/flood-concerns-eased-cassava-price-hikes-0
Port volume on the rise in Q1
Cargo volumes at Cambodia’s two largest ports increased steadily during the first three months of the year, signalling stability in the Kingdom’s economy, port officials say. Data from Sihanoukville Autonomous Port (SAP), Cambodia’s largest shipping dock, showed more than 860,000 20-foot-long shipping containers passed through the ...
May Kunmakara
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/port-volume-rise-q1
Customs and Excise Director to retire
Pen Siman, the general director of the Ministry of Finance’s general department of customs and excise, will retire in October, according to a royal decree signed by King Norodom Sihamoni and reprinted Wednesday in local media. Dated April 3, the royal decree instructs Prime Minister Hun ...
Hul Reaksmey
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/customs-and-excise-director-to-retire-57879/
Uneasy calm in Bavet as factories ordered shut
BAVET CITY, Svay Rieng province – The government has ordered all factories here to shut down until Thursday at the earliest in a bid to keep escalating strikes from spiraling out of control and spreading nationwide. “[Provincial] Governor Chieng Am said in a meeting yesterday [Monday] ...
Zsombor Peter and Aun Pheap
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/uneasy-calm-in-bavet-as-factories-ordered-shut-57723/
Aeon reports record revenue amid ASEAN expansion
Aeon Co, the Japanese firm developing the soon-to-be-opened Aeon Mall on Phnom Penh’s Sothearos Boulevard, has reported a record $62.3 billion in revenue for its financial year ending February 28. The company, which has more than 260 subsidiaries, including the shopping centre development arm Aeon Mall ...
Eddie Morton
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/aeon-reports-record-revenue-amid-asean-expansion
Phnom Penh to Ho Chi Minh expressway plans announced
The Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) revealed its plans Monday for a Phnom Penh to Ho Chi Minh City expressway that will halve travel time between the two cities. At an estimated cost of $2.2 billion, the initial target date for completion of the expressway is ...
Joshua Wilwohl
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/phnom-penh-to-ho-chi-minh-expressway-plans-announced-57626/
Cambodia to end customs fees for milled rice exports starting May 1, 2014
Cambodia will end customs fees for milled rice exports with effect from May 1, 2014, in order to reduce production costs and boost Cambodia’s competitiveness in the international market, according to local sources. ...
Oryza News Staff
http://oryza.com/news/rice-news/cambodia-end-customs-fees-milled-rice-exports-starting-may-1-2014
How can ASEAN realize its economic integration by 2015?
The Association of the Southeast Asian Nations, known as ASEAN, has chosen 2015 as the year to realize its economic integration as the ASEAN Economic Community. Yet, there are only several months left, ASEAN doesn’t seem to be ready. How can ASEAN realize this goal? Although ...
The Cambodia Herald News Staff
http://thecambodiaherald.com/cambodia/detail/1?page=11&token=MTZhZWQ0N2FhZjI
Cambodia's garment, footwear exports up 16 pct in Q1
Garment and footwear industry, Cambodia’s largest income earner, reported a 16 percent surge in exports in the first three months of 2014, the figures of the Ministry of Commerce showed Monday. The Southeast Asian nation exported apparel and footwear products in equivalent to 1.56 billion U.S. ...
ASEAN - China Centre News Staff
http://www.asean-china-center.org/english/2014-04/28/c_133295843.htm
No scheme in place for congestion near AEON
Despite expecting 27,000 visitors per day, little planning has gone into tackling traffic congestion at Cambodia’s long-awaited AEON Mall when it opens June 30, City Hall said yesterday. There are 1,400 vehicle parking spaces allotted at AEON and 1,600 bikes spaces accessed via both Sothearos ...
Chan Muyhong
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/no-scheme-place-congestion-near-aeon
AEON tenants target Cambodia’s middle class
An ice-skating rink, bowling alley, seven-screen cinema and a proverbial catwalk of high-end European and US labels will start vying for a slice of Cambodia’s rising middle class inside the soon-to-open AEON Mall, management with the firm overseeing it confirmed on Saturday. The Japanese-owned shopping centre’s ...
Hor Kimsay and Eddie Morton
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/aeon-tenants-target-cambodia%E2%80%99s-middle-class
Cambodia asks for help in oil and gas industry
Cambodia has invited resource-rich Azerbaijan to help develop Cambodia’s prospective oil and gas industry, Commerce Minister Sun Chanthol announced during a high-level visit to the Caucasian country on Tuesday, according to Azerbaijani media reports. Mr. Chanthol laid out a goal to achieve an overall trade ...
Simon Henderson
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/business/cambodia-asks-for-help-in-oil-and-gas-industry-57237/