Economy and commerce
Investment
Thai firm to help bolster agarwood quality
A Cambodian company is teaming up with a Thai investment partner to spend $100 million improving the quality of Cambodia’s agarwood trees, according to a memorandum of understanding signed by the two companies yesterday. ...
Hor Kimsay and Robin Spiess
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/thai-firm-help-bolster-agarwood-quality
Villagers file complaint against Union Development Group for razing crops, property
Fourteen families in Koh Kong province’s Kiri Sakor district filed a court complaint today against 60 security guards employed by Union Development Group (UDG) for allegedly destroying their crops and small huts on land belonging to the development conglomerate. ...
Soth Koemsoeun
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/villagers-file-complaint-against-union-development-group-razing-crops-property
US mart chain Circle K launches capital stores
US-based convenience mart Circle K officially launched in Cambodia yesterday, with three outlets already operating in Phnom Penh and plans to open 40 more by the end of the year. ...
Post Staff
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/us-mart-chain-circle-k-launches-capital-stores
Massive skyscraper floated again
Prime Minister Hun Sen said yesterday that a 600-metre building would be constructed in Cambodia, though he did not mention specifics and similar projects proposed in the past have stalled before construction. ...
Robin Spiess and Hor Kimsay
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/massive-skyscraper-floated-again
Massive solar farm planned by US firm
US-based solar energy developer Omni Navitas announced a plan to set up a $500 million, 150-megawatt solar energy farm in Cambodia, which CEO Jim McAuliffe said would make it the largest solar farm in Southeast Asia by capacity. ...
Hor Kimsay
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/massive-solar-farm-planned-us-firm
Task force tries to ease tensions between Cambodian and Chinese businesses in Sihanoukville
An interministerial task force has been established to ease simmering tensions between Cambodian and Chinese business owners in the coastal resort town of Sihanoukville, the latest sign that a huge influx of Chinese investment is causing problems on Cambodia’s coast. ...
Cheng Sokhorng
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/task-force-tries-ease-tensions-between-cambodian-and-chinese-businesses-sihanoukville
Chinese investment in Cambodian province pushes up crime rate, says governor
China’s growing presence and investment in a fast-developing Cambodian port and province have pushed up the crime rate and brought instability, its governor said in a letter to the government. ...
Prak Chan Thul
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-cambodia-china/chinese-investment-in-cambodian-province-pushes-up-crime-rate-says-governor-idUSKBN1FF0XP
Cambodia attracts over 333 mln USD investment from ASEAN in 2017
Cambodia attracted the fixed asset investment of 333.4 million U.S. dollars from its ASEAN member states in 2017, according to a government’s report on Friday. ...
Mu Xuequan
http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-01/26/c_136927828.htm
Japan consular office launches in Siem Reap
A Japanese consular office yesterday opened in Siem Reap town in a ceremony attended by Japanese and Cambodian dignitaries. Attending the events were Sieng Nam, CPP lawmaker for Siem Reap province, Chhay Sinarith, deputy National Police commissioner, and Nakane Kazuyuki, the Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs. ...
Pav Suy
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/50104958/japan-consular-office-launches-in-siem-reap/
How China is changing the nation’s seaside resort
The seaside city of Sihanoukville, the home to Cambodia’s only deep-sea port, has seen massive investment from China in the past few years, and while some local people have welcomed the inflow of money, others feel they’re missing out. The signs of Chinese investment are everywhere ...
May Titthara
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/50104595/how-china-is-changing-the-nations-seaside-resort/
Chinese demand drives construction boom in Cambodia
The value of construction projects in Cambodia rose more than 22 percent to $6.4 billion in 2017 from the previous year, according to official figures released on Tuesday that showed the impact of a boom driven by Chinese investors. The high level of Chinese investment is ...
Prak Chan Thul
https://www.reuters.com/article/cambodia-construction/chinese-demand-drives-construction-boom-in-cambodia-idUSL3N1PB2YA
Has Cambodia’s economic boom imploded?
Cambodia’s economic rise starkly contrasts the political chaos that reached a climax in November 2017 with the dissolution of the Cambodia National Rescue Party — the country’s only major opposition party — and the detention of its leader, Kem Sokha. Prime Minister Hun Sen has ...
Heidi Dahles
http://www.eastasiaforum.org/2018/01/16/has-cambodias-economic-boom-imploded/
China deals swiftly signed
Cambodian and Chinese officials and business leaders yesterday signed 19 agreements during a visit to Phnom Penh by Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, boosting Chinese investment at a time when the regional power has upped its economic and political support for Hun Sen’s government. ...
Hor Kimsay and Cheng Sokhorng
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/china-deals-swiftly-signed
Bag firm plans to grow local operations
Wah Sun Handbags International Holding unveiled plans yesterday to expand its Cambodia operations, citing the country’s low labour costs as the primary reason for the move. In a filing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, the handbag manufacturer announced plans to raise up to $18 ...
Hor Kimsay
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/bag-firm-plans-grow-local-operations
Chinese, local firms sign agricultural deals worth $526M
More than a dozen Chinese companies inked deals to purchase about $526 million worth of agricultural products from Cambodian firms on Monday. The 34 agreements between 14 Chinese firms and 18 Cambodian firms were announced by the two country’s commerce ministries at a press conference ...
Post Staff
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/chinese-local-firms-sign-agricultural-deals-worth-526m
Cambodia finds new target for real estate: Chinese investors
Across this traditionally low-rise Cambodian capital, a building boom is becoming more noticeable as it pushes higher into the sky, and its largest projects are often geared towards Chinese investors, who have only recently taken interest in the nation’s real estate market. ...
Chris Horton
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/09/business/cambodia-real-estate.html
Trade with China on the upswing
Cambodia’s exports to China, the second largest economy in the world, rose sharply during the first 11 months of 2017, by as much as 18 percent compared with the same period in 2016, according to the latest data from the Ministry of Commerce. ...
May Kunmakara
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/50100171/trade-china-upswing/
Chinese delegation explores local market
A delegation of some of China’s biggest companies in the food-processing industry is scouring the local market for investment opportunities in the agriculture sector. Headed by He Jianxiang, the deputy director-general of the Bureau of Product Processing at China’s Ministry of Agriculture, the delegation met ...
Sok Chan
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/50100169/chinese-delegation-explores-local-market/
Beach sellers must make room for Chinese investors
Preah Sihanouk provincial authorities will ask the government to deal with 10 sellers who refuse to relocate from Koh Puos – or Hawaii beach – and Lomher Kay beach. Vendors’ representatives have asked for compensation from provincial authorities to relocate to a new area. ...
Pech Sotheary
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/5099381/beach-sellers-must-make-room-chinese-investors/
Agriculture sector has seen its share of empty promises
The promises of Chinese agro-industrial investment have been recurrent: Hyped up by local officials and media outlets, with photographs of handshakes and earnest negotiation posted across social media, major deals are announced between government ministries and visiting delegations. ...
Agriculture sector has seen its share of empty promises Cheng Sokhorng
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/agriculture-sector-has-seen-its-share-empty-promises
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
Testing the winds in Cambodia’s energy sector
A new study on wind energy and its potential to diversify Cambodia’s energy sector is now being conducted, with results expected for mid next year, according to a representative of the Ministry of Mines and Energy. ...
Chea Vannak
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/5093692/testing-winds-cambodias-energy-sector/
World Bank outlook remains bright despite political concern
Cambodia’s economy is predicted to remain strong and resilient for the next two years, fuelled by a shift to higher value-added manufacturing, despite lingering concerns over political stability and the slowed growth of both the construction and garment sectors, the World Bank said yesterday in ...
Kali Kotoski
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/world-bank-outlook-remains-bright-despite-political-concern
China business delegates bullish on Cambodia
Delegates gathered at the Cambodia-Fujian Business and Tourism seminar in Phnom Penh yesterday to discuss opportunities for investment in the Kingdom through increased trade in both the energy and garment sector. ...
Hor Kimsay
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/china-business-delegates-bullish-cambodia