Economy and commerce
Investment
Royal Group denies report that Cellcard seeks investor
Royal Group executives, owners of Cambodia’s leading mobile phone operator Cellcard, vigorously denied the veracity of a London-based media report on Friday that claimed the phone company is looking for investors and wants to sell off its telecommunications towers because it is unable to raise ...
Joshua Wilwohl
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/business/royal-group-denies-report-that-cellcard-seeks-investor-53741/
Registration of SMEs given to new Handicrafts Ministry
Prime Minister Hun Sen on Tuesday provided an indication of the role that will be played by the new Ministry of Industry and Handicrafts, which was created late last year, announcing it will hold the sole responsibility for registering small and medium enterprises (SMEs). The government ...
Hul Reaksmey and Alex Devine
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/registration-of-smes-given-to-new-handicrafts-ministry-53683/
New local distributor for Jaguar, Land Rover
RMA Cambodia confirmed yesterday it had taken over from rival firm Envotech as the Kingdom’s only authorised dealer of Land Rover and Jaguar vehicles. Envotech will have held the authorised dealer rights for two years when it closes its Phnom Penh dealership on March 26. RMA, whic ...
Hor Kimsay
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/new-local-distributor-jaguar-land-rover
Thmey Thmey to hit airwaves, be published in Japanese, French
Thmey Thmey online news and Women’s Radio FM 102 on Thursday announced a partnership that will see journalists from both outlets join forces to create evening news bulletins to be broadcast daily starting Saturday. “Our concept is independent Cambodian news, by Cambodians, for Cambodians, and 102 ...
Matt Blomberg and Ben Sokhean
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/thmey-thmey-to-hit-airwaves-be-published-in-japanese-french-53685/
Union reps must prove clean criminal records
The government now requires union leaders to prove that they have no criminal record before registering new branches of their organization, according to a statement from the Ministry of Labor, a decision that comes less than a week before planned nationwide strikes in the garment ...
Khy Sovuthy and Colin Meyn
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/union-reps-must-prove-clean-criminal-records-53668/
Britain eyes 5 bln USD trade volume with Cambodia by 2020: envoy
British Prime Minister’s Trade Envoy David Puttnam said Thursday that the country looked to boost bilateral trade volume with Cambodia to $5 billion by 2020. “The bilateral trade between the UK and Cambodia reached $1 billion last year and we expect the trade volume will hit ...
Global Times
http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/846621.shtml#.UxlBOD-Sylt
Cambodia could lose competitive edge in bicycles: report
Cambodia could lose its competitive advantage in bicycle manufacturing and assembly, an industry source says. In a report from the Taipei Cycle Show late Wednesday, the US-based Bicycle Retailer and Industry News said Cambodia had used low wages and zero tariffs in the European Union to ...
The Cambodia Herald News Staff
http://www.thecambodiaherald.com/cambodia/detail/1?page=13&token=OGJjZWE0MTM4YzR
City bus operation awarded on basis of ‘verbal’ contract
The Chinese-owned company that began operating Phnom Penh’s new public bus service Wednesday secured its five-year deal on the basis of a verbal agreement and has not yet signed a formal contract with City Hall, the company’s CEO said. Lim Andre, the CEO of Global (Cambodia) ...
Simon Henderson and Hul Reaksmey
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/city-bus-operation-awarded-on-basis-of-verbal-contract-53627/
Verde forges rare earth partnerships with Cambodian, Vietnamese mining companies
Nevada-based Verde Resources Inc says it has signed memoranda of understanding with Cambodia’s Black Stallion Mining Group Ltd and Vietnam’s Phu Duc Mineral Joint Stock Company to prospect for and develop rare earth resources. In a statement released in Malaysia late Tuesday, Verde Resources said the ...
The Cambodia Herald News Staff
http://www.thecambodiaherald.com/cambodia/detail/1?page=13&token=MjQ1ZWIzZmY5ZWY
Amid stable outlook, Moody's confirms Cambodia credit rating
Moody’s Investors Service affirmed Wednesday Cambodia’s government issuer rating at B2 with a stable outlook, stating that recent labour unrest could result in only slightly slower economic growth this year. “Cambodia’s underlying credit strengths are expected to withstand the impact of recent political tensions and labor ...
The Cambodia Herald News Staff
http://www.thecambodiaherald.com/cambodia/detail/1?page=13&token=MmM0MmU3NmU4MmU
Chinese firm takes over bus service, no bid needed
The Chinese-owned Global (Cambodia) Trade Development company takes over today as Phnom Penh’s new municipal bus operator, although City Hall said Tuesday that the company did not have to go through a bidding process to get the contract. The creation of a permanent public bus system ...
Simon Henderson and Sek Odom
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/chinese-firm-takes-over-bus-service-no-bid-needed-53513/
End right to unionize, businesses ask Hun Sen
Prime Minister Hun Sen told business leaders and government officials Tuesday that he will not tolerate “illegal” labor strikes that harm investment, but avoided judgment on a request to withdraw ratification of a U.N. convention protecting workers’ rights to unionize. Speaking at the 17th Government-Private Sector ...
Hul Reaksmey and Alex Willemyns
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/end-right-to-unionize-businesses-ask-hun-sen-53516/
Palm oil plantation accused of withholding workers’ pay
More than 20 families working on a controversial palm oil plantation in Ratanakkiri province owned by the Hoang Anh Lumphat company have filed a complaint with rights group Adhoc accusing the owners of improperly withholding one month’s pay. Lor Sophal said he and another 22 families, ...
Aun Pheap
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/palm-oil-plantation-accused-of-withholding-workers-pay-53520/
Japan’s small, medium companies see business opportunity in Cambodia
Many small and medium companies of Japan are showing their interest in doing business in Cambodia, according to an assistant of Prime Minister Hun Sen. 99 percent of Japanese small and medium companies are interested in investing in Asia, especially in Cambodia, which is located ...
The Cambodia Herald News Staff
http://www.thecambodiaherald.com/cambodia/detail/1?page=13&token=ZmRkYzBiYWVjZWR
Siam Kubota launches Cambodia, Laos units
Siam Kubota Corporation Co Ltd is set to expand its business by opening subsidiaries in Cambodia and Laos as part of its preparation for the launch of the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) in 2015. Siam Kubota has invested a total of Bt68 million in the two ...
Erich Parpart
http://www.nationmultimedia.com/business/Siam-Kubota-launches-Cambodia-Laos-units-30228172.html
Malaysian Insurance Institute signs agreement with Cambodia Insurance Ass’n.
The Malaysian Insurance Institute (MII) and the Insurance Association of Cambodia (IAC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for “a bilateral collaboration to forge a beneficial business relationship to further enhance insurance knowledge and skills development for the insurance industry in Cambodia,” said a ...
Insurance Journal News Staff
http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/international/2014/03/03/321950.htm
NGO declares Coca-Cola’s visit compromised by police
Auditors from the Coca-Cola Company visited Oddar Meanchey province on Friday to investigate allegations of land grabbing against sugar plantations that supply the global drinks giant, but called off a community meeting because of a heavy police presence, an NGO said Sunday. Chun Bora of the ...
Aun Pheap
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/ngo-declares-coca-colas-visit-compromised-by-police-53395/
Union representatives detained for distributing strike leaflets
Two union representatives said that they were detained and “educated” Thursday for distributing leaflets calling on workers to participate in a nationwide strike next month. Yin Saroeun, secretary-general of the National Trade Unions Coalition, said police detained him and his colleague, Chuob Noek, at about 11 ...
Villagers in land dispute are summoned, but not questioned
Five Kompong Chhnang villagers locked in a land dispute with a company owned by the wife of Mines and Energy Minister Suy Sem, who had repeatedly tried—and failed—to file a complaint with their provincial court, were summoned for questioning at the Phnom Penh Municipal Court ...
Kuch Naren
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/villagers-in-land-dispute-are-summoned-but-not-questioned-53334/
Garden-view condominium complex a hit with locals and foreigners alike
With the 15-storey Vimean Keo Choronai Condominium close to completion, some 70 per cent of its apartments have already been sold. Vimean Keo Choronai sits in what eventually will be an expansive, leafy garden setting on National Road 1 about 600 metres from Monivong Bridge ...
Post Staff
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/real-estate/garden-view-condominium-complex-hit-locals-and-foreigners-alike
Letting it ride: NagaCorp lifts lid on large-scale expansion
NagaCorp recently announced it would invest $369 million in its latest project opposite the Buddhist Institute. The Hong Kong-listed casino operator’s latest Phnom Penh venture, Naga2,will include a casino, a hotel and a conference hall. The announcement of the investment by NagaCorp, Cambodia’s biggest casino operator, was ...
Siv Meng
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/real-estate/letting-it-ride-nagacorp-lifts-lid-large-scale-expansion
‘River town’ project sees budding prospects in sales
Borey River Town, a residential property development around three kilometres northeast of downtown Phnom Penh on National Road 6A has been selling well for the first two months of the year, according to Teng Rithy, the development’s general manager. Rithy said that the rate of sales ...
Moeun Nhean
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/real-estate/%E2%80%98river-town%E2%80%99-project-sees-budding-prospects-sales
IFC accepts complaint over Ratanakkiri rubber plantations
The International Finance Corporation’s compliance ombudsman has officially accepted a complaint filed by ethnic minority families in Ratanakkiri province against the IFC for investing in rubber plantations accused of stealing land and clearing forests. In a letter sent to the families on Monday, the ombudsman deems ...
Zsombor Peter
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/ifc-accepts-complaint-over-ratanakkiri-rubber-plantations-53251/
BreadTalk chain set to open up in the capital
Singaporean bakery chain BreadTalk will open up in two locations in Phnom Penh this July, the bakery’s franchisee confirmed yesterday. Ly Daline, CEO of Cham & Ly Corporation, whose company will run BreadTalk in Phnom Penh, said a rising middle class means changes in consumer ...
Hor Kimsay
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/breadtalk-chain-set-open-capital