Economy and commerce
Exports of bicycles to dip in 2014
Cambodia’s bicycle exports to the European Union are expected to decline this year after changes to EU trade preferences in early January excluded Malaysian and Singaporean parts from the scheme. Under EU preferences, a bicycle is considered a Cambodian product when at least 30 per cent ...
Hor Kimsay
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/exports-bicycles-dip-2014
Standoff in Areng Valley continues
Seven Chinese nationals were prevented from entering the Areng Valley in Koh Kong province yesterday as locals continued their standoff with the operator of the Stung Cheay Areng dam concession, villagers at the scene said. Ven Vorn, a community leader among those blocking a road used ...
Phak Seangly and Daniel Pye
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/standoff-areng-valley-continues
Kreung protest for release of charged arsonist
Dozens of ethnic minority Kreung villagers protested outside the Ratanakkiri Provincial Court on Monday, demanding the release of a fellow Kreung man presently in pretrial detention for setting fire to a pile of wood on land the community sold in 2007 but claims it was ...
Aun Pheap
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/kreung-protest-for-release-of-charged-arsonist-54429/
Porsche dealership to open
The newly appointed local distributor of German carmaker Porsche broke ground yesterday on a $2 million dealership that is set to open within eight months across from the Phnom Penh International Airport on Russian Boulevard. Equipped with four service bays, the planned Porsche Centre Phnom Penh ...
Eddie Morton
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/porsche-dealership-open
Workers demand bonus increase, labor laws
About 7,000 workers protested in front of the Wing Star Shoes Co. Ltd. factory in Kompong Speu province on Monday, demanding that the company raise their bonuses by $5 and properly enforce a number of labor laws, a union official said. The strike comes ten months ...
Aun Pheap
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/workers-demand-bonus-increase-labor-laws-54431/
Sugar on EU visit’s agenda
European Union Trade Commissioner Karel de Gucht will visit Cambodia this week, the European Commission announced, with rights groups hoping that land grabbing related to sugar plantations will be high on the agenda. Following bilateral meetings in Brussels last week between Cambodia and the EU during ...
Kevin Ponniah and Vong Sokheng
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/sugar-eu-visit%E2%80%99s-agenda
Vendors fight for right to stay put
Food vendors at Phnom Penh’s O’Russey Market have fought and won a battle against eviction. On Friday, about 80 vendors, including some who have sold food at the market since 1997, were told to clear out of what has become a heavily congested parking lot outside ...
Chhay Channyda
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/vendors-fight-right-stay-put
Union representatives file complaint against leaders over pilfering
Two union organizers have filed a complaint with the Phnom Penh Municipal Court claiming that the senior leaders of the Coalition of Cambodian Apparel Workers Democratic Union (CCAWDU) have embezzled money that was meant to be paid to workers in compensation following a dispute with ...
EU concerned, but no threats to cut Cambodia aid, trade
The European Union has called on Cambodia to release 21 jailed activists and protesters and told the government during high level talks held here this week that a failure to reform the judiciary and electoral process could have severe consequences for the ruling party by ...
Simon Marks
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/eu-concerned-but-no-threats-to-cut-cambodia-aid-trade-54254/
Bitcoin enthusiast eyes Cambodia
Local entrepreneur Ki Chong Tran believes he has the solution to many of Cambodia’s problems. On March 1, Tran submitted what he described as a “long-held weight off his chest” – a six-page proposal to the New York-based Bitcoin Foundation outlining all the ways the ...
Eddie Morton
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/bitcoin-enthusiast-eyes-cambodia
World Bank meets Phnom Penh Governor, Boeng Kak evictees
The World Bank on Thursday asked Phnom Penh municipal officials to do more to help the thousands of families the city evicted from the Boeng Kak neighborhood to make way for a CPP senator’s private real estate project, and is now waiting for a reply, ...
Mech Dara
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/world-bank-meets-phnom-penh-governor-boeng-kak-evictees-54189/
Construction on Siem Reap terminal pushed back
Construction of the new Siem Reap International Airport (SRIA) passenger terminal has been delayed a third time due to a hold-up of design and layout approval, officials say. ...
Post Staff
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/construction-siem-reap-terminal-pushed-back
New report says garment sector fails to meet UN standards
Cambodian garment manufacturers and the association that governs them are failing to meet the standards set by the U.N.’s Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, as evidenced by lethal violence against workers during garment strikes in January, when five people were shot dead and ...
Lauren Crothers
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/new-report-says-garment-sector-fails-to-meet-un-standards-54191/
Eighth EU-Cambodia Joint Committee concludes in Brussels
The 8th EU-Cambodia Joint Committee was held in Brussels on Thursday, preceded by the subgroups on development cooperation, on trade and on institution building, administrative reform, legal and judicial reform, governance and human rights, the European bloc said in a press release. The two sides ...
RTT News Staff
http://www.rttnews.com/2285917/eighth-eu-cambodia-joint-committee-concludes-in-brussels.aspx?type=gn&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=sitemap
On 1st day, garment strike gains little traction
Two unions that called for a stay-at-home strike by garment factory employees Wednesday had little success in mobilizing workers after six other unions, under pressure from the government and factory owners, pulled out of the planned industrial action on Tuesday. Union leaders who pushed ahead with ...
Mech Dara
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/on-1st-day-garment-strike-gains-little-traction-54038/
Businesses need help fighting corruption: CAMFEBA
Corruption is weighing on businesses, and the avenues to address it are limited, according to Cambodia’s leading employer association. At a joint conference with the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Cambodian Federation of Employers (CAMFEBA) in Phnom Penh yesterday, the employer representative called on the ...
Daniel de Carteret
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/businesses-need-help-fighting-corruption-camfeba
Power couple linked to Sinohydro project
Two of the country’s most powerful and politically connected business owners are on the board of governors of the company thought to have brokered a controversial deal between the world’s largest hydropower developer and the Cambodian government, documents obtained by the Post show. Cambodian People’s Party ...
Daniel Pye
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/power-couple-linked-sinohydro-project
Construction on triple-tower Times Centre to start in June
Work on a triple-skyscraper complex near Olympic Stadium announced in February is due to get under way in June this year and be completed in 2017, according to the project supervisor. With its slogan “The heart of Phnom Penh”, Times Centre is slated to feature three ...
Siv Meng
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/real-estate/construction-triple-tower-times-centre-start-june
Grand Twins sets listing date
Taiwanese garment manufacturer Grand Twins International says it will officially list and start trading on the Cambodia Stock Exchange (CSX) on May 8 after spending several weeks whipping up interest from local investors, whose appetite remains on the low side so far. Stanley Shen, a spokesman ...
Eddie Morton
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/grand-twins-sets-listing-date
Government’s Trade Union Law may limit freedom of association
A draft trade union law that the government has pledged to introduce by the end of the year includes provisions that will allow for unions to be suspended if their activities are deemed illegal, the head of Cambodia’s largest employers association said Wednesday. Van Sou Ieng, ...
Hul Reaksmey and Colin Meyn
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/governments-trade-union-law-may-limit-freedom-of-association-54042/
Workers’ strike delayed, rescheduled for post-Khmer New Year
Labor unions and associations have suspended their strike plan scheduled for March 12 following the request by garment workers, according to a union leader. The suspension came after the meeting between the union leaders from a coalition of 18 labor unions and associations today. The unionists ...
The Cambodia Herald News Staff
http://www.thecambodiaherald.com/cambodia/detail/1?page=13&token=NmU5MTVjY2ExZTQ
Business employers say corruption greatest threat to economy
Corruption remains the most significant challenge facing Cambodia’s economy, according to a survey of more than 300 employers conducted last year by the International Labor Organization (ILO), the results of which were released Tuesday. Despite legislation meant to stamp out graft, corruption continues to be perceived ...
Colin Meyn
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/business-employers-say-corruption-greatest-threat-to-economy-53963/
Family’s world shrinks daily
Dozens of trucks, bulldozers and excavators have pushed Var Sokhoeurn to the edge of his remaining land at the Lower Sesan II dam site in Stung Treng province’s Srepok district. When Post reporters visited Sokhoeurn’s family last month, much of his land, where he grew cassava and other ...
Phak Seangly and Daniel Pye
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/family%E2%80%99s-world-shrinks-daily
DVD shops close before raid
A handful of stores in Phnom Penh’s City Mall closed up shop yesterday morning, draping large curtains over their storefronts rather than face an impending police raid on businesses allegedly selling pirated movies there, police and other vendors said. The aborted raid came less than two ...
Sen David and Stuart White
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/dvd-shops-close-raid