Government

Cambodia needs about $12 billion over a 10-year period to invest in the development of a skilled workforce and improved infrastructure in order to meet the goals of its Industrial Development Policy (IDP), Commerce Minister Pan Sorasak said recently. ...

Cambodia will join an international convention on the registration of industrial designs next month, furthering the scope of the county’s intellectual property protections, a government official said yesterday. ...

Geographical indication (GI) status for Kampot pepper and Kampong Speu palm sugar has been accepted in Vietnam. The agreement gives legal protection to both products and stops unscrupulous traders in Vietnam passing off local produce as Cambodian. The deal was reached last Wednesday after negotiations involving the ...

The Ministry of Health has called on all travelers to beware of a new strain of bird flu that is now spreading in South Korea and Japan. In a notice released yesterday, the Health Ministry said the discovery of H5N6, a new strain of the bird ...

After being questioned for more than two hours at the National Assembly yesterday, Environment Minister Say Samal claimed the number of forest crimes decreased in 2016, but acknowledged that some government officials were involved in some of the crimes. A recently released report from the University ...

The Ministry of Commerce is calling for producers and exporters who have been dealing in dried tobacco leaves and milled rice to apply for licenses to export to Vietnam. Vietnam agreed to waive all duties on 300,000 tons of rice and 3,000 tons of dried tobacco ...

Prospective voters ran into problems yesterday during the first publication of the country’s new voter lists. Citizens will have until January 14 to check their names and information on voter lists to confirm they are correct, either in person, at registration offices or online. ...

Cambodia exported more than 108,000 tonnes of sand to India in 36 separate shipments between 2013 and 2015, according to Indian customs data obtained yesterday, contradicting Cambodian customs data that show no sand being sent there at all. ...

Interior Minister Sar Kheng yesterday chastised the Rattanakiri provincial governor for lying to three ministers by claiming he was in a meeting with Mr. Kheng to avoid the trio. Mr. Kheng said governor Thorng Savun used his name to avoid meeting Environment Minster Say Samal, Land ...

The National Defense Ministry’s annual draft report showed that Cambodia’s borders are still at risk of abuse from Thailand, Vietnam and Laos, despite the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces (RCAF) cracking down on nearly 6,000 border crimes over the past year. ...

The French Agency for Development has granted a 30 million euro, or $31.1 million, loan for the Phnom Penh Water Supply Authority (PPWSA) to expand one of its four water plants and increase its water distribution in the capital. ...

After a three-month registration period, the National Election Committee will release its preliminary voter list on January 3, giving political parties, civil society and election monitors until January 14 to lodge complaints for any discrepancies found in the rolls.​ ...

Phnom Penh City Hall plans to build more referral hospitals in the capital in the coming years as the seven currently in use are nearing capacity, according to Municipal Governor Pa Socheatvong. ...

The National Bank of Cambodia (NBC) on Tuesday released eight billion riel (about $2 million) at three percent interest to just one financial institution that joined the third bidding of the new Liquidity-Provided Collateralized Operation (LPCO). ...

Truck drivers without licenses who take workers to factories will not be allowed to continue working starting next April in a bid to reduce traffic accidents, the government said on Monday. ...

The Environment Ministry’s annual report revealed 600 forestry crimes in protected areas, while there were nearly 700 cases of fishing, wildlife and land crimes. The report, released yesterday, showed that rangers, in collaboration with relevant parties, managed to prevent and suppress offenses at national parks, wildlife ...

The government revealed yesterday that Japanese company Arakawa, which is in charge of developing the White Building, does not have enough funds to cover both the $70-$80 million construction price tag and the buyouts for residents who want to sell their apartments. ...

Cambodia Post’s services grew this year, thanks to a rise in foreign investment in Cambodia, more overseas tourists, and the rising trend of online markets. Ork Bora, Cambodia Post general director, said yesterday that the increase over all previous years was due to increased confidence of ...

Interior Minister Sar Kheng blamed the country’s continual problems with trafficking on porous borders and local government officials, who he said during a speech yesterday were frequently ignoring edicts from the national government and even orders he personally delivered himself. ...

Terminal facilities, a road connecting to National Road 5 and a bridge linking Stung Bot in Cambodia with Ban Nong Ian in Thailand will begin construction next year. The entirety of the bridge, including Cambodia’s side, will be constructed by Thailand, according to Va Sim Soriya, ...

A senior member of the Electoral Reform Alliance yesterday appealed for the National Election Committee to be given special jurisdictional powers over certain areas around the country during election campaigns so that it can ensure freedom of assembly. ...

With 10 days remaining until a government-imposed deadline for the U.N.’s human rights office to either sign a new agreement to operate in the country or close down, there is no sign that the two sides have come any closer to reaching a deal. ...

The government yesterday assured those in the garment industry that the Trade Union Law, which came into effect in May, is not meant to put pressure on any particular group, but rather to help employers and employees work together in harmony. Labor Ministry secretary of state ...

The National Election Committee (NEC) has discovered more than 2,000 names missing from the voter registry, which officials have attributed to a technical glitch. NEC spokesman Hang Puthea told Khmer Times that after having verified 90 percent of the voter list, 2,318 eligible voters from 13 ...