The Phnom Penh Post
Business hub set to tackle key challenges before listing
The Phnom Penh Special Economic Zone has 77 tenants from nine countries and 80 per cent occupancy, but high electricity costs and corruption remain a drag on profits. The main issue is electricity costs, says PPSEZ chief executive Hiroshi Umaetsu. “If [electricity] goes from 19 ...
Charles Rollet
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business-hub-set-tackle-key-challenges-listing
Signing up: Poll monitors try out digital registration
A coalition of election watchdogs and rights groups known as the Electoral Reform Alliance (ERA) have tested a new “modernised voter registration” system that they hope the soon-to-be overhauled National Election Committee will use during forthcoming elections. ...
Pech Sotheary
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/signing-poll-monitors-try-out-digital-registration
Land swap in Kampot scrutinised
A group of opposition lawmakers on Wednesday began an investigation into a proposed government land swap in Kampot they fear may have questionable motivations. ...
Vong Sokheng
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/land-swap-kampot-scrutinised
IFAD to pledge $52M for program
The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) yesterday unveiled a $52 million plan to help Cambodia’s government develop policies to assist poor farmers to improve agricultural productivity. ...
Eddie Morton
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/ifad-pledge-52m-program
Opposition slams Thai gov’t
More than a dozen opposition party officials have accused Thailand of encouraging extrajudicial killings of Cambodians along the border. In a strongly worded letter sent to Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha on Monday, the Cambodia National Rescue Party MPs asked for an independent investigation into an ...
Kevin Ponniah
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/opposition-slams-thai-govt
Three new refugees file claims
Three Montagnards, including a 10-year-old girl, arrived yesterday morning at the government’s Refugee Department in Phnom Penh to process their asylum claims. ...
Phak Seangly
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/three-new-refugees-file-claims
Opposition slams Thai gov’t
More than a dozen opposition party officials have accused Thailand of encouraging extrajudicial killings of Cambodians along the border. In a strongly worded letter sent to Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha on Monday, the Cambodia National Rescue Party MPs asked for an independent investigation into an ...
Kevin Ponniah
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/opposition-slams-thai-govt
Sar Kheng laments capital crime
Interior Minister Sar Kheng yesterday cast a negative light on Phnom Penh, labelling the capital a hotbed for criminal activity and likening the levels of street crime to the Ho Chi Minh City of yore, where he said it was once unsafe to walk around ...
Khouth Sophak Chakrya
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/sar-kheng-laments-capital-crime
Signing up: Poll monitors try out digital registration
A coalition of election watchdogs and rights groups known as the Electoral Reform Alliance (ERA) have tested a new “modernised voter registration” system that they hope the soon-to-be overhauled National Election Committee will use during forthcoming elections. ...
Pech Sotheary
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/signing-poll-monitors-try-out-digital-registration
Apsara’s numbers ‘laughable’, Chhay says
An opposition lawmaker probing alleged irregularities in Angkor Archaeological Park’s ticket revenues says he’s sceptical about figures released yesterday by the site’s managers showing a boost in sales last month. ...
Meas Sokchea
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/apsaras-numbers-laughable-chhay-says
Land dispute hearing delayed due to illness
Evictees at war with their former representative filed a complaint yesterday with the Ministry of Justice after the woman at the centre of the argument managed to put off a court hearing, allegedly going to the disputed site instead. Forty villagers went to the Justice ...
Kim Sarom
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/land-dispute-hearing-delayed-due-illness
Murder plot suspect back before judge
Recently extradited murder suspect Lay Huong – the former common-law wife of tycoon Khaou Phallaboth – was in court again yesterday to face questioning over a new set of charges levelled by her ex-husband. ...
Buth Reaksmey Kongkea
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/murder-plot-suspect-back-judge
Gov’t journo arrested over alleged extortion
A journalist from state news agency Agence Kampuchea-Presse (AKP) was arrested on Tuesday evening in Preah Vihear town after the owners of several local shops that make and sell wooden furniture and handicrafts accused him of extortion, provincial police officials said. Khat Hun, the director of ...
Mom Kunthear
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/govt-journo-arrested-over-alleged-extortion
The naked temple pics just keep on coming
Apsara is investigating yet another naked photo allegedly taken at the Angkor Archaelogical Park in Siem Reap. ...
Sen David
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/naked-temple-pics-just-keep-coming
NGO Global Witness hits back at ministry
The government’s apparent unwillingness to take seriously evidence of continued large-scale illegal logging orchestrated by the Try Pheap Group is “disappointing”, Global Witness said yesterday. A report released last week by the UK-based group titled The Cost of Luxury detailed evidence, collected during an eight-month covert ...
Daniel Pye
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/ngo-global-witness-hits-back-ministry
Credit up 30 per cent in 2014
Both deposits and loans in Cambodia’s banking sector increased about 30 per cent last year, a rise that industry insiders say is a productivity boost for the Kingdom’s economy. By the end of December, deposits at all Cambodian banks reached $10 billion, a 32 per cent ...
Hor Kimsay
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/credit-30-cent-2014
Domestic production strengthens as F&B imports fall
Food and beverage imports to Cambodia have fallen over the past 12 months, marking a notable shift in domestic production and the public’s recognition of the “Made in Cambodia” brand, officials say. Cambodia spent around $223 million on food and beverage imports to supply the domestic ...
Chan Muyhong
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/domestic-production-strengthens-fb-imports-fall
No room for refugees: Kheng
Montagnards seeking asylum in Cambodia and who are found to be fleeing persecution in Vietnam will not be allowed to stay in the Kingdom if a third country does not accept them, Interior Minister Sar Kheng said yesterday. Speaking after opening a workshop on violence against ...
Phak Seangly
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/no-room-refugees-kheng
Anti-trafficking fight expands
Cambodia, a common source, transit and destination country for human trafficking, yesterday launched a far-reaching plan to combat the exploitative practice. The 2014 to 2018 National Plan of Action (NPA), which was launched yesterday afternoon at the Interior Ministry, was devised by the National Committee for ...
Alice Cuddy and Sen David
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/anti-trafficking-fight-expands
Uncertainty over death of activist
Rights group Adhoc is investigating the death of an opposition party activist this weekend in Banteay Meanchey province’s Poipet town. ...
Chhay Channyda and Meas Sokchea
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/uncertainty-over-death-activist
Bank sector at risk: S&P
The National Bank of Cambodia (NBC) lacks the resources to enforce regulatory standards and bail out underperforming banks during times of need, credit ratings agency Standard & Poor’s says. Cambodia’s banking sector was labelled high-risk, with a score of nine out of 10 on S&P’s2014 Banking ...
Eddie Morton
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/bank-sector-risk-sp
Police to investigate market fire
The Phnom Penh police’s fire brigade is creating a new committee to determine the cause of a blaze at O’Russei market on Sunday night, an official said. The fire, he said, was extinguished within an hour and led to what vendors are saying equates to ...
Mom Kunthear
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/police-investigate-market-fire
Commute deadly: gov’t
Garment workers continue to die in traffic accidents on their way to and from the factory, a new report highlighting the deadly commute in Cambodia’s largest industry shows. In the report, titled The Dangerous Journey of Garment Workers in 2014, the Ministry of Labour’s National Social ...
Interior Ministry retirees get ‘political positions’
Senior officials at the Ministry of Interior who have recently retired will be reappointed to “political positions”, Deputy Prime Minister Sar Kheng said yesterday. ...
Meas Sokchea
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/interior-ministry-retirees-get-political-positions