Industry Ministry to Be Split, New ‘Handicraft’ Focus
The National Assembly is set to dismantle the Ministry of Industry, Mines and Energy, rebuilding it as the Ministry of Mines and Energy and creating a new Ministry of Industry and Handicrafts, a senior CPP lawmaker confirmed on Friday. The move comes just a few weeks after members of the ruling CPP took their seats at the National Assembly despite a boycott from the opposition CNRP’s 55 lawmakers’ elect, meaning the vote to split the institution will be effectively unopposed. “The government’s request to get approval from the National Assembly for splitting the current Ministry of Industry, Mines and Energy into two separate ministries will be brought before parliamentarians in the next plenary session that will be held sometime this month,” said Cheam Yeap, who is a member of the Assembly’s Permanent Committee. … It is not yet known, however, what position current Minister of Industry, Mines and Energy Cham Prasidh will be given once the ministry is split, nor exactly what “handicrafts” refers to. The Assembly’s plenary session begins on Tuesday, overseen by National Assembly President Heng Samrin. The draft budget law for 2014—which set aside $6.3 million for the Ministry of Industry, Mines and Energy—is expected to pass, but lawmakers will also discuss the creation of new government institutions, including the industry and handicrafts ministry Mr. Yeap said. If the motion passes, it will bring to 28 the number of ministries in the country for the fifth mandate of government. …
Kuch Naren
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/industry-ministry-to-be-split-new-handicraft-focus-46782/
