News
‘Eco-schools’ to try for a clean sweep in coming year
The Environment and Education Ministries will expand their eco-school program to all primary and secondary schools across the country over the course of 2017, provided they have the necessary human and financial resources to do so. ...
Mom Kunthear
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/23235/---eco-schools----to-try-for-a----clean-sweep-in-coming-year/
Ministry encourages conservation, domestication of wild animals
The Ministry of Environment is encouraging people living in or around protected areas to start feeding and domesticating wild animals, and to abstain from eating them, with similar strategies in animal conservation being attempted in communities in Preah Vihear province. ...
Mom Kunthear
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/23236/ministry-encourages-conservation--domestication-of-wild-animals/
Opening Preah Vihear border will hurt business: tourism operator
The government may reopen the border gate in front of Preah Vihear temple in a bid to strengthen ties with Thailand as diplomatic relations improve, but local tourism operators are concerned the move would hurt their business. ...
Chea Vannak
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/23232/opening-preah-vihear-border-will-hurt-business--tourism-operators/
Royal buys out one TV to focus on distribution
Cambodian conglomerate Royal Group has acquired the remaining shareholding of One TV from Russian-owned General Satellite Group in a move to boost the distribution of Cambodia’s niche pay for digital terrestrial television (DTT) market. ...
Kali Kotoski
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/royal-buys-out-one-tv-focus-distribution
Government approves Sihanoukville ‘Casino city’ plans
Malaysia-based company SV International was granted permission by the Council of Ministers earlier this month to begin the initial stage of grand plans to turn part of Sihanoukville into a “casino city,” an official confirmed. ...
Hannah Hawkins and Ben Sokhean
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/government-approves-sihanoukville-casino-city-plans-110478/
PPSEZ to make final preparations for IPO
The Phnom Penh Special Economic Zone (PPSEZ) was given clearance on Wednesday to begin final preparations for listing on the country’s stock exchange, according to a statement released by the Securities and Exchange Commission of Cambodia (SECC). ...
Kang Sothear
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/ppsez-to-make-final-preparations-for-ipo-110499/
Lack of transparency hinders budget progress
On Monday, Prime Minister Hun Sen announced a new phase of the Public Financial Management Reform Program, a donor-assisted initiative established in 2004 to bolster the country’s ability to soundly manage its budget. In a speech at the launch event, he touted the government’s progress ...
Tej Parikh and Kang Sothear
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/lack-of-transparency-hinders-budget-progress-110437/
Justice minister, opposition talk pretrial detention, Khaou case
Justice Minister Ang Vong Vathana met on Friday with the National Assembly’s opposition-led human rights commission to discuss issues related to judicial independence and court procedure, including government interference in the court system and abuse of the pretrial detention system. ...
Khy Sovuthy
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/justice-minister-opposition-talk-pretrial-detention-khaou-case-110444/
Amateur motorsport cup promotes road safety
Phnom Penh’s hell-raising street racers will enjoy a structured outlet for their love of motorbikes at a new amateur racing cup on Koh Pich island this weekend, a competition also meant to promote compliance with the new traffic law. ...
Ben Paviour
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/amateur-motorsport-cup-promotes-road-safety-110452/
Cambodia-China business forum held in Phnom Penh
Cambodia launched an economic cooperation forum here on Thursday, aimed to further promote bilateral trade, investment and tourism relations with China, officials said. ...
Xinhua Team
http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2016-03/24/c_135220339.htm
Palm sugar production down but prices up
Kampong Speu palm sugar production is predicted to slightly decrease this year due to a late start, climate change, water shortages and working capital for farmers, but prices are expected to rise due to the sugar’s growing popularity since its geographical indication certification. ...
Sok Chan
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/23186/palm-sugar-production-down-but-prices-up/
ACU tosses complaint against ActionAid
The Anti-Corruption Unit on Thursday dismissed a complaint filed by a Cambodian NGO against the local arm of the international humanitarian group ActionAid for allegedly embezzling $3 million, the unit’s chairman said. ...
Kuch Naren and Janelle Kohnert
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/acu-tosses-complaint-against-actionaid-110404/
New job for principal accused of embezzlement
A high school director in Prey Veng province accused of embezzling thousands of dollars was transferred to a new position with the provincial government on Wednesday following a protest by students and teachers. ...
Ben Sokhean
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/110400-110400/
Cambodia asks China to import more products
Prime Minister Hun Sen has asked China to import more agricultural products from Cambodia to boost bilateral trade and strengthen the relationship between the two countries. The prime minister wants to boost bilateral trade to $5 billion by 2017. ...
Chea Vannak
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/23185/cambodia-asks-china-to-import-more-products/
Imports of construction materials rise but costs stable
Imports of construction materials grew dramatically last year compared with the year before due to strong demand, while the prices of imported goods declined. ...
Sum Manet
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/23189/imports-of-construction-materials-rise-but-costs-stable/
Cambodia hopes to turn Russian debt into investment
Prime Minister Hun Sen discussed the outstanding debt Cambodia owed to Russia on Wednesday, with the prime minister urging the debt be turned into investment and development in the country. ...
Ven Rathavong
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/23197/cambodia-hopes-to-turn-russian-debt-into-investment/
Government unaware of at least 128 orphanages, report says
The government was unaware of about half of the residential child care centers operating in four provinces and Phnom Penh prior to a study conducted last year, according to a report released on Thursday. ...
Buth Kimsay and Sonia Kohlbacher
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/110401-110401/
Old debt on agenda for PM’s Russia visit
Prime Minister Hun Sen will attempt to renegotiate the $1.5 billion of Soviet-era debt Cambodia accrued during the 1980s when he visits Russia in May, according to a post on the premier’s Facebook page. ...
Vong Sokheng
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/old-debt-agenda-pms-russia-visit
New LGBT policies necessary: CCHR
The Cambodian Centre for Human Rights (CCHR) has called on schools to adopt a flexible school uniform policy to help transgender students and for the government to introduce(CCHR) anti-discrimination laws, in partnership with a USAID program worth almost $300,000. ...
Bun Sengkong and Erin Handley
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/new-lgbt-policies-necessary-cchr
National bank ups cash reserve requirements
The National Bank of Cambodia (NBC) has doubled the minimum capital requirements for commercial banks and significantly raised the requirements for microfinance institutions in a move experts say will protect and consolidate the country’s banking sector. ...
Kang Sothear and Tej Parikh
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/national-bank-ups-cash-reserve-requirements-110398/
Reshuffle a positive move says business community
The business community in Cambodia has welcomed the recent Cabinet reshuffle, which many say will improve the way the government works and will also improve the economy. ...
May Kunmakara
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/23187/reshuffle-a-positive-move-says-business-community/
Anti-graft body opens investigation into Sokha
The government’s Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) on Thursday announced it was launching an official investigation into allegations that deputy opposition leader Kem Sokha made unlawful land and apartment purchases for a mistress. ...
Kuch Naren
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/anti-graft-body-opens-investigation-into-sokha-110386/
Up to 40% of Ta Khmao development sold
Up to 40 percent of the $100 million River Premium Development Company, a joint venture between local partners and Malaysian investors, has been completed and sold, said Houn Heng Eriya, the sales manager of the project in the city center of Ta Khmao. ...
Sum Manet
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/23188/up-to-40--of-ta-khmao-development-sold/
Magistracy meet calls for order in the court
Judge and prosecutors were called to a two-day workshop to address the sector’s pervasive ethics challenges, but legal experts said change could not occur until there were concrete rules, instead of vague moral guidelines. ...
Mech Dara and Erin Handley
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/magistracy-meet-calls-order-court