Khmer Times

Delegations from the five lower Mekong states met with officials from the Asia-Pacific region, the US and Europe yesterday to convene the 9th Lower Mekong Initiative (LMI) and Friends of the Lower Mekong (FLM) Regional Working Group aimed at devising strategies to strengthen infrastructure, connectivity ...

The government plans to increase the 2017 national budget by 15.7 percent, to more than $5 billion – representing an increase over this year’s government expenditure of more than $4.3 billion – a government source said yesterday. ...

In an effort to improve the governance of the Kingdom’s mining industry, with a focus on increasing revenue generation, the government has approved 11 articles largely concerning export permits for mined resources. A September 22 sub-decree signed by Prime Minister Hun Sen, but released by the ...

The Justice Ministry is investigating accusations that surrogacy services are being offered in the Kingdom as rumors spread online. Minister of Justice Ang Vong Vathana said yesterday at a three-day workshop launching the “Explanatory Note of Domestic Adoption,” he was unsure if the rumors pertained to ...

Kampong Speu province will soon be home to a Chinese-funded agricultural special economic zone (SEZ) with facilities to research plant diseases, after the Ministry of Agriculture and Tian Rui (Cambodia) Agricultural Cooperation SEZ Co., signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) yesterday. ...

One year strong and more than 900 jobs later, the US State Department-supported start-up center WECREATE, which invests in the economic empowerment of women, is beginning its expansion throughout the Lower Mekong Region. ...

The UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) provided Amret Microfinance Cambodia with a grant of $245,000 to help more women in the Kingdom access financial services and eventually contribute to local community development. ...

The NGO preparing to file a complaint to the Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) against two opposition officials will also file complaints against Prime Minister Hun Sen and the ACU president after voter registration is finished, he announced yesterday. Ros Sarom, the director of the Victory Intelligent Standard ...

The damage to the country’s rice crops from the recent heavy rains is likely to be small, according to provincial officials, as the Agriculture Ministry stressed that flood damage to rice crops was under control. As the Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology continue to warn ...

Because of improved working conditions in garment and footwear factories across the Kingdom, the government yesterday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to continue implementing the Better Factories Cambodia (BFC) program for three more years. During a celebration commemorating the 15th anniversary of BFC, Labor Minister ...

The Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) has submitted a letter to the National Election Committee (NEC), asking them to help Cambodian migrant workers in Thailand to register to vote in communes along the Thai border. The letter, signed by acting party president Kem Sokha yesterday and ...

Eight markets in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap and Preah Sihanouk provinces have started trialing a campaign to reduce the number of plastic bags given to customers. Thol Buntha, a media relations officer for Italian-based NGO Fondazione ACRA, told Khmer Times that the markets, which include ...

Cambodia’s three-year reign as holder of the World’s Best Rice Award came to an end last year, but the Cambodia Rice Federation (CRF) is confident it will regain the title at next month’s ceremony in Thailand. CRF Secretary-General Moul Sarith told Khmer Times yesterday that they ...

A​ tourism​ development​ agreement​ was​ signed​ last​ week​ between​ Cambodia’s​ Ministry​ of​ Tourism​ and​ China’s​ Shanghai​ Spring​ International​ Travel​ Service​ Group​ to​ boost​ the​ influx​ of​ Chinese​ tourists​ to​ the​ Kingdom. In​ announcing​ the​ agreement​ on​ Saturday,​ Minister​ of​ Tourism​ Thong​ Khon​ said:​ “The​ memorandum​ ...

The visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping last week resulted in loan agreements worth almost $2 billion for road infrastructure development in Cambodia, the Ministry of Public Works and Transport said on Friday. According to Transport Minister Sun Chanthol, the money will be used to ...

An NGO is prepping to file a complaint to the Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) against Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) officials Kem Sokha and Eng Chhay Eang, claiming the two men somehow “increased their wealth” since the national elections in 2013. Ros Sarom, the director of the ...

The National Bank of Cambodia (NBC) will unveil its initial rates that banks and microfinance institutions (MFIs) will be able to use, as the NBC begins its liquidity-providing collateralized operation (LPCO) to boost the country’s riel liquidity, according to a senior bank official. ...

The Telecommunication Regulator of Cambodia (TRC) warned last week that it would take legal action over people selling, repairing and using walkie-talkies without permission and in dangerous ways, such as using frequencies reserved for officials. ...

Amid increased demand for oranges grown in Battambang province, the Ministry of Agriculture is seeking to have the fruit’s unique and sought-after flavor recognized under the European Union’s geographical identification (GI) status. Ministry spokesperson Lor Reaksmey explained that the application process, involving ministry officials and international ...

Young potential voters who have migrated abroad in search of work are facing the loss of their voting rights due to a lack of information and documents required to register to vote from a location different to their registered address, civil society groups said yesterday.​ ...

The Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology has appealed again to residents and local authorities to be careful in the event of flooding from heavy rain expected throughout the country from today until Monday.​​ The ministry said yesterday that a low pressure system will cause ...

Kampot pepper sales both locally and internationally have continued to be strong since gaining coveted geographical indication (GI) status from the European Union in February, while domestic pepper competitors have complained of falling prices, industry figures said yesterday. Kampot Pepper Promotion Association president, Nguon Lay, told ...

As part of ongoing efforts to boost exports of Cambodian mangoes, the Mong Rithy Group, an agro-industrial conglomerate that is heavily invested in the mango sector, announced yesterday that it was in negotiations to import drying machinery, which would greatly increase production of dried mango ...

In an effort to squelch fears of roving army units patrolling polling stations and terrifying local residents, National Election Committee (NEC) member Rong Chhun said the group plans to ask the Interior Ministry and Defense Ministry to have soldiers vote in communes near their garrisons. ...