Economy and commerce
Mammoth year in kingdom’s microfinance sector
Cambodia’s microfinance sector experienced another year of explosive growth, with both lending and deposits surging over 40 per cent in 2015, according to new data by an industry association. ...
Cam McGrath and Cheng Sokhorng
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/mammoth-year-kingdoms-microfinance-sector
Indian investors warming up to Cambodia
Although bilateral trade between India and Cambodia remains low, investors from the subcontinent are eying the market here for its potential as a regional hub for their agricultural, machinery and industrial products, B. Sarkar, executive director of the Engineering Export Promotion Council (EEPC) of India, ...
Chea Vannak
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/21600/indian-investors-warming-up-to-cambodia/
Ministry rolls out red carpet for Japanese investors
Government officials are encouraging Japanese investors to channel more funding into the country’s booming construction and property development market, with the Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction rolling out the red carpet for them. ...
Sum Manet
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/21602/ministry-rolls-out-red-carpet-for-japanese-investors/
Banks to shift from growth to efficiency
Since its launch in 2005, ANZ Royal Bank has grown to become one of the top-end banks in Cambodia, and has increased its focus on core areas of e-banking, corporate clients and introducing efficiencies in its operations. ...
Ananth Baliga
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/banks-shift-growth-efficiency
Firms ready to expand despite local skills gap
A Eurocham business confidence survey has revealed that 81 per cent of respondents – members of the business association – planned to increase investments and expand their operations in the Kingdom, but viewed transparency and the lack of skilled human resources as the major downsides ...
Ananth Baliga
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/firms-ready-expand-despite-local-skills-gap
IFC provides $50m to Amret micro-lender
The International Finance Corporation (IFC) will provide a $50 million financing package to Amret Co to help the Cambodian microfinance institution increase lending to smaller businesses, particularly those in the agriculture sector and rural areas, it said in a press release. ...
Post Staff
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/ifc-provides-50m-amret-micro-lender
Former prime minister wins defamation case
A former MEC Co. Ltd shareholder was tried in absentia by the Court of Appeals yesterday morning for allegedly defaming his former company and MEC’s chairman, former Cambodian Prime Minister Ung Huot, in 2014, according to a court official. ...
Buth Reaksmey Kongkea
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/21540/former-prime-minister-wins-defamation-case/
G-CCEI seeks Cambodia partners
Korean companies have expressed an interest in expanding into Asean, mostly in the high-tech and information technology (IT) sectors. According to a report in the Bangkok Post. ...
Sum Manet
http://bit.ly/219Sr8t
Insurance industry sees double-digit premium growth
Total premiums for general insurance rose 16.4 percent last year to about $61.6 million, from $53 million in 2014, with property, fire, vehicle and medical insurance leading the way, the Insurance Association of Cambodia said yesterday. ...
Sok Chan
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/21463/insurance-industry-sees-double-digit-premium-growth/
IFC offers Acleda Bank $50M for SME lending
The International Finance Corporation (IFC) will provide a $50 million syndicated loan to Acleda Bank to boost lending to small and medium enterprises, of which at least half will support women-owned enterprises, it said yesterday. ...
Post Staff
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/ifc-offers-acleda-bank-50m-sme-lending
Thai restaurant chain aims for bite of Cambodian market
Thailand’s Wave Entertainment Plc will expand its steak restaurant chain to Cambodia next year, according to reports in Thai media. ...
Sum Manet
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/21464/thai-restaurant-chain-aims-for-bite-of-cambodian-market/
Cambodia approves legislation to attract MSAR investors
The government of the Southeast Asian kingdom wants to increase the number of Chinese tourists, with Macau investors perceived as a major catch. ...
João Santos Filipe
http://macaubusinessdaily.com/Gaming/Cambodia-approves-legislation-to%C2%A0attract-MSAR-investors
Cambodia is open for investment, PM tells America
Prime Minister Hun Sen yesterday made a direct appeal to businesses in the United States to increase investment in Cambodia, ahead of the US-ASEAN Summit in Sunnylands California, and just days after Deputy Prime Minister Sok An spoke with officials from the US Embassy here ...
Chea Vannak
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/21410/cambodia-is-open-for-investment--pm-tells-america/
ANZ still owes villagers over sugar loan: Oxfam
Australian banking giant ANZ has come under fire for its response to a scandal over its financing of a sugar plantation previously linked to forced evictions and child labour in Kampong Speu province. ...
Charles Rollet
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/anz-still-owes-villagers-over-sugar-loan-oxfam
PTT mulls foray into local retail propane market
Thai oil company PTT is looking to expand its retail liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) business into Cambodia and other Asian markets, a company executive said yesterday. ...
Sor Chandara
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/ptt-mulls-foray-local-retail-propane-market
Bourse urges small firms to consider listing
In September, the Cambodia Securities Exchange (CSX) announced a new initiative to improve access to financing for cash-strapped small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). ...
Tej Parikh
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/bourse-urges-small-firms-to-consider-listing-108559/
Barriers remain for Southeast Asia’s economic integration plans
Efforts to integrate of Southeast Asia’s economies are beginning to bear fruit, experts say, although there is some way to go before the goal of turning the region into a single market and production base can be reached. ...
Ten Soksreinith
http://www.voacambodia.com/content/barriers-remain-for-southeast-asia-economic-integration-plans/3190571.html
US trade treaty to aid kingdom's TPP ambitions
As Prime Minister Hun Sen attends the US-ASEAN Summit in California today, government officials are in the midst of ongoing negotiations with their American counterparts to formulate a trade and investment agreement, which analysts say could be a stepping stone towards one day joining the ...
Ananth Baliga
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/us-trade-treaty-aid-kingdoms-tpp-ambitions
Cambodia-Korea forum looks at new investment opportunities
The ASEAN-Korea Centre held a Cambodia-Korea Investment Forum at the Raffles Le Royal Hotel in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on Feb. 2. ...
Rachel Lee
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2016/02/176_197946.html
Thai logistics set to step into Cambodia
JWD InfoLogistics Plc is planning to expand its business to the Cambodian market with the launch a real estate investment trust (REIT) worth 2 billion baht (about $56.4 million) this year to finance its expansion in ASEAN, according to a report in the Bangkok Post. ...
Sum Manet
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/21305/thai-logistics-set-to-step-into-cambodia/
Banking on human resources
Acleda Bank, Cambodia’s largest bank, is morphing its existing training centre into a full-fledged educational institution, after obtaining a licence last month. The new institute will look to provide bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business administration, with majors in finance and banking. The Post’s Sorn ...
Sorn Sarath
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/banking-human-resources
Postal service delivers new partner
Kerry Express, a subsidiary of WorldBridge International (Cambodia), yesterday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with state-owned Cambodia Post to expand delivery services in the Kingdom, executives and officials said after signing the MoU yesterday. ...
Sok Chan
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/21220/postal-service-delivers-new-partner/
Rice Federation raises alarm about Vietnam’s FTA with EU
The Cambodia Rice Federation yesterday raised fresh concerns about the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (FTA), after an online rice-industry portal said the deal will scrap import duties on about 80,000 tons of rice from Vietnam per year and that this could start this year. ...
May Kunmakara
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/21216/rice-federation-raises-alarm-about-vietnam---s-fta-with-eu/
SME federation wants its own SEZ
The Federation of Associations for Small and Medium Enterprises of Cambodia is planning to propose that the government set up special economic zone (SEZ) for small and medium-sized sized enterprises (SMEs) so that they can work in clusters, saying this will enhance their productivity, increase ...
Sok Chan
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/21157/sme-federation-wants-its-own-sez/