Economy and commerce
ADB predicts slower growth for 2014
The Asian Development Bank on Tuesday said it expects Cambodia’s economic growth to slow slightly in 2014. In its annual “Asian Development Outlook,” the bank said it expects to see a drop in the rate from about 7.2 percent last year to 7 percent this year ...
Suy Heimkhemra
http://www.voacambodia.com/content/adb-predicts-slower-growth-for-2014/1883732.html
Big logging cartel alleged
Prime Minister Hun Sen’s brother Hun Neng and a Vietnamese state-owned rubber firm are involved in an illegal logging cartel involving several well-connected companies operating on a “massive scale” in the embattled Prey Lang forest, forest monitors working in the area allege. Video footage and photographs ...
May Titthara and Daniel Pye
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/big-logging-cartel-alleged
Rubber decline stokes worry
The government and industry insiders are worried about the steady decline of rubber prices over the last three years, during which the area it is cultivated in has grown. “Farmers and investors raised concern . . . over the trend of the market and the price of natural ...
Chan Muyhong
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/rubber-decline-stokes-worry
Hun Sen pushes rice export to Brunei
Prime Minister Hun Sen said that he would like to see the stronger economic and trade cooperation between Cambodia and Brunei. And Cambodia want to increase the rice export to Brunei. ...
The Cambodia Herald News Staff
http://thecambodiaherald.com/cambodia/detail/1?page=11&token=OGVjODA2M2I1MDM
China's Huawei introduces new smartphone models in Cambodia
The world’s third largest smartphone maker Huawei on Monday unveiled two newest smartphone models for Cambodia’s fast growing mobile phone market. ...
Global Times New Staff
http://www.globaltimes.cn/content/851906.shtml#.UzobC_mSxqU
Brands ‘failing their workers’
European mega-brands are not doing enough to ensure that the Cambodian workers who make their products receive a basic living wage, according to a report released today. Tailored Wages, an analysis of 50 of Europe’s biggest clothing brands, found that many major high-street chains are doing ...
Alice Cuddy
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/brands-%E2%80%98failing-their-workers%E2%80%99
Aeon MFI to expand in Cambodia
Aeon Microfinance (Cambodia) plans to expand its branches in Cambodia this year and also diversify its products from the current base after two years of operating in the Kingdom, officials with the company say. Until now, the microfinance institution (MFI) – which is part of the ...
Hor Kimsay
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/aeon-mfi-expand-cambodia
Official says Cambodia not ready for ASEAN Free Trade
Cambodia is not prepared to join Asean’s single regional market and production base next year, a Labor Ministry official said Friday. Next year, the 10 nations of Asean are to create the Asean Economic Community (AEC). Within this community, labor is to flow freely and import ...
Denise Hruby
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/official-says-cambodia-not-ready-for-asean-free-trade-55203/
Royal Group affirms its commitment to ANZ
Local conglomerate Royal Group said Tuesday that while it is committed to its partnership with Australia-based ANZ bank, it would entertain selling its stake in ANZ Royal Bank for “a very high offer.” “The Royal Group would like to clarify that it is a strong and ...
Joshua Wilwohl
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/business/royal-group-affirms-its-commitment-to-anz-54904/
GMAC to explain Cambodian behavior to foreign managers
The Garment Manufacturers Association in Cambodia says it will hold a workshop next month to explain to foreign managers why Cambodians behave in certain ways. “This workshop will provide the participants with relevant cultural information about the Cambodian workers and will show the different perspectives from ...
The Cambodia Herald
http://www.thecambodiaherald.com/cambodia/detail/1?page=13&token=YTI4NTZjNDI3ZmI
In effeminate tones, Hun Sen lampoons opposition politicians
Prime Minister Hun Sen used the opening ceremony of a dam in Pursat province Thursday to act out a scene of biting political satire by pouring scorn on promises from the opposition CNRP to simultaneously reduce food prices in markets, while increasing prices paid to ...
Khuon Narim
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/in-effeminate-tones-hun-sen-lampoons-opposition-politicians-55131/
A recipe for disaster
Small plastic packets filled with a mix of pills of various sizes, shapes and colours sit piled on the counter of a pharmacy in Phnom Penh’s Meanchey district, home to several large garment factories. At 2,000 riel a pop, about 50 cents, these packs are sold ...
Kevin Ponniah and Sen David
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/recipe-disaster
Relocated ‘need more’
Minister of Environment Say Sam El urged economic land concessionaire Union Development Group (UDG) – the mega-resort developer at the centre of a long-running Koh Kong province land dispute – to provide sufficient infrastructure in the relocation areas provided for residents it displaced, a ministry ...
Sen David
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/relocated-%E2%80%98need-more%E2%80%99
Sub-Decree aims to better regulate pharmacies
Prime Minister Hun Sen has signed a sub-decree to better regulate pharmacies, a business fraught with fake drugs and fake diplomas. The new sub-decree of the Pharmacists’ Code of Ethics contains 71 articles. They ban distribution of fake drugs and the use of titles not ...
Kuch Naren
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/sub-decree-aims-to-better-regulate-pharmacies-55138/
Gov’t pins $275,000 in protest damage on CNRP
A government committee charged with assessing damage from the garment worker protests in December and January has put the value of the destruction at over $250,000. It places blame squarely on the opposition CNRP and a trio of union leaders. That committee’s report, released Thursday, ...
Kuch Naren
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/govt-pins-275000-in-protest-damage-on-cnrp-55123/
Grand Twins may price Cambodia IPO below mid-point of indicative range
Tepid interest in a Taiwanese-owned garment manufacturer’s planned initial public offering in Cambodia means that the deal could be priced below the midpoint of an indicative range, a person with direct knowledge of the offering said Thursday. Grand Twins International (Cambodia) PLC had planned to sell ...
Firm ‘logging in sanctuary’
A company in Mondulkiri’s Sok San commune has been gradually cutting down a community forest, pushing more than 100 families off their land, villagers said yesterday. “That land belongs to us, the government granted it to us in 1999. But the company invaded and let us ...
May Titthara
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/firm-%E2%80%98logging-sanctuary%E2%80%99
Small-scale construction firms suffer amid slump in demand
Small business owners in the pillar construction industry say they are facing hard times as demand increases for large pillars but diminishes for small-scale construction. Chheang Bona, director of 7FTD Co, Ltd in Vihear Sour commune, in Kandal province’s Ksach Kandal district, said that his ...
The Editor
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/real-estate/small-scale-construction-firms-suffer-amid-slump-demand
Improved economic conditions boost land prices in Battambang city, province
Battambang land prices have increased this year, according to a local real estate firm. Sorn Seap, general manager of Key Real Estate, said land prices in Battambang city, capital of the province of the same name, have increased by around 12 per cent this year compared ...
Mobile users top 20 million, internet usage still rising
The number of mobile subscribers in Cambodia topped 20 million last year, surpassing the country’s population by about 5 million. Internet users also jumped, according to a report released Wednesday by the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications. The report fails to say how many Cambodians own ...
Ben Sokhean
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/business/mobile-users-top-20-million-internet-usage-still-rising-55024/
Koh Russey, a jewel by the sea
After its November launch in Hong Kong, Alila Villas Koh Russey will break ground late next month, initiating the construction of a world-class luxury resort. Alila Villas occupies 25 hectares on Koh Russey, an island in the Koh Rong archipelago in the Gulf of Thailand, with ...
Post Staff
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/real-estate/koh-russey-jewel-sea
Firm plans more bus lines
Chinese firm Global (Cambodia) Trade Development will launch several more city bus lines in Phnom Penh over the next 10 months, dramatically expanding what has so far been a successful experiment to introduce mass transit to the capital, the company and state media said yesterday. Lin ...
Vong Sokheng
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/firm-plans-more-bus-lines
For Royal Group, sale not desired
Executives from Australia and New Zealand Banking Group Limited (ANZ) and local partner Royal Group of Companies (RGC) both went into damage control yesterday after comments by ANZ chief executive officer Mike Smith suggesting the joint banking venture between the two was on the rocks. Royal ...
Daniel de Carteret
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/royal-group-sale-not-desired
Labor ministry to inspect migrant worker recruitment agencies
The government today will begin strict inspections of agencies that recruit workers to send overseas, Labor Minister Ith Sam Heng said Tuesday. The labor minister has previously threatened to suspend or revoke the licenses of agencies that do not comply with labor laws. Speaking at a workshop ...
Matt Blomberg
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/labor-ministry-to-inspect-migrant-worker-recruitment-agencies-54925/