As the global economy grapples with the aftershocks of the pandemic, rising geopolitical tensions, and market volatility, Cambodia finds itself at a crossroads. With an economy heavily reliant on external factors such as foreign direct investment from major global players like China, the US, and the EU, as well as a burgeoning but vulnerable real estate sector, Cambodia’s economic landscape is fraught with challenges that require strategic navigation. The challenges facing Cambodia and the ASEAN+3 region, as detailed during a May 13 seminar on the “2024 ASEAN + 3 Regional Economic Outlook (AREO) Cambodia Outreach Seminar: Navigating Tomorrow” report by…
Author: Raksmey Hong
Two Chinese nationals, who hold Cambodian citizenship and were deported to the Kingdom by a Singapore court on May 6, do not appear to have been detained by Cambodian authorities. Su Wenqiang and Wang Baosen, both 32, were each sentenced to 13 months in prison on charges of money-laundering charges related to over $3 billion in cash and assets which were seized from a group of 10 foreign nationals by Singaporean authorities. “There have been instances of Chinese criminals in Cambodia being extradited to China for trial. However, those holding Cambodian passports are Cambodian nationals, with all the rights and…
In a striking array of photos featuring two Apsara grandmothers, where elements of the modern blend seamlessly with the traditional, one figure stands out. Not just for her age, but for her embodiment of a cultural legacy that has endured for centuries. At 104 years old, Granny Mao, may very well be the oldest living Apsara in Cambodia’s long history. Her life, interwoven with threads of joy, tragedy, and resilience, now serves as a vivid tapestry that captivates and inspires. The transformative journey of Cambodia’s beloved grannies from life as scavengers to celebrated Apsaras is a narrative that was crafted…
Two men, Su Wenqiang and Wang Baosen, both of whom hold Cambodian passports and were convicted in Singapore’s largest-ever money laundering case, were deported to Cambodia on May 6, according to the Straits Times. The pair, aged 32, were part of a group of 10 foreigners arrested in August 2023 in connection with a money laundering investigation involving over $3 billion in cash and assets. The Singapore newspaper said Wenqiang received a 13-month jail sentence on April 2 for money laundering charges, admitting to possessing over $600,000 in cash from illegal online gambling platforms and using $500,000 in criminal…
In the quiet hours before dawn breaks over Tbong Khmum province’s Ou Raing Ov district, Kong Buoy, 42, prepares for her weekend transformation, from the rice fields to the classroom. Leaving farming life behind, she travels for three hours in a shared taxi to Phnom Penh, where she delves into the world of beauty and hairdressing at a school in the city – the National Institute of Entrepreneurship and Innovation. This significant step from the fields to a salon is Buoy’s investment in a dream—to open a beauty shop in her village and secure a better future. Buoy’s decision was…