Book lovers and cultural enthusiasts are being treated to a curated collection of literature as the second annual Octobookfest 2025 is underway, showcasing over sixty titles that celebrate Cambodia’s spirit and its place within the global cultural landscape. The exhibition, hosted at The Gallery at Sofitel Phnom Penh Phokeethra, presents a literary journey that crosses languages and borders, featuring works published in Cambodia, Singapore, Japan, France and Germany, and presented in Khmer, English, French and Japanese. The exhibition highlights a selection of rare, out-of-print and award-winning works, with subjects ranging from the rich bounty of nature and the lives of…
Author: Raksmey Hong
Cambodia’s fisheries sector is charting a new course toward innovation and global competitiveness as the EU and UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) concluded the CAPFish-Capture project with an October 7 technical workshop on innovation and research in Phnom Penh. The “Innovation and R&D for Enhancing Fisheries Competitiveness: Achievements, Lessons Learned, Challenges, and the Way Forward” workshop brought together government officials, development partners, private-sector representatives and academic institutions to review five years of progress under the EU-funded initiative, which has transformed Cambodia’s post-harvest fisheries and agri-food industries through technology, research and institutional strengthening. Speaking at the event, Chhuon Chamnan from the…
Cambodia is stepping up efforts to meet international food safety standards in its fisheries sector, aiming to unlock new export opportunities in European markets as the EU-funded CAPFISH-Capture: Post-harvest Fisheries Development project nears completion this December. At the project’s final technical workshop held in Phnom Penh today, October 6, senior officials, development partners and regional representatives highlighted Cambodia’s progress in strengthening its food control system — a crucial step toward expanding market access and fostering regional collaboration. Funded by the European Union and implemented by the Fisheries Administration (FiA) of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, with support from…
After weeks of stability along the Cambodia–Thailand border, fresh displacements have been reported as humanitarian agencies begin transitioning from emergency relief to early recovery efforts. According to the Cambodia Humanitarian Response Forum (HRF), the number of displaced people surged by 44 per cent — from 11,151 on September 22 to 16,049 by October 2 — following localised tensions and the slow pace of returns. “Of the total, 14,739 people remain across 25 displacement sites, while 1,310 are staying with relatives or friends,” said the report, conducted from September 13 to October 3. The HRF’s latest situation report, released on October…
Cambodia and the United Arab Emirates took a major step toward deeper connectivity and cooperation on October 3, with the launch of Etihad Airways’ first-ever direct flight between Abu Dhabi and Phnom Penh. Officials and industry leaders hailed the new route as “a new bridge of friendship, investment, and opportunity linking Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Europe and North America”. Presiding over the inauguration ceremony at Phnom Penh’s new Techo International Airport, Minister of Tourism Hout Hak described the milestone as “more than an air connection” — calling it a “strong bridge of friendship, cooperation and shared prosperity between the…
The SheThinks Network held an “Open House” event in Phnom Penh on October 3. The occasion saw more than 80 women researchers, policymakers and development partners reaffirm their commitment to advancing women’s leadership in Cambodia’s research and policy sector. The event, themed “Reconnecting, Engaging and Building Our Future Together”, highlighted the growing influence of women in evidence-based policymaking and their role in shaping Cambodia’s sustainable development. In her opening address, Sok Chan Chhorvy, secretary of state at the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, praised the network’s progress since its launch in March 2022. Speaking on behalf of women’s minister Ing Kantha…
The Preah Srey Içanavarman Museum of Economy and Money, better known as the SOSORO Museum, has opened a new temporary exhibition. “Into the Light: The Retrieved Paintings of Phnom Penh’s Silver Pagoda,” reveals a long-lost chapter of Cambodia’s artistic and spiritual history. The exhibition was inaugurated during an October 4 ceremony, presided over by Chea Serey, governor of the National Bank of Cambodia (NBC), in the presence of members of the royal family, senior government officials, diplomats and cultural representatives. “The exhibition centres on rediscovered murals from the Silver Pagoda’s sanctuary, once thought to have been lost forever following restoration…
Cambodia’s first-ever Solarpunk Art Residency has concluded in Kampong Thom, with nine artists reimagining visions of a sustainable and hopeful future, blending indigenous traditions with modern green technologies. Their works will be unveiled at an exhibition in Phnom Penh’s Friends Futures Factory (F3) on October 4, as part of Clean Energy Week 2025. Held from September 25 to 30 at Sambor Village in Kampong Thom, the week-long residency gathered artists, ranging in age from their early 20s to 40s, from Cambodia and beyond. They engaged in field trips, workshops and collaborative sessions that drew inspiration from ancestral aesthetics, indigenous practices…
Indonesian ambassador to Cambodia Santo Darmosumarto has wrapped up a two-day visit to Ratanakkiri province, highlighting new opportunities for trade, investment and cultural ties between the two countries. The September 30–October 1 trip was part of the envoy’s broader engagement with Cambodia’s northeastern provinces, following earlier visits to Kratie, Mondulkiri and Steung Treng. In Banlung, Santo met with Ratanakkiri provincial vice-governor Khan Chamnan, to discuss economic cooperation. “Indonesia and Cambodia are connected by our close historical and cultural ties. However, in terms of economic cooperation, we have yet to maximise our potential,” the ambassador said. He noted that Indonesian consumer…
Cambodia will host its largest-ever agricultural event next month, with the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) positioning the Cambodia Agriculture Forum & Exhibition 2025 (CAFE25) as a turning point in the country’s agrifood sector. Scheduled for November 13–16 at the Diamond Island Convention & Exhibition Centre, CAFE25 combines a two-day high-level forum with a four-day exhibition, aiming to attract over 20,000 participants to its more than 400 booths. The event, an initiative of agriculture minister Dith Tina, will be officially opened by Prime Minister Hun Manet or a designated Deputy Prime Minister, underscoring strong government commitment to agricultural…