The “Smile of Cambodia” event will kick off in Siem Reap province next week, encouraging content producers to promote traditional Khmer culture, tourism and the delicious food available to visitors. The function, organised by the Khmer Artists Association and the provincial administration, will run from August 12-16 to promote visits to renowned tourist sites in the province rich in culture and heritage. The event is part of the “Visit Siem Reap 2024” campaign launched by Prime Minister Hun Manet earlier this year to boost the tourism sector, starting with Siem Reap, in an effort to recover the industry and related…
Author: Niem Chheng
The Chinese topped Cambodia’s list of leading financiers in July, taking part in 44 new and expansion investment projects, with many in the garment sector. According to a report released by the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC) on August 6, a total of 44 investment projects were approved, totaling more than $396 million in capital and creating about 25,000 jobs. Of the projects, 41 are new and three are expansions of existing ventures. Thirty-one are located outside of special economic zones (SEZs) and 13 are located within SEZs. The CDC highlighted that the most prominent initiative outside of…
Analysts believe the personal ties between Myanmar leader Min Aung Hlaing, chairman of the State Administration Council (SAC), and Senate president Hun Sen present an opportunity to ease the situation in the war-torn Southeast Asian country. Hlaing and Hun Sen exchanged letters, with the former extending best wishes to the Senate president on his 73rd birthday on August 5. “Throughout the past six decades of our exceptional friendship and cooperation, Myanmar and Cambodia have consistently nurtured a close bond of friendship, mutual understanding and trust, deeply rooted in our shared culture, religion and traditions. “I earnestly look forward to further…
Cambodia officially broke ground on the historic Funan Techo Canal this morning at 9:09am, with more than 10,000 participants attending a ceremony presided over by Prime Minister Hun Manet. “I hereby declare the groundbreaking for the construction of the Funan Techo Canal,” the prime minister announced. Manet stated that the project aligns with the vision of Cambodian ancestors from 2000 years ago, during the Funan era. He noted that during that time, there were several canals serving international trade, including exchanges with India. “This project is not just an infrastructure project, but a nationalistic endeavour,” he said, emphasising the overwhelming…
Accepting US banknotes with slight cuts or tears may soon be permitted throughout Cambodia after the National Bank of Cambodia’s (NBC) pilot assessment in Siem Reap province is completed, as confirmed by Prime Minister Hun Manet. The policy has been in effect in Siem Reap since July 22, after the NBC mandated that all commercial bank branches in the area accept old or worn US dollars without charging any fees, following complaints from local vendors to Manet in July. In a message on social media today (August 2), the prime minister thanked banks, traders, money changers and the people of…
Minister of Interior Sar Sokha stated that Cambodia’s efforts to suppress and prevent human trafficking have been overlooked, while admitting there have been shortcomings. Speaking at the launch of the five-year National Strategic Plan on Combating Human Trafficking (2024-2028) today (August 1), Sokha said, “Sometimes it seems like there are double standards in international assessments, making our efforts appear futile.” “I acknowledge there are shortcomings, but they should recognise what we have been trying to do, not just focus on the negative points,” he added. The minister pointed out that there are always challenges in any country, including developed ones.…
More than 10,000 people are expected to attend the groundbreaking ceremony for the Funan Techo Canal project, which will take place in Prek Takeo village, Samrong Thom commune in Kandal province’s Kien Svay district on August 5. The event will be marked by the sound of bells, gongs and drums across the country at 9:09am when Prime Minister Hun Manet presses the symbolic button to kick-start the construction. Officials from Manet’s cabinet confirmed to reporters that there will also be two large-scale concerts, one on Koh Pich in Phnom Penh and another in Kandal’s Takhmao town. Additionally, the Kandal provincial…