Singapore Trains Over 8,000 Cambodian Officials Since 2002

By Sok Lak

“Singapore has helped train over 8,000 Cambodian officials on various fields such as English, IT, public administration, trade investment, and tourism and environment management under the ASEAN Interrelation framework,” the Singapore Ambassador said late last week. The ASEAN integration framework was established in 2002 for the purpose of contributing to human development for four ASEAN countries, including Cambodia, Laos, Burma and Vietnam.

Under the Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI) framework, an "Advanced English Course for Ministry of Foreign Affairs & International Cooperation Officials" for 35 Cambodian Foreign Ministry officials at the Cambodia-Singapore Training Centre (CSTC) in Phnom Penh from 8 July to 31 August 2011. A closing ceremony to mark the successful completion of the course was held at Singapore Embassy’s Temasek Hall where Ambassador S Premjith presented certificated of participation to the 35 Cambodian officials. The certificate presentation ceremony was witnessed by H.E. Meas Kim Heng, Advisor to H.E. Hor Namhong, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, as well as and other senior Cambodian government officials. In his remarks, H.E. Meas Kim Heng expressed appreciation to the Singapore Government for successfully organizing the course in response to the request of HE Hor Namhong, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs & International Cooperation.

He also commented that: "This training is valuable and timely for Cambodia as it will surely contribute to the success of Cambodian's Chairmanship of ASEAN next year," he added. In resonse to media queries after ceremony, Ambassador Premjith said that the Singapore Government welcomed the opportunity to support and work with the Cambodian Government in the run-up to its ASEAN Chairmanship in 2012. "In the spirit of close bilateral cooperation, Singapore will continue to work hand-in-hand with the Cambodian government on various human resource capacities building training program to help them achieve its development goals".

Source: The Southeast Asia Weekly, September 4-10, 2011, Vol 5, Issue 36, Page 7

Cambodian, Japanese Students Promote Sports As Life Philosophy

By Tim Vutha

The National Olympic Committee of Cambodia (NOCC) launched the Olympic sport education under the theme: "Culture and Olympic Education" from September 1-3 at Cambodia's Preah Sinahouk province aiming to promote public awareness towards sporting, enhancing cross-border relationships, and also to promote the tourism industry.

Source: The Southeast Asia Weekly, September 4-10, 2011, Vol 5, Issue 36, Page 12

Cambodian Athletes Expect to Win Golden Medals from SEA Games

By Sok Lak

Sport Officials expressed their willingness to win more gold medals from upcoming 26^th Southeast Asia (SEA) Games this year in Indonesia while Cambodia athletes are trying hard form training before heading off to attend regional tournament. Cambodia athletes won only three golden medals from the last SEA Games in Laos, and this year Cambodia athletes will achieve more than previous time.

“I expected that Cambodia athletes will achieve more than three goal medals for the nation from SEA Games this year,” Vath Chamrouen, Secretary General of National Olympic Committee of Cambodia (NOCC) said during meeting with 20 sport federations within in the Kingdom.

He lectures participants about the strong support for athletes for the 26^th SEA Games on September 31. He added that Taekwondo, Tennis, Wrestling and Petanque are the potential sport fields for Kingdom, which hopes to get gold medals at the international tournaments. Moreover, Badminton, Volleyball, Golf, Judo, Kempo (original martial arts from Karate), Table tennis, Traditional boat racing, Athletic, International Boxing, Vovinam, Swimming, Gymnastics, Breach Volleyball are “the strategy sport which can have ability to achieve medals from competition this year.” 

In the encouragement for athletes to get more medals especially goal medals, the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport will hand over cash awards with US$ 6,000 to an athlete who wins goal medal, US$4,000 and US$2,000 respectively to an athlete who achieve silver and bronze medals. At the same time, Naga world Casino and Hotel also awarded US$3,000 for individual athletes who get a goal medal and US$5,000 to group who wins goal medal.

Angkor Beer also plans to sponsor individual athlete US$ 3,000 for goal medal and US$1,000 for silver medal, and also will award to the winning group with US$5,000 and US$2,000 for winning a goal and silver medal respectively.

Before leaving the country go to the SEA Games, Naga World also launch a party on November 6 to celebrate Cambodia athletes as encouragement for sport players to get more goal medals for Cambodia from 26^th SEA Games this year. NOCC plans to send 163 athlete including 28 females athletes and 67 delegated (4 female) from 20 federations to attend SEA Games this year. “National Olympic Committee of Cambodia has applied for the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport for 230 athletes and delegate to participate the SEA Games, but the ministry has not approval it yet,” Vath said.

Vath said: the 20 kinds of sport which are allow to attend the SEA Games are badminton, basketball, golf, Judo, kempo, table tennis, taekwondo, traditional boat, vovinam, wushu, swimming, athletic, international boxing, gymnastics, petanque, tennis, volleyball, breach volleyball, wrestling and football. The 26^th SEA Games will be held in two cities of Indonesia, Jakarta and Palembang from 11 to 22 November with eleven countries and more than 6,000 are estimated athletes to participate in this tournament.

Source: The Southeast Asia Weekly, September 4-10, 2011, Vol 5, Issue 36, Page 12    

Cambodia to Set up Legislation of Port Act

By Sok Lak

Ministry of Transport and Public Works in cooperation with JICA of Japan will conduct the consolation workshop on legislation of port act this week. Cambodia and Japan work on project for establishment of national port policy in the country and that project agreed in 2008. “The goals of the project are to contribute to capacity development for Cambodian officials, to propose the draft national port policy, and also develop the framework on collection of port statistics and to prepare a draft of port law and related regulations including a road map for enactment,” the statement from JICA said.

Currently, Cambodia strengthens capacity of ports which is contribution to the economic growth of country. The coastal area of the Kingdom of Cambodia has the most potential among the three economics poles, Phnom Penh, Siem Reap province and Sihanoukville province, which heavily contributes to the national economic development. Through the important of coastal area, the Royal Government of Cambodia plans to strengthen competiveness the Sihanoukville Port to be an important international seaport and play important role to promote national economic and trade development in Cambodia.

Speaking at the Steering Committee Meeting for the Project for the Study on Strengthening Competitiveness of Development of Sihanoukvill Port recently, H.E. Tram Iv Tek, Minister of Ministry of Public Works and Transport, said that government planned to strengthen competitiveness and development of Sihanoukville Port to be an important international port and important role in developing economy. He stressed: Sihanoukville Port is the only international deep sea port in Cambodia. “It is expected to exceed its container handling capacity limit in the year of 2015.” Along with the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) and industrial development being promoted in the vicinity of the port area, the port is expected to function as a logistic base to support those industrial developments. Through the key object project, formulating a strategy for strengthening the competiveness of Sihanoukville port is important for the middle term of target year of 2020 and strategic master plan for development of Sihanoukville port and Phnom Penh port for the purpose of complement rather than competiveness among two ports.

“The new master plan needs to be formulated to cope with the changes of environments in international logistics as in international socio-economy.” He stated that improve port services, traffic congestion, and management for the purpose for the reducing services cost in comparative to the service cost of other port of the neighboring countries.

Suzuki Yasujiro, Chief Representative of JICA Cambodia, said that the Sihanoukville port plays a key role in the maritime transport of Cambodia and handles most cargo carried by large vessels and container ships. Through Cambodia economy has grown, the container is increasing and a news demand for such bulk cargo as coal, agriculture products woodchips is emerging, also the current situation of rapid change in the neighboring countries such as the Cai Mep, Thi Vai international ports in Viet Name have started its operation, it is necessary for Sihanoukville port to establish the competitive maritime transportation services based on reliable and effective international transport system in line with national port policy.

“To achieve high competitiveness against international ports in the neighboring countries and attractive services for shipping line companies, not only hard infrastructure but also soft aspects such as port management and administration should be strengthened.”

Under the assistant and technical cooperation of JICA with the Ministry of Public Works and Transport and Sihanoukville Port in February 2011, the project had been commenced in July 2011 and expected to be completed in June 2012. The government of Japan provides $US75 of loans to expand and implement programs in order to improve container handling capacity. The expansion project is estimated to start construction at the end of this year on 15 hectares of land and estimated to finish in 2014.

Products transported through the Sihanoukvile Autonomous Port grew 8.6 percent from 103,594 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in the first six month of 2010 to 112,594 percent in the same period in 2011. Most of the products transported through that port are vehicles, machinery, constructions materials, garment products, rice, coal and vehicles. As reported, Cambodia’s rice exports significantly increased through Phnom Penh Autonomous Port in the first seven months of this year at an average of 1,000 tons of rice per week. As an estimate, 8,000 tons of rice will export to European markets this August. Meanwhile, products transported through Phnom Penh Autonomous Port increase 31 present during the first seven months of 2011, Hei Bavy, Director General of Phnom Penh Autonomous Port said.

According to date from the Port, the volume of product increased from 33,374 TEUs in the first seven months of 2010 to 43,859 TEUs during the same period. This port expects 20 percent growth of product transportation through Phnom Penh Autonomous Port since last year, the amount was only 62,256 TEUs, he mentioned. The main products, which lead the volume transportation at Phnom Penh Autonomous Port growth, are agriculture product, and raw material for producing cloth.

Source: The Southeast Asia Weekly, August 28-September 3, 2011, Vol. 5, Issue 35, Page 7

Japan Fund will help over 8,000 Cambodian Families

By Sok Lak

A total US$54 million of loan and grant agreements on August 23^rd signed by Deputy Prime Minister Keat Chhon, Minister of Economy and Finance and Suzuki Yasujiro, Chief Reprehensive of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), following the exchange notes between the Royal Government of Cambodia and Japan which signed on August 15^th.

After signing ceremony, H.E. Keat Chhon, said that Japan is Cambodia’s largest aid donor. “Even though Japan faces many difficulties, but it still maintain its assistance to Cambodia which reflects the Japanese’s commitment to friendship and cooperation with Cambodia.

A loan agreement of US$53.3 million for West Tonle Sap Irrigation and Drainage Rehabilitation and Improvement Project is official development assistance (ODA) loan has 0.01 percent of annual interest rate with 40 years payment period and 10 years deferment period. The loan project will be used for the rehabilitation and construction of the irrigation in the targeted areas in West Tonle Sap region covering the province of Battambang, Pursat, and Kampong Chhang, Suzuki said. “This project is expected to contribute to the enhancement of agriculture income and living standard of farmer in these areas and the increase of rice production.”

“Japan will address the west Tonle Sap region covering 12,760 hectares of farmland irrigation with benefit to 8318 family live there,” H.E. Keat Chhon stressed.

This project also provide a stable supply of water for agriculture as well as establishing and strengthening Farmer Water User Communities and Groups, providing agricultural extension techniques to increase agricultural productivity and improving the livelihoods of farmers in the target areas. In the field of irrigation in Cambodia, JICA has provided assistance for irrigation facility rehabilitation projects in the past in the form of grants, and has also implemented technical cooperation projects with Technical Service Center of Ministry of Water Resource and Meteorology as the counterpart agency, improving the organizational capacity of the center and supporting the training of center personnel and irrigation engineers. In the field of agriculture, JICA have been supported the technical assistance aiming for the improvement of agriculture extension.

A grant agreement of US$0.7 million for the project for the Improvement of Educational Equipment of the Department of Geo-resources and Geotechnical Engineering of the Institute of Technology of Cambodia (ITC) will support the equipment provision to the Department of Geo-resources and Geotechnical Engineering of ITC aiming at the improvement of the quality of the education service of this leading university with more emphasis on practices and experiments for stronger practical skills of the graduated. “This grant project will allow Cambodia open Geo-resources and Geotechnical Engineering class which benefit to training for future development in Cambodia,” H.E. Keat Chhon said.

Mr. Suzuki, said that Japan is now considering the further engagement in the support to Cambodia for the development of human resource for industry along with the development priorities of the National Strategy Development Plan (NSDP) in promoting trade and investment, development of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and skills matching to the needs of the labor markets.

Source: The Southeast Asia Weekly, August 28-September 3, 2011, Vol. 5, Issue 35, Page 2

Rainbow Bridge officially opened

By Sok Lak

To develop the city to become a greatest city in all of the Southeast Asia, Phnom Penh Municipal cooperation with private company to try to develop Phnom Penh. Many buildings and development areas were developed and some areas continue to develop such as Diamond Island. Now, the third bridge “Rainbow Bridge” at Diamond Island officially on August 15 opened to public under witness from Phnom Penh Governor Kep Chuk Tema.

H.E. Kep Chuk Tema, said at the ceremony that building Phnom Penh for over 32 years has turned the city, which before was known as a ghost city without anything, to be a capital with many high buildings, bridges and roads, and it indeed indicates a real progress. “This rainbow bridge is another fruitful result stemming from development contribution by Oversees Cambodia Investment Corporation (OCIC).”

Okhna Pong Khiev Se, General Director of OCIC, said that the company struck a deal with Phnom Penh Capital Hall in 2006 and currently many infrastructures have been seen such as Pich (Diamond) Bridge and Hang (Swan) Bridge. The new rainbow bridge is made from concrete, 110m x 70m, spending US$3 Million.

At the same time, the company is constructing other twin bridges in front of Samdech Hun Sen Park. “In future, the island will have 5 bridges and about 50,000 people can live there.

 In 2012, the company plans to construct a 555-storey building, the second highest in Southeast Asia, H.E. Kep Chuk Tema said. Furthermore, the Capital Hall also gets benefits from the development and turns them to other achievements such as new Preah Monivong Bridge, Flyover at Khbal Thnol and Lork Song Hospital Traffic Light.

Source: The Southeast Asia Weekly, August 28-September 3, 2011, Vol. 5, Issue 35, Page 4

Cambodia Fight against Migrant Smuggling and Crimes

By Sok Lak

The Ministry of Interior in cooperation with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and Government of Canada organized a training course on August 25-26 to increase efforts to combat migrant smuggling and related crimes in Cambodia.

H.E. Chhou Buneang, Secretary of State of Ministry of Interior, said “the movement from one country to another country is increasing day to day. However, most of activities are illegally, Cambodia also face that kind of situation. “The fighting against human trafficking faces a lot of treatment, but we know the activities which move people from one place to another.”

She mentioned that nowadays a lot of people go to work aboard through border both legally and illegally. “They are most likely to face the dangers of trafficking for illegally workers.”

Currently, there are companies in Cambodia have been approved to send local labor forces to work at foreign countries legally, but these companies need to wait until foreign countries need workers to work there. Therefore, some people cannot wait till that time, so they go to work illegally.

H.E. Chhou Buneang also call on relevant law enforcement officers to prevent and combat trafficking of all phenomena especially border corridors.

Sjef Broekhaar, Senior Regional Immigration and Border Management Sepecialist of IOM Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, said: “the irregular migration takes various forms such as entering a country legally with genuine document and overstay or abuse their visa conditions and some irregular migrants decide to cross the borders illegally either on their own or with the assistance of a smuggler.” “As migration policies in destination countries become tougher, criminal networks are appearing to facilitate smuggling of migrants across state borders.

As Cambodia is bordered by Laos (541 km), Thailand (803 km) and Vietnam (1,228 km) with the southern border consists of a 443 km coastline along the Gulf of Thailand, the migrant smuggling is a relatively recent phenomenon in Cambodia, he added. He stressed that to response migrant smuggling, it needs cross-border technical cooperation targeting smugglers and smuggling routes, return and assistance to smuggled migrants and awareness-raising on the risks of irregular migration and improving labor migration management.

Source: The Southeast Asia Weekly, August 28-September 3, 2011, Vol. 5, Issue 35, Page 12