Day: December 6, 2022

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Cambodia Suggests to Host ASEAN Digital Engineer Workshop Next Year

Cambodia has sought support from the ASEAN Federation of Engineering Organisations (AFEO) to host an ASEAN Digital Engineer Workshop in March 2023.
The initiative was proposed by H.E. Ith Samheng, Cambodian Minister of Labour and Vocational Training while receiving a courtesy visit from an AFEO delegation in Phnom Penh this morning, on the sidelines of the 40th Conference of AFEO (CAFEO-40).
The AFEO delegation voiced their support for the initiative on the organisation of the workshop aiming to better share experience and information.
Besides, H.E. Minister commended the AFEO for its contribution to the development of human resources, especially in the field of engineering. The AFEO has also contributed to setting forth a number of new strategies to respond to the rapid technological and socio-economic developments, he added.
H.E. Ith Samheng also wanted to see the AFEO play a more important role in contributing to the development of the engineering sector and the number of engineers of all ASEAN countries increase.
Cambodia is hosting the 40th Conference of the ASEAN Federation of Engineering Organisation at Sokha Phnom Penh Hotel from Dec. 5 to 8 under the theme “The Changing Roles of Engineers in Industry 4.0 Era”.

Source: Agency Kampuchea Press

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Some 270 Cambodian Peacekeepers Dispatched to Mali

Cambodia last night sent a total of 273 blue beret troops, including 34 women, to replace their counterparts who have ended their one-year peacekeeping mission in the Republic of Mali.
Of them, 129 are from the Airfield Engineer Unit and 144 others from the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit.
They were seen off at Phnom Penh International Airport by H.E. Gen. Sem Sovanny, Director General of the National Centre for Peacekeeping Forces, Mines and Explosive Remnants of War Clearance (NPMEC).
Speaking on the occasion, H.E. Gen. Sem Sovanny said Cambodia has become one of the leading countries in sending its peacekeeping forces under the UN umbrella to assist countries affected by landmines and explosive remnants of war and to participate in the construction of infrastructure and airport maintenance.
Since 2006, Cambodia has sent 8,475 peacekeepers for 11 missions in nine countries: Sudan, South Sudan, Chad, the Central African Republic, Cyprus, Lebanon, Mali, Syria, and Yemen.
Currently, some 800 Cambodian peacekeepers have been fulfilling their missions in South Sudan, Lebanon, Central African Republic, and Mali.

Source: Agency Kampuchea Press

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U.S. Companies Interested in Investment in Cambodia’s Agricultural Sector

Large American companies are willing to invest directly in Cambodia, particularly in the export of Cambodian agricultural products to American and international markets.
The intention was underlined by a delegation of American investors and businessmen in a meeting here yesterday with H.E. Pan Sorasak, Cambodian Minister of Commerce.
Cambodia is an important breadbasket for agricultural products contributing significantly to regional and global food security, the U.S. delegation noted, adding that potential U.S. markets for Cambodian agricultural products are the city of Lowell of Massachusetts, California, Seattle, Texas, etc.
For his part, H.E. Pan Sorasak welcomed the investment intention which, he stressed, will help promote agricultural production in Cambodia.
In order to facilitate the export to foreign markets and avoid the problem of phytosanitary standards and product standards, H.E. Minister encouraged the American investors and businessmen to invest directly in the processing and packaging of agricultural products in Cambodia instead of exporting fresh agricultural products without processing.
Potential Cambodian products for U.S. markets include cashew nuts, mangoes, coconuts, pepper, salt, fish sauce, soy sauce, eggs, fish, oranges, rice-paddy, plywood products, and so on.

Source: Agency Kampuchea Press

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ADB to Help Diversify Cambodia’s Economy, Boost Competitiveness

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a US$50 million policy-based loan under subprogramem 1 of the Trade and Competitiveness Program to support the Government of Cambodia to diversify the country’s economy and boost its global competitiveness, said the bank in a press release this morning.
The programme will support Cambodia’s post-COVID-19 economic recovery by supporting government reforms to enhance the investment and business environment; foster the growth of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs); and improve trade policy and trade facilitation, it pointed out.
“The COVID-19 pandemic severely impacted key sectors of the Cambodian economy like garment, footwear, and textile manufacturing, as well as tourism and construction,” said ADB Senior Economist Sion L. Morton. “The reforms under the programme will help Cambodia’s post-pandemic recovery prospects by paving the way for businesses to grow and migrate to higher value-added segments and adapt to the changing trade landscape.”
According to the press release, the Trade and Competitiveness Programme will help improve the overall business climate for both domestic and foreign firms. Under the first subprogram, the government has enacted a new investment law to codify legal protections for investors, including those investing in special economic zones, and upgraded an online business portal to enable the timely issuance of specialized digital business licenses.
The programme supports the development and diversification of MSMEs, improving their access to finance, and creating new markets for them. This includes simplifying the legal definition of MSMEs and rolling out a government-funded assistance package to provide grants and technical support to MSMEs in priority industries with high female participation.
The programme will also help Cambodia improve the implementation of regional trade agreements and strengthen coordination on trade facilitation to provide more opportunities for Cambodian businesses to export their goods. As part of these reforms under subprogramme 1, the government has set up the National Committee on Trade Facilitation and approved the National Road Map on Trade Facilitation.
ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty. Established in 1966, it is owned by 68 members—49 from the region.

Source: Agency Kampuchea Press

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Cambodia Emphasises Key Role of Female Peacekeepers

Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister H.E. Prak Sokhonn, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has highlighted the key role of women in peacekeeping operations under the UN umbrella.
“The significant role that women have played in the area of peacekeeping operations is certainly noteworthy. Since 2006, more than 8.000 Cambodian Blue berets served in 9 countries under the umbrella of the United Nations. Currently, 801 Cambodian troops, out of which 118 are women, are serving in South Sudan, Lebanon, Central African Republic and Mali,” he pointed out in his remarks at the Gender, Law and Armed Conflict: At the Intersection of International Humanitarian Law and the WPS Agenda Workshop, held at Raffles Hotel Le Royal in Phnom Penh this morning.
In terms of women peacekeepers, he underlined, Cambodia ranks number 2 in ASEAN and number 12 among all troops contributing countries.
The ASEAN Defense Ministers have expressly recognised women’s role when they adopted the Concept Paper on Enhancing Supporting Mechanism for ASEAN Women Peacekeepers, said H.E. Prak Sokhonn, adding that more recently, at the ADMM Plus that was held in Siem Reap, they have expressed their commitment to strengthen meaningful participation of women in peace and security cooperation, in line with the UN Security Council Resolution 1325.
“In my view, the approach we have taken on WPS is not limited nor restricted only to peace and conflict issues. We have engaged in other dimensions, the like of human security and sustainable development. We all can appreciate the devastating impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the job prospect and well-being of women and children even during peacetime. This is an integral aspect of security as well,” he said.
The Cambodian DPM also mentioned about the importance of the International Humanitarian Law (IHL), the body of law that governs armed conflicts. It is designed to protect combatants and civilians of all genders by restricting the means and methods of warfare. “If we can use the IHL to add legal force to the WPS protection pillar, I believe it would be a big step forward,” he said.
H.E. Prak Sokhonn thus called for discussions on WPS-IHL linkage and some possible approaches to synergise the two elements.

Source: Agency Kampuchea Press

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