Day: January 11, 2023

Two Cambodians, Venerable San Sochea and Neak Oknha Quach Mengly are going to meet with Pope Francis, Head of the Catholic Church, the bishop of Rome and sovereign of the Vatican City State.

They will meet Pope Francis and various Cardinals who are interested to learn more about the commitment of Cambodian Buddhist leaders for the environment.

The meeting scheduled for Jan. 17-22 was intended to promote religious leadership and cooperation for social good.

His Majesty the late King-Father, Samdech Preah Norodom Sihanouk, was the first Cambodian dignitary to meet with the Pope at Vatican in 1950.

After that, Samdech Preah Maha Ghosananda visited the Pope in 1986 to discuss post-civil war peace in Cambodia.

Source: Agency Kampuchea Press

Kampong Thom province will host the 7th River Festival in March 2023 at Stung Sen river in Stung Sen city.

The update was shared following a recent meeting in the province between H.E. Thong Khon, Minister of Tourism and H.E. Nguon Rattanak, Governor of Kampong Thom province.

Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen and the First Lady Samdech Kittiprittpundit Bun Rany Hun Sen will preside over the opening of the River Festival.

As planned, the event will take place from Mar. 8 to 12, according to H.E. Thong Khon who called on a collective effort of the local authorities to successfully organise the event.

The event will feature local products exhibition, cultural and sports activities and beyond, he added.

River Festival is organised every year on a rotation basis by the riparian provinces, and the first round was organised in Kratie in 2015, followed by the second in Stung Treng, the third in Kampong Cham and Thbong Khmum, the fourth in Kandal, the fifth in Kampong Chhnang, and the sixth in Battambang.

Source: Agency Kampuchea Press

The National Bank of Cambodia (NBC) has forecast the country’s economic growth of around 6 percent in 2023, driven by growth in the garment, non-garment manufacturing and tourism sectors.

In the Macroeconomic and Banking Sector Development in 2022 and Outlook for 2023 released on Jan. 11, the National Bank of Cambodia said that the robust growth will continue to reach around 6 percent in 2023, despite the global uncertainty.

The increase will be supported by the expectations of a 6.5 percent growth in the garment sector and a 14.3 percent increase in non-garment manufacturing products, the report read.

The tourism sector is expected to grow by 18.5 percent due to the increase in domestic tourists and the rapid growth of foreign arrivals, with the growing number of flights to Cambodia and the increase in the number of Chinese tourists after the Chinese government eased travel restrictions, stated the report.

The agricultural sector is projected to grow better than 2022 at 1.1 percent, contributing to the entry into force of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) Agreement and the bilateral free trade agreements and the removal of tariffs on Cambodia’s rice imports to the European market, NBC said.

The construction and real estate sectors, however, are expected to continue to grow slowly at 1.7 percent and 1.2 percent, respectively, supported by growing domestic demand, focusing on the affordable real estate market.

The recovery of the domestic economy is expected to support an increase in international reserves, which guarantee seven months of imports of goods and services for the next period due to increased inflows of foreign direct investment, exports, tourism and other sources.

Source: Agency Kampuchea Press

The International Co-operation Review Group of the Asia/Pacific Joint Group (ICRG-JG) has spoken highly of Cambodia’s commitment and encouraged the Kingdom to take the lead in green financing and green development.

The appreciation and encouragement were made by a visiting delegation of ICRG-JG while paying a courtesy call on Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen here at the Peace Palace this morning, according to H.E. Eang Sophalleth, Personal Assistant to the Premier.

The delegation also highly valued the successful measures taken by the Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC) in preventing and containing the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to the country’s reopening and resumption of all socio-economic activities.

For his part, Samdech Techo Hun Sen extended warm welcome to the delegation’s visit and briefed them on the RGC’s anti-COVID strategies.

The Premier also informed the ICRG-JG delegation of the “ASEAN Green Deal” proposed by Cambodia in recent ASEAN Summits.

The “ASEAN Green Deal”, covering various fields including infrastructure, energy, manufacturing, agriculture, transport, environment and so on, will re-orient ASEAN toward a green future that is sustainable and economically competitive.

Source: Agency Kampuchea Press

The prime ministers of Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam will discuss developments, opportunities and solutions to “unprecedented challenges” facing the Mekong River in April, the Mekong River Commission (MRC) says.

In a statement released in Vientiane Tuesday the MRC Secretariat said the summit of leaders and an international conference in the Lao capital from April 2 to 5 would “deliberate the fate of the Mekong River Basin.”

The summit is also expected to be attended by high-level representatives of China and Myanmar, the MRC’s dialogue partners.

“The Mekong is undergoing tremendous transformations,” said Dr. Anoulak Kittikhoun, the secretariat’s Chief Executive.

“We need to innovate constantly — in policy, approach and technology — to make the management and development of the Mekong River Basin more responsible and sustainable,” Dr. Anoulak said.

The statement said about 400 people were expected to attend the international conference on innovation and cooperation for a water-secure and sustainable Mekong on April 2 and 3.

“This global event will cover reflections on critical developments, prospects, and issues in managing the Mekong River Basin,” it said.

Panel sessions are expected to focus on how technology and cooperation are transforming transboundary water management, and how responsible financing and gender inclusiveness are affecting water resource management.

Recommendations will be conveyed to the summit where leaders are expected to determine the “future and strategic direction” of the Mekong, the statement said.

Source: Agency Kampuchea Press