Cambodia News Gazette

The restoration of the southwest corner of the third terrace of Bayon Temple has successfully been completed after it started early this year, underlined yesterday the APSARA National Authority.
According to Ms. Meng Sovanlylin, Architect of the Department of Conservation of the Temples in the Angkor Park and Preventive Archaeology, in the restoration process, the team focused on strengthening the wall of the terrace and the soil quality of the foundation.
In this work, the team also used some new stones to replace the old ones that were damaged, she added.
The restoration of the third terrace is part of the four on-going repairs of Bayon Temple’s sections.
The others include the repair of the temple’s pillars, the filling of holes in its stones, and the installation of its steel frame.
The temple’s renovation is made possible through a technical collaboration between the APSARA National Authority and Japan-APSARA Safeguarding Angkor (JASA).

Source: Agence Kampuchea Press

Samdech Akka Moha Ponhea Chakrei Heng Samrin, President of the National Assembly (NA) of Cambodia, has extended his congratulations to H.E. Vương Đình Huệ, President of the 15th NA of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam on the country’s National Day.
“On behalf of the National Assembly of the Kingdom of Cambodia, I wish to extend my warmest congratulations and felicitations to Your Excellency and, through you, to the top leaders and the fraternal people of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam on the auspicious occasion of the 76th Anniversary of the National Day of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam (2nd September 1945-2021),” he wrote in a message dated Aug. 26.
“Your Excellency, in the distant past, Cambodia and Viet Nam, had gone through the same colonial rules and devastating wars. The two neighbours had overcome numerous obstacles and hardships in their struggles for independence. With indefatigable efforts and firm resolve, we have strived hard to rebuild our countries from scratch with the achievement of full peace and political stability, which is conducive to our own social and economic development towards more progress and prosperity,” he added.
The Cambodian NA president expressed his confidence that the longstanding ties of friendship, good neighbourliness and comprehensive cooperation between the two legislative bodies and countries, Cambodia and Viet Nam, will continue to deepen in the years ahead in the mutual interests of the two fraternal peoples.

Source: Agence Kampuchea Press

Three private television stations have entered into a joint investment agreement to establish a television alliance, a move to build digital TV broadcasting in Cambodia.
The agreement was signed here on Thursday by Lok Chumteav Hun Mana of Bayon Group, Neak Oknha Kith Meng of Royal Group and Oknha Ing Chhay Nguon of Hang Meas Group.
The Television Alliance is formed with an aim to create a state-private joint venture for management of ‘national digital television platform’, which will offer a multi-channel digital TV broadcast on DVB-T2 with a wide range of channels to promote information, education, knowledge, arts, entertainment, sports and entertainment.
The strategy of the Royal Government of Cambodia has set 2023 for the launch of the national digital television platform, requiring all private analog TV companies to use the national digital television platform service and continue to broadcast both analog and digital systems.
Before the end of 2025, the analog broadcasting in Cambodia is planned to be switched off.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Lok Chumteav Hun Mana welcomed the collaboration, stressing that it will contribute to supporting the Royal Government to achieve its digital broadcasting goal.
For his part, Neak Oknha Kith Meng said that it will contribute to the development of Cambodia in the field of broadcast to the full digital system and in accordance with the policy of the Royal Government to achieve Cambodia’s digital social economy in line with the fourth generation of digital technology industry.

Source: Agence Kampuchea Press

As part of its e-commerce acceleration programme financed by the Government of Australia, the UN Development Programme (UNDP) in partnership with the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications (MPTC) recently launched a coalition called #StrongerWithDigital.
According to a press release from UNDP, the objective is to bridge the knowledge and skills gaps for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) who have a basic online presence, but have not yet been able to convert their online operations to respond to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The coalition has adopted a two-pronged approach to increase digital commerce activities among consumers and MSMEs by utilising a multimedia awareness campaign and a targeted training programme. The multimedia awareness campaign aims to reach 3,100,000 consumers and 100,000 MSMEs to encourage an increase in buying and selling through e-commerce and other digital platforms. The coalition’s training programme will further target 1,000 MSMEs to provide them with the needed skills to shift from offline to online commerce, and to successfully sell online.
Executed by The Idea Consultancy, the coalition is comprised of fintech and e-commerce platforms such as ABA, NHAM24, BLOC, TADA, GlobeSO, MyPhsar, Khmum and TING!. One of the milestones will take place from Sept. 17-19 with The Grand Online Shopping Festival, which is a first of its kind three-day online and multi-platform shopping festival in Cambodia. The festival will provide an unprecedented opportunity for both vendors and customers to promote and access deals and a range of products from wherever they are located across the country.
The MPTC has strongly supported the initiative. The ministry will continue to support the MSMEs through information and collateral to enable them to digitalise their businesses, and sell online legally and successfully through the coalition. “In this regard, we are aligned with the UNDP and the Government of Australia in their analysis and approach to the issue of digital adoption, starting with our small business owners. One of MPTC’s many roles in the government is to govern and promote connectivity and the digital transformation of Cambodia, which will continue to contribute to developing the methodology and support functions of the programme. This will move forward the agenda of the #StrongerWithDigital coalition by expanding stakeholders to include government officers, and supporting and aligning the direction according to our strategy,” said H.E. Chea Vandeth, Minister of Post and Telecommunications.
“Cambodia’s digital transformation in response to COVID-19 has been rapid. However, not all businesses are equipped to move online – including many micro and small businesses which are the backbone of Cambodia’s economy. Australia is pleased to contribute to building a more inclusive and resilient digital economy by helping businesses acquire these skills” said Australian Ambassador H.E. Pablo Kang.
“In collaboration with the Government of Australia, UNDP has initiated this digital coalition in support of the Royal Government of Cambodia’s digital economy transformation, which is expected to contribute to building a robust economy amidst and post the COVID-19 pandemic. It is encouraging to see the strong support from our strategic partners, including the Government of Australia, the Ministry of Education, the MPTC, the Cambodia Digital Tech Association, the Cambodia Women Entrepreneurs Association, the Federation of Associations for Small and Medium Enterprises of Cambodia, Volunteer Nation, and private sector actors. It is even more encouraging to have the MPTC taking the lead and ownership of the coalition from here on,” said Ms. Sonali Dayaratne, Officer-in-Charge at UNDP Cambodia.

Source: Agence Kampuchea Press