Cambodia Morning News For January 17

Cambodia government to reduce foreign debt
The Cambodian government plans to reduce its foreign debt and raise capital through the issuance of bonds, a representative of the Ministry of Economy and Finance has unveiled.
— Bangkok Post

Over 420,000 Vehicles Registered in 2017
In 2017, Ministry of Public Works and Transport had registered 423,652 vehicles, of which 364,343 are motorcycles and 59,309 are cars, according to Sun Chanthol, Minister of Public Works and Transport.
— Fresh News

Cambodia Issues Health Warning Over Bird Flu Outbreak in Phnom Penh
Officials were quick to clarify that no humans had been found to have been infected by the H1N1 virus.
— VOA

Cambodia on a ‘downward trend’, according to Freedom House
The American NGO Freedom House has singled out Cambodia as being on a “downward trend” in terms of liberties, but despite an ongoing political crackdown that has drawn international condemnation, Cambodia’s 2017 score by the organisation remained almost unchanged from last year.
— The Phnom Penh Post

Information Minister: 2,000 Journalists to Attend 2nd Meeting With PM Hun Sen
Approximately 2,000 journalists will participate in the second meeting with Prime Minister Hun Sen on January 21, 2018, making the event even bigger than last year, according to Minister of Information, Khieu Kanharith.
— Fresh News

Former Cambodia Opposition Leader Forms New ‘Movement’ for Fair Elections
Cambodia’s former opposition leader, Sam Rainsy, has said he is forming a “movement” to seek free and fair elections in Cambodia.
— VOA

Vietnamese-funded market on border begins construction
Construction began yesterday on a $2 million Vietnamese-funded market located in Tbong Khmum province’s Memot district, about 1 kilometre from the nearest border crossing between Cambodia and Vietnam.
— The Phnom Penh Post

Cambodia Has Its Own Mobile Payment App, But Will It Catch On Beyond Phnom Penh?
Pi Pay, although little-known outside of its native Cambodia, has scaled quickly to become a ubiquitous digital wallet solution and the first e-commerce app to gain real traction in a city where many residents still refuse to trust credit cards and banks.
— Forbes

Chinese demand drives construction boom in Cambodia
The value of construction projects in Cambodia rose more than 22 percent to $6.4 billion in 2017 from the previous year, according to official figures released on Tuesday that showed the impact of a boom driven by Chinese investors.
— Reuters

Foreign minister lashes out at US over Khmer Rouge ‘support’
Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn on Sunday criticised the United States government for allegedly failing to recognise Khmer Rouge-perpetrated genocide until recently, accusing the US of suppressing criticism of the Pol Pot regime.
— The Phnom Penh Post

Mining exploration set for region home to endangered river dolphins
Australian mining firm Medusa Mining has announced plans to begin exploration for gold, copper and oil in Kratie province’s Prek Kampi commune, about 35 kilometres west of a stretch of the Mekong River that is home to endangered river dolphins.
— The Phnom Penh Post

Feature photo Asian Development Bank

Find our previous morning news feature photos in the AEC News Today Morning News Feature Photos gallery where you will find a pictorial display of daily life throughout the Asean Economic Community (AEC).

Cambodia morning news by AEC News Today is your one stop source for Cambodia news on matters of governance and policies affecting Asean business communities. It is published M-F by AEC News Today: Governance, not government; policies not politics.