Cambodia Morning News For January 19

Hun Sen seeks to clarify remarks, pledging that election will take place ‘no matter what’
Prime Minister Hun Sen hit back yesterday at suggestions that he would consider postponing this year’s elections, saying they will go on as scheduled “no matter what happens” – an apparent effort to clarify his remarks in a speech the day before that an election cannot be held “in a chaotic country”.
— The Phnom Penh Post

Cambodia’s Hun Sen appoints son-in-law to senior police post
Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Sen has appointed his son-in-law as deputy national police chief, in a move apparently aimed at consolidating his power ahead of an election this year.
— Reuters

PM Hun Sen: Together to Improve Elderly’s Quality of Life (Video inside)
Prime Minister Hun Sen has officially launched the 2017-2030 National Ageing Policy for the purpose of improving welfare and living conditions of Cambodian ageing people.
— Fresh News (video)

Rubber exports jump as smugglers siphon off profits
The total amount of rubber exported by Cambodia surged 30 percent last year, but widespread rubber smuggling on the Vietnamese border crippled potential profits from the booming industry.
— The Phnom Penh Post

Cambodia: New centre for agricultural research to help expand markets
China-based Digital Agriculture Exchange, aiming specifically to up quality standards and make Cambodian produce more desirable abroad has revealed plans to build an agricultural research centre in the kingdom to improve production and packaging standards of local fruit and vegetables.
— Fresh Plaza

New Cambodia-Vietnam Market to Serve as ‘Model’ for Growing Trade Ties
A new market will open on the Cambodia-Vietnam border over the next year, according to commerce ministry officials.
— VOA

SECC warns against cryptocurrency trading
The Securities and Exchange Commission of Cambodia (SECC) has warned the public to be cautious and avoid speculating in cryptocurrency trading, noting that the market remains unregulated.
— The Phnom Penh Post

Cambodia’s Pi Pay Struggles To Catch On Outside Cambodia
With so many mobile payment apps out there as it is, it would be easy to ignore Pi Pay, the mobile payment app that’s becoming a big deal in Cambodia.
— Payment Week

Belt Road Capital invests $1.8M in Digital Classifieds Group
Belt Road Capital Management (BRCM) – a Mekong based private equity firm – announced yesterday it had invested $1.8 million into Digital Classifieds Group (DCG), the firm behind real estate website Realestate.com.kh.
— The Phnom Penh Post

Appreciating the best of Cambodia, and hoping for better
Cambodia’s tourism ministry likes to describe the country as the “kingdom of wonder.” As a resident, living and experiencing Cambodia daily, it is a slogan that resonates with more meaning than the ministry might suspect.
— Nikkei Asian Review

PNG bank enters Kingdom
Papa New Guinea-based Bank of South Pacific (BSP) has partnered with Thailand’s RMA Group in order to expand its offering of financing options for Cambodians in rural areas.
— The Phnom Penh Post

Angkor Gold in second exploratory phase
Angkor Gold Corp is entering its second phase of exploration in Ratanakiri province after its first round showed promising indications of copper and silver deposits.
— The Phnom Penh Post

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