Cambodia Morning News For January 3

Cambodia Threatens to Arrest Jailed Opposition Chief’s Daughter
Cambodia’s government on Tuesday threatened to arrest the daughter of jailed opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) chief Kem Sokha if she returns to the country and disband NGOs calling for the release of “political prisoners.”
— Radio Free Asia

Cambodia to Study Amending Constitution Amid Political Crisis
A letter from Sar Kheng, the interior minister, circulated this week showed the government had formed a working group staffed by senior ruling party officials.
— VOA

NBC disavows Cambodia-based digital currency
The central bank has threatened legal action after a Japanese tech firm announced the development of a Cambodia-based cryptocurrency with the claim that the National Bank of Cambodia (NBC) was backing the new digital tender.
— The Phnom Penh Post

Cambodia Exports 630,000 Tons of Rice Worldwide
By 2017, Cambodia exports more than 630,000 tons of rice, an increase of 17% compared to 2016.
— Fresh News

New worker benefits take effect
A slew of new health and maternity benefits for workers took effect at the stroke of midnight yesterday in a dramatic expansion of the country’s social security framework, even as labour advocates and business experts raised concerns about cost and quality.
— The Phnom Penh Post

Detained opposition leader calls for free and fair elections
Detained Cambodian opposition leader Kem Sokha, jailed by the government for alleged treason, called Monday for free and fair elections in his New Year’s message.
— Nikkei Asian Review

GDP announces policies
Seemingly sounding the 2018 election bugle, the nascent Grassroots Democracy Party (GDP) yesterday released five major policy initiatives it will implement if it manages the herculean task of winning against the incumbent Cambodian People’s Party.
— The Phnom Penh Post

Over 14 New Companies and Factories to Be Established in Cambodia
In December 2017, the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC) issued a certificate of registration for 14 new companies and factories in Cambodia with a capital of over $100 million, creating more than 20,000 jobs.
— Fresh News

Fishermen see fruitful prahok season, almost doubling last year’s catch
Fishermen on the Tonle Sap river are smelling success: The season’s first harvest of the fish now being crushed into the famously pungent prahok has hauled in a bounty set to almost double last year’s catch.
— The Phnom Penh Post

Why the West was doomed to fail in Cambodia
Backed by China, Prime Minister Hun Sen has entered 2018 triumphant from his decades-long struggle with the West – and set the stage for his succession.
— Southeast Asia Globe

China order lifts rice imports for 2017
Cambodian rice exports in 2017 increased 17 percent by volume compared to the year before, with exporters pushing to fill orders under China’s expanded import quota while shipments to European markets remained steady, according to Agriculture Ministry figures.
— The Phnom Penh Post

Many tuk-tuk drivers passing on the apps disrupting their industry, citing low pay and long hours
As international giants Grab and Uber battle it out in Phnom Penh’s crowded ride-hailing industry, local apps have begun to expand their platforms by finally incorporating traditional Khmer tuk-tuks as options for rides.
— The Phnom Penh Post

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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.