Cambodia Morning News For July 5

Cambodia restores railway link to Thailand after 45 years
Cambodia on Wednesday (Jul 4) reopened the final stretch of a railway running from the capital Phnom Penh to the border with neighbouring Thailand, the first time the line has been operational in 45 years.
— Channel NewsAsia

Commerce Minister turns to Japan to improve local products
The Ministry of Commerce is seeking Japan’s help to improve products manufactured by small and medium enterprises in the Kingdom and bring them up to Japanese standards of quality.
— Khmer Times

Could a shrub be the solution to Cambodia’s plastic bag pandemic?
On average, Cambodians use five to ten plastic bags every day, contributing to a serious waste problem in the country. Kai Kuramoto, founder of Cleanbodia, is attempting to change that by introducing an alternative solution: a biodegradable bag made from cassava starch
— Southeast Asia Globe

Pursat-Phnom Penh 166-km Railway Resumes
The 166-kilometer stretch of railway that connects Pursat to Phnom Penh has resumed following many years of absence.
— Fresh News

Facility for rice opens in Battambang
Cambodia’s first $15 million rice storage and drying facility made its official debut on Tuesday, while three other facilities are set to open later this week, according to insiders.
— The Phnom Penh Post

PM Hun Sen Urges Phnom Penh Governor to Expand Public Bus for Garment Workers (Video inside)
Addressing to 27,427 workers from 18 factories in Kandal province on Wednesday, Prime Minister Hun Sen urged the Governor of Phnom Penh Khuong Sreng to study and expand the public bus service to other areas in order to provide garment workers wider access to free public bus.
— Fresh News (video)

Cambodia-China mark 60 years of diplomatic ties
Cambodia and China recently marked 60 years of the establishment of diplomatic relations with a grand gala dinner. Presiding over the event were Cambodian Prime Minister, Hun Sen and Chinese ambassador to Cambodia, Xiong Bo.
— The Asean Post

China-Cambodia’s Environmental Cooperation Focuses on Water Air Land
Cambodia-China collaborated to better analyze quality of air, land, and water. The two sides signed three memorandums of understanding (MoU) with Cambodia, including (1) the Establishment of Cambodia-China Environmental Cooperation Center; (2) Cambodia-China Biodiversity Conservation Cooperation; and (3) Water Filter Project Aid.
— Fresh News

Amru Rice finishes rice storage facilities in Kampong Thom
Amru Rice, a leading local rice miller and exporter, yesterday inaugurated rice-storing facilities in Kampong Thom that were financed through a government-led lending scheme.
— Khmer Times

PM Praises China as Chinese Environment Minister Set to Visit Cambodia
Zhao’s visit comes after a visit to the country by Wei Fenghe, Chinese defense minister, where he signed off on some $100 million worth of military deals with Phnom Penh.
— VOA Cambodia

Crop insurance in the spotlight
To spread awareness of the importance of insuring crops and build trust for the product among Cambodian farmers, the German national development agency, known as GIZ, and insurance companies held yesterday the Kingdom’s first workshop on training crop insurance advisers.
— Khmer Times

PM denies development plans for lake in Ratanakkiri
Prime Minister Hun Sen on Tuesday denied that the government intends to allow private development around a lake in Ratanakkiri province, which is important to a biologically diverse ecosystem.
— The Phnom Penh Post

Unions Do Not Have to March to be Considered Free and Independent Unions: PM Hun Sen (Video inside)
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said that unions do not have to march to be considered free and independent unions, and those unions who took money from abroad should consider the well beings of other workers.
— Fresh News (video)

The effects of global politics on Cambodia and Asia-Pacific
Dr Satu Limaye is the director of the East-West Centre in Washington and is also a senior advisor at the CNA Corporation, a non-profit research and analysis group, where he focuses on Asian international relations. Dr Limaye spoke with May Titthara, executive editor of Khmer Times, about geopolitics and China’s global agenda.
— Khmer Times

Lodgis Acquires Two Historic Landmark Hotels in Cambodia
Lodgis Hospitality Holdings Pte. Ltd. (“Lodgis”), a leading fully integrated hospitality platform sponsored by Warburg Pincus and VinaCapital (the “Shareholders”), announced today that it has successfully completed the acquisition of two historic landmark hotels in Cambodia, the flagship Raffles Hotel Le Royal Phnom Penh (“Raffles Le Royal”) and the Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor Siem Reap (“Raffles Grand d’Angkor”) (collectively the “Raffles Hotels”).
— AEC News Today/ PR Newswire

Peace Brings Investors and Tourists to Cambodia: PM Hun Sen (Video inside)
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said that peace is the most significant factor for Cambodia’s current progress and that it builds trust for investors and tourists to invest and visit Cambodia.
— Fresh News (video)

Ticket revenue rises at Kingdom’s Angkor Park
The Angkor Archaeological Park saw a rise in visitor numbers and an 18 percent jump in revenue from ticket sales, generating $61.47 million for the first six months of the year.
— The Phnom Penh Post

CPP Sets No Tax on Farmers’ Land: PM Hun Sen (Video inside)
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said Wednesday morning that under the leadership of Cambodian People’s Party (CPP), the Royal Government has no policy to collect tax on farmers’ land, and that while the government pushes the industry sector, we also take care of agricultural sector, addressing to nearly 30,000 workers from 18 factories in Kandal Province’s Ang Snoul district.
— Fresh News (video)

Plans set for Silk Research Centre at RUPP
Cambodian silk producers will be soon able to get quality silkworms from a breeding centre at the Royal University of Phnom Penh (RUPP), thanks to a specialised team that is seeking to increase professionalism in the Kingdom’s silk industry.
— The Phnom Penh Post

Feature photo John Le Fevre

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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.