Cambodia Morning News For March 23

Forty-five countries urge Cambodia to conduct free vote, release opposition leader
Forty-five countries called on Cambodia on Wednesday to reinstate the main opposition party, release its jailed leader and ensure a July general election is free and fair.
— Business Insider

Thailand, Cambodia agree to heighten relations
The Thai-Cambodian General Border Committee (GBC) has commended the two countries’ close relations and agreed to avoid border trespass.
— News Today (video)

Virtual reality tech catching the eyes of local businesses
Giant pink jellyfish float within arm’s reach as schools of migrating fish dart past. Suddenly, a giant blue whale – mouth agape and teeming with krill – surges into view.
— The Phnom Penh Post

Phnom Penh, Bangkok agree to exchange fugitives
After Bangkok deported a prominent Cambodian activist, Phnom Penh has agreed to help Thailand in hunting for Thai fugitives.
— Prachatai English

Program aimed at speeding up export launched
The Commerce Ministry officially launched a program yesterday giving the authority to issue certificate of origin licences to four provinces along the Thai border, potentially expediting the export process for agricultural businesses in the region.
— The Phnom Penh Post

PM welcomes Cambodian DPM on visit to Thailand
The Prime Minister received Cambodia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, discussing cooperation for the peace and happiness of the people of both countries.
— News Today (video)

EU Funds Nearly $7 Million to ECCC for 2018 and 2019
The European Union (EU) has pledged to provide nearly $7 million on salaries to national and international officials of the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (ECCC) during the period of 2018 and 2019, according to Dim Sovannarom, National Election Committee’s spokesman and former ECCC’s head of spokesman.
— Fresh News

Cambodian duo’s Eco-Plastic takes second in Bhutan startup challenge
A pair of female Cambodian entrepreneurs placed second in a regional business competition on Saturday, beating out university teams from six countries with their startup idea – called Eco-Plastic – that could utilise Cambodia’s plastic waste to pave cheaper, more durable roads.
— The Phnom Penh Post

Cambodia Rejects Appeal to UN on Rights Record
Cambodia on Thursday rejected a 45-nation submission to the U.N. Human Rights Council demanding that Phnom Penh reinstate the country’s now-dissolved main political opposition party ahead of national elections in July, calling the document “illegitimate” and politically motivated.
— Radio Free Asia

Hun Sen, Cambodia’s ruler, has been in power too long
A COUNTRY boy, Hun Sen gets up early and works hard. He is said to spend hours every morning on his treadmill, to counter the ravages of his earlier years as a field commander and chain-smoker.
— Economist

Cambodia’s Human Rights Face Pressure as Companies Reconsider Sourcing There
Cambodia’s labor and human rights controversies are seeing increased scrutiny from U.S. industry and could threaten its growth as a key apparel and footwear supplier.
— Sourcing Journal Online

Ministry announces yearly ICT prize of $27K
The Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications announced the opening of the fourth annual ICT Awards on Wednesday, calling for organisations to pitch products and vie for prizes worth $27,000.
— The Phnom Penh Post

Over 7k Tourists Visit Angkor Wat during the Equinox Day
Officials of the Siem Reap Provincial Tourism Department informed that Angkor Wat welcomed approximately 7,500 tourists during the equinox on Thursday.
— Fresh News

Cambodia, states clash at UN session
Cambodia traded shots with the international community in a heated exchange at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on Thursday evening, with states condemning the Kingdom’s ongoing crackdown on the political opposition and civil society, and an increasingly agitated Cambodia accusing member states of “slander” and seeking to rig this year’s national election.
— The Phnom Penh Post

Cambodia Ranks the Fifth in ASEAN to Provide High Salary to Officials (Video inside)
Addressing to 1,630 teaching graduates in Phnom Penh on Thursday, Prime Minister Hun Sen said that Cambodia stands the fifth among the 10 ASEAN Member States to provide salary to government officials and armed forces, which is an effort from public financial reform.
— Fresh News

Cambodian Peacekeepers in Mali Attacked by Unidentified Group
Cambodian peacekeepers’ camps in Kidal, Mali was attacked by an unidentified group on Thursday, according to Defense Ministry spokesman Chum Socheat.
— Fresh News

Feature photo Maite Elorza

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.