Cambodia Morning News For November 13

Register now or miss out on tax breaks, ministry says
Government officials and private sector leaders on Friday reiterated their calls for all small and medium-sized enterprises to join the regulatory fold.
— Khmer Times

Rising cement production
Four licensed cement factories in the Kingdom produced 3.6 million tonnes for local consumption in the first nine months of the year. Another two will activate their production lines by the end of the year, said the Ministry of Industry and Handicraft.
— Phnom Penh Post

New pepper federation set to promote sector
The government has formed a new federation for the country’s pepper industry to enhance the market and solve challenges in the sector, as the cash crop is currently facing depressed prices.
— Phnom Penh Post

Banana farm inspections to ease SPS compliance worries
In an effort to ensure compliance with sanitary and phyto-sanitary standards in the Chinese market, the Ministry of Agriculture will send teams to registered banana farms to conduct on-site checks.
— Khmer Times

Phnom Penh Precast Plants Co., Ltd. Achieves Quality Management Systems Registration to ISO 9001
Phnom Penh Precast Plants, one of the leading suppliers of pre-stressed spun concrete transmission poles, reinforced concrete pipes, and PC/PHC concrete spun piles has now been awarded ISO 9001:2015 for its Quality Management System since September of this year.
— Fresh News

High-stakes wager underlines Cambodia’s dysfunction
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen will step down after 34 years in power, or his main political rival for almost two decades, Sam Rainsy, will return to the country from exile to face imprisonment.
— Asia Times

Cambodia sets world record for longest dragon boat
An 87.3-metre-long boat of Khmer people in Cambodia has become the world’s longest dragon boat, breaking the previous record held by China.
— VietnamPlus

Modern slavery’s invisible whip
On 9 November, Cambodia celebrated its Independence Day. But while most Cambodians were celebrating their freedom from the control of the French Protectorate of Cambodia, thousands of other unfortunate Cambodians are still working in brick kilns throughout the country. “Freedom” for these people is just an empty promise.
— The Asean Post

Insurance premiums expand by 28 pct
Gross premiums in the rapidly growing insurance sector rose by 28 percent during the first nine months of the year, reaching $143 million, although the industry remains plagued by a lack of skills and qualifications, experts said.
— Khmer Times

Kingdom oil development contract awarded to Keppel
Singapore-based KrisEnergy, which operates Cambodia’s offshore Block A, has awarded a $21.7 million contract to Keppel Shipyard Ltd for the Kingdom’s oil development, its press release issued on Friday said.
— Phnom Penh Post

Angkor Wat 101: Everything You Need to Know About Visiting What Was Once the World’s Biggest Civilization
If you just follow the crowds, you may end up annoyed and frustrated. Our need-to-know guide will help you make the most of your Angkor experience.
— Fodors

Renewable energy projects raise awareness
An Australian organisation running renewable energy projects in five provinces in collaboration with the Energy and Environment ministries plans to expand them to other provinces.
— Khmer Times

Japanese teen funds library for Cambodia school out of her pocket
Instead of spending the gift money she received each New Year’s and on entering school, Miyu Ozawa saved it for her future.
— Asahi

Manulife Cambodia expands its presence with Preah Sihanouk branch opening
Preah Sihanouk Province, Cambodia – Manulife Cambodia, the first international life insurance company in the Kingdom, opened its flagship branch yesterday, November 12, 2018 in Preah Sihanouk, a vibrant and booming city with the country’s largest international port.
— Khmer Times

PM promises lasting peace
Prime Minister Hun Sen vowed on Friday to oppose foreign countries’ interference in Cambodia’s internal affairs and to thwart any attempts to topple the government through a “colour revolution” that could cause social chaos in the Kingdom.
— Phnom Penh Post

Capital welcomes launch of new Japanese high-end hotel
Hotel Emion Phnom Penh, a 4-star hotel operated by Japan-based Starts Group, was officially launched last week, beefing-up Japanese investment in the tourism sector.
— Khmer Times

How climate change drives debt bondage in Cambodia’s booming brick industry
As the Phnom Penh construction boom begins to permeate secondary cities, demand for locally produced clay bricks has seen full kilns selling out at unprecedented rates.
— Southeast Asia Globe

PPCBank diversifies loan portfolio to SMEs
PPCBank (Phnom Penh Commercial Bank) has seen noticeable business expansion in the two years since it was purchased by a joint venture between South Korea’s JB Financial Group Co Ltd and Apro Service Group Co Ltd.
— Phnom Penh Post

EU project boosts farmers’ skills in six provinces
The European Union supported farmers in six provinces to promote sustainable development in agriculture, livestock production and aquaculture, as well as to enhance productivity, as part of a three-year project which ended two months ago.
— Khmer Times

Pregnant women among 15 arrested for alleged surrogacy in Cambodia
Fifteen people have been arrested in Cambodia for allegedly taking part in illegal surrogacy, the Kingdom’s anti-trafficking authority says.
— ABC

Union leaders urged to admit faults to gain legal assistance
The Labour Ministry is complying with an order issued by Prime Minister Hun Sen for ministries to review court cases of union leaders and advocate for them to be sped up or dropped, an official said yesterday.
— Khmer Times

Feature photo Pulitzer Center/ Kounila Keo

This week’s Cambodia morning news feature photo acknowledges World Diabetes Day, November 14.

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.