By Mean Veasna, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
26 February 2008
China's Gainxu Taixu company and Cambodia International Economic Cooperation Investment announced the opening of the Sihanoukville Special Economic Zone Saturday, which could employ as many as 80,000 workers.
The investment was seen as a significant step to reduce widespread unemployment and boost economic growth in Cambodia.
"One hundred percent of the products from this special economic zone will have to be exported," Prime Minister Hun Sen said during an opening ceremony. "I am convinced that the Cambodian economy will rise, finally employing more than 80,000 workers, as China has a lot of investments. And with the export, our economic value is high and increasing."
Not all are optimistic Chinese investment will benefit Cambodia in the long run.
"What China cares most about is land, which can be rented or sold to investors from other countries, and such a thing is not going to help our economy," said opposition lawmaker Son Chhay. "Thus, the government has to encourage investment from other countries, with honest investment and that have developed industry, such as Japan or the US."
The investment was seen as a significant step to reduce widespread unemployment and boost economic growth in Cambodia.
"One hundred percent of the products from this special economic zone will have to be exported," Prime Minister Hun Sen said during an opening ceremony. "I am convinced that the Cambodian economy will rise, finally employing more than 80,000 workers, as China has a lot of investments. And with the export, our economic value is high and increasing."
Not all are optimistic Chinese investment will benefit Cambodia in the long run.
"What China cares most about is land, which can be rented or sold to investors from other countries, and such a thing is not going to help our economy," said opposition lawmaker Son Chhay. "Thus, the government has to encourage investment from other countries, with honest investment and that have developed industry, such as Japan or the US."
39 comments:
$3 Billion Coastal Economic Zone to Open is not going to help our economy? What are you on, Motherfucker (Heng Soy)?
Son Chhay wants to create a profile for himself, imitating Sam Rainsy with his anti-government rhetoric. Those people couldn't run the country if they won the election. 80,000 jobs, that's nothing, ha? Pretty dumb-ass, if you ask me.
Cambodians need to learn about the way communist china is conducting its business. China will bring its own people to the job site unless your country is developed western europe, USA that has strong adherent to rules of law and regulations and has national pride to uplift its citizen, then you can control the number of people that china will bring onto your soil.
Communist china always restricts the number of people and length of stay to work on any project at all in china. Even on its own investment, for instance, the multi-billions dollars refinery project in Nanhai. China was licensing technology yet it did not want many people to come to china only key specialists to train and use chinese to perform work.
On the other hand, chinese "gave" cambodia a paper mill in Chlong, kratie and a cement factory in Chakreiting, kampot in the early 1960. 70% of the workers in those facilities were chinese. Cambodians were employed only as low level laborers and helpers. China never wanted to transfer the "know how" to cambodians.
Moreover, the chinese staffs were congregated only in their housing and dormitories that are off site to cambodians civilians and authority.
So, the good news must be thought off from that perspective with the knowledge of current cambodian government propensity for snuffing out its own citizen's right and for having no rule of law.
It is absolutely impossible for cambodians to gain from such a venture even if the current government wanted it.
The only side that gain is communist china, reduce over population by 80,000 and increase a choke hold on cambodian livelyhood.
report is so negative, negative, negative; get a life, would ya, please!!!!
3 Billions dollars worth of economy will produce 100th thousands of jobs if not millions in Cambodia, not just 80,000.
This is 100% good news for the country. Only a racist idiots like 4:59 would see this progress as negative for Khmer people.
It seems that the opposition, or Sir Son Chhay doesn't care if our people live in abject poverty, because they know very well that hunred of thousands of our people are crossing the border everyday to look for job in neighbourg countries. Even they know that are being treated very badly and exploited like hell. They, Son Chhay and his friends, criticise China and count on Vietnam and Taiwan for job creation. How about Cambodia without friends like China or Korea? Son Chhay will have to rely only on Vietnam, and what so ever his new found friend want to do. In this case, please stay for ever in the opposition and stop dreaming of destroying our country. No politicians in the world, except Sir Son Chhay, that do not want jobs for their countrymen,. Only Son Chhay and some of his friends! Shame on you Son Chhay!
Please, Excellent Son Chhay, let people know if you speak for yourself of for the SRP. Do you want our people to be treated the way they are treated right now in neighbouring country, because you think that it's beter for them not having jobs at home? We understand now when Hun Sen talked repeatedly about small spy he sent to the opposition party. Go to hell "small spy"!!!
what i do not understand is that cambodia invite the world to make investment (well except khmer people aren't that thrilled or fond about the thai and viet investors), but only a few nations are willing, and i see korea, china and a couple others took the offer. but then again, the ones who did not invest seem to critic the most on korea and china investment in cambodia. i wonder why? what is their problem if korea and china are willing to invest in cambodia, so be it!!!!! stop the bitching! i don't see the USA, japan, the eu, australia, etc, come to the economic rescue of cambodia, so what, then, is the big fuss about korea and china investment? get a life, people! can't please everyone. what part of open-door policy don't they understand? come, come, yall invited! good grace!! damn if you do, damn if you don't! it's like walking on egg-shells!
We all know that the chinese is very cheap. Nothing is close to being free when it coming from the chinese.
They are all about money and selfness.
And speaking from a man like hun sen. There is no creditability !
I only agreed that it better having a job then high un-employment.
Beware of the Hidden Dangers Ahead:
To every positive effect there is an adverse effect also: the law of physics and the law of nature.
With this in mind, we must think and prepare for what China is ready to offer. I know in my heart no one would invest 3000 million dollars in anyone country without have some sorts of benefit in the long run, specially the Chinese Government knowing their track records with Cambodia.
Now is 2008, I hope our current government dont fall into the trap to which it has laid by the Chinese government that it did before 1975 for the Khmer Republics as they have done to King Sihanouk.
As of today I know there are many Chinese Associations in Cambodia and these associations are working closely with their counter parts in China offering and sharing information about Cambodia and its primary locations throughout Cambodia. And due to this exchanging of information, the Chinese government knows exactly what to do with Cambodia.
This is the hidden dangers that our people and our government did not aware of as it has reflected in the past during and prior to the civil war in Cambodia that cost 1.75 millions of lives. Until this day who are responsible for these precious lives? At what price must Cambodian paid in order to receive a fair market treatment and not to be pushed around by the so called Super Powers.
To be fair with the Chinese and its activities in Cambodia, Khmers are not in the level to take the advantages of the Chinese government. They are far superior than our government if we were to put these two government on the playing field.
It is good that the Chinese decided to invest in Cambodia, but it is a two edge sword and we must be prepare for the hidden dangers for dealing with the Chinese. For once, the Chinese will never respect Cambodians for who they are...through the Chinese eyes Khmers are nothing but slave labors.
I thank you.
ST
Beware? Track Record? Hidden Danger?
FYI, Paranoia, the Chinese had done businesses here even before the arrival of the Indian, and so far, knock on wood!
who cares if people die!!!! PM Hun Sen and his hundreds advisors have already gotten the tea!!!!
Ah Hun Sen, Ah Kvak!
First of all:
China is not starting this Business in Cambodia! There are Chinese Business persons who see that they can make a good Business in Cambodia.
That's why they come and invest money! These people are not Communist people, they are Business men!
This is about BUSINESS and NOT politics!
Business will help the Cambodian people NOT donations! Since 15 years Cambodia got donations from other countries and they are still disabled to produce their own soap or other products.
Something is wrong and only hard work will help people to have a better life.
Hopefully one day in the future the people will become ENABLED!
Fair enough!
To 4:59AM and 7:48AM
I agree! I had been following the Chinese investment oversea especially in Africa and Latin America and I began to see certain pattern of the Chinese investment! For example, Chinese investments in Africa are mainly to get raw materials such oil, iron, copper... to fuel and expand their economy and lot of time the Chinese investors don't even a fuck what the local population has to say but willing to listen to a few corrupted leaders of the country to get thing done and that is why there is still a genocide going on in Darfur of Sudan!
What the Chinese investment is doing in Cambodia is no different than that of Africa and Latin America and it is all about getting raw materials from Cambodia such oil to supply and expand the Chinese economy and the worst part is that the Chinese doesn't need to listen to Cambodian population to get thing done and a few corrupted Cambodian leaders can help the Chinese just fine!
Most dirt poor Cambodian people think that $3 billion dollars Chinese investment aiming to attract 300 factories in Sihanoukville Special Economic Zone is a lot plus the creation of 80,000 jobs!
What I see the real danger here is that the small Cambodian manufacture and producers can't compete with the Chinese factories in the long run and Cambodian people will be forced to be the consumer and the slave labor of the Chinese products! It doesn't matter which way you look at the Chinese investment and the Chinese factories will benefit from low wage Cambodian labors and the Chinese products produce by the Chinese factories will benefit from Cambodian consumers and now the loop of economic is closed and Cambodia is trapped!
Oh well! I never say that the life is fair! My wish is that Cambodia should have something indigenous of their own including factories and manufacture to produce their good and service because if one day the Chinese decided to withdraw their investment and Cambodia will be fucked for depending so much on the Chinese or any country!
Let just pray that the Chinese investment will do more good than harm!
i don't know why people on this blog make such a big deal about the chinese investment in cambodia. the chinese have investments all over the world already, and cambodia is just a late comer at that; so what is the fuss about this? cambodia is not the only country that have investment interest. so bitch all you want. when water flow down hill, it will keep flowing, unless you build a mega dam to contain it, but again, even a mega dam can hold the force of water forever, sooner or later, it'll give way. please, go bitch at other country; don't just bitch and complain about cambodia this cambodia that. go suck yourself or something!
To 11:24AM
Some Cambodian people are taking more caution approach okay! There must be a limit to exploitation of Cambodia that is why Cambodian forest is all gone, fish is all gone, all lands and state assets sell off to private companies...what is left for Cambodian people? Nothing! Nothing! Nothing! Cambodian population is being turn into slave worker! Don't you think that Cambodian population should have some choice in choosing their future beside forcing everything down their throat by AH HUN SEN government?
I know some dirt poor Cambodian people want to be slave worker for the rest of their life but not me!
Of course, Chinese would care more about their interest when they come to invest here; that is why Cambodia is attractive to them, but above all, we gain for that investment. It seems to me what Son Chhay suggests is that we should kick those investors out of this country. This is the most idiotic politicians I have ever seen. Something that SRP people have in common is that they like to blame or criticize other people so that they look better. And that is the only thing they do. The government is not doing a good job but at least they should get some credit for some positivity. Get a life, will you? Son Chhay!!
Oh shut the fuck up, 11:43. You can't compare Cambodia to Africa. The Chinese had been trading with phnongs in this region even before the word "Khmer" was invented, and so far so good. I don't see any record catastrophe here as you suggested.
What you need is to visit your local shrink or something. Living in the west too long can screw up your brain and make you very paranoid if you know what I mean.
Chinese businessmen have high records in running business with lawless countries such as Burma and Sudan (in case of dictatorship in Burma & genocide in Darfur).
Now, China is becoming number one in lawless country like Cambodia. Surely, business will prevail something, but we do understand it well that it will prevail only to those corrupted leaders, not the Cambodian peoples in general.
Son Chhay has bright vision to advise Hun Sen leadership not to be so proud with the tricks of China.
Important: aids from China to build road has been bringing all Chinese labors, go and see by yourself Folks!
KY
Damn! another paranoia (4:37). FYI, dude, no one would mind being a lawless country like Singapore that is built by the Chinese people.
Fucking Son Chhay, you are lawmaker, should not comment on economic development.
Fucking to whom, discriminate China. It's up to us(cambodia), your decision, why you blame them.
3 Billions is not a joke. The ideas of economic zones is helping by Japan and South Korea.
Think agian dude! Don't be so leftists. When people have no job, you said Oh! Bad. But when people have job, you say Oh!not good. Fucking shit.
If SRP does not implant economic brainstorm. Lot of educated people will not vote for them. I suppose SRP should be the best in economic development. It's disappointed me.
One understands that the role of the opposition is to say something or comment on what oing on in the country. But opposing the job creation and FDI especially from China is miscalculated. No politicians in the world other than the Cambodian opposition say no to 80000 jobs while peoples are risking their life every day crossing the border to look for job in Thailand, even when they know that would be very badly treated. Sometime, that could cost their life. More developed country like Vietnam or the Philippines would welcome Chinese with wildly opened arms. You can say something to satisfy yourself or your party interest but not such a stupidity. That can backfire and you get no one to vote for you. I used to support SRP, but they upset me with those stupidities. Shame one you.
I'm not discrminate againt China. But Khmer should take a look what Chinese do in Africa. I have no more comment but I agree with Mr. Son Chhay. What he said is right.
It seems that the opposition want to take all the credits for Cambodian workers being beaten up in Thailand, or being mistreated like our women sold in Taiwan or elswhere. Otherwise, what is their plan to create jobs for our people? Relying on electricity imported from Vietnam or Thailand and let go the country already awashed by goods from the neighbours? When we are economically dependent, the sovereignty and national independence go down the drain. Actually, China could nicely counterbalance the influence of the Viets that Cambodians dont like. Is that what the opposition want? Jobs, jobs, jobs, 100% jobs should be in the mind of Cambodian politicians. Please no more politics for the sake of your own interest. We need to survive. Cambodia need to survive! And this time is crucial to our fate.
What is their plan ...?
There is no plan of any kind. All they do is political mathematic to put hard working people down and discourage people from building the country instead of encourage people to continue to work hard.
These people are so desperate for power that they have lost all their moral. You got to be blind if you can't see this.
To 4:16AM
Do you really want to know the fucken plan? The fucken plan is to pass anti-corruption and enforce the fucken laws on the book to create a fair and justice society for all Cambodian people!
It seems that AH HUN SEN can pass all kind of law but there is one thing that AH HUN SEN can't pass which anti-corruption and make all the public officials to declare their assets before take politic position and declare again when they leave their political position!
AH HUN SEN has a lot of money oversea but most of the money is not in his name and not a problem because anti-corruption can solve that too!
Cambodian population has a better chance of surviving if anti-corruption law can help reduce the cost of living standard especially the cost of goods and services!
Hey, it is not PM job to pass any law, no matter who they may be. Go after those stupid MPs, will ya? PM has called out to them fools to work on it, but it is up to them to make the delivery. What do you want PM to do to them fools, fire all the 126 MPs or something? Give me a break for crying out loud.
you know, the hardest job in the world is to please everybody. that's why we have rule of law, so people can't do as they please. must respect the law, no matter who you are. no more excuses!!
Yes, that is how it supposed to work in texbook, but in the real world, there will always be some deviation because of the imperfection of the CONTENT inside the rule of laws. I mean a lot of time the general public can't understand the CONTENT, and freaking lawyer capitalize on it, manipulate it ... , and before you know it, we all get fuck by the riches as usual.
To 9:39AM
The laws are subject to change and the loop hole will close if Cambodian population is not happy with the result! In democratic process the Cambodian population has the right to complain about certain laws that benefit the rich and the Cambodian government has an obligation to look into it and find ways to correct it!
So far when Cambodian population complain about injustice created by certain laws and AH HUN SEN Vietcong slave doesn’t give a fuck and he pretends not to hear and continues to play deaf, dumb, and all the above!
Sure, it is easy for you to say, but in reality, you can't create law without loop holes, and the general public don't understand shit about law. Thus, what are they to complain about?
You are not making sense here, 11:37.
You can't complaint about think that you don't know anything about. That is like expecting people to teach a scientist about Quantum Mechanic, if you know what I mean.
To 1:56pm
No! I don't understand what the hell you mean when you said that you can't "create law without loop holes, and the general public don't understand shit about law."
The fucken reason that Cambodian population don't understand shit about the fucken law because AH HUN SEN government fail to educate them about the fucken law or unless the fucken law is written in other language that why Cambodian people don't understand shit!
It doesn't have to be complaining from the Cambodian population but when economists and the lawmakers feel that the law is favoring over certain group of people then it should be look into and the correction must be made to have a fair justice society!
What? now you want us to turn everyone into lawyers? And for free?
To 7:11AM
Hey Vietcong slave mother fucker! I didn't ask you to be a specialist! To be a lawyer, to be an engineer, to be doctor is to be a specialist!
Thank for telling me that Cambodia is being run by a bunch of morons and slaves!
Case closed!
Well, with assumption like that, that is why the US lost the war here.
To 2:08PM!
The US may lost the war but US won the battle and that explain why there are so many Vietcong died in jungle!
That is the stupidest thing I ever heard anyone said so far here.
There is no such thing as lost war and win battle. When you lose, you lose everything, period, no excuse or nothing.
As for casualties. True, the Vietcong did have have higher casualties, but that is because they were outclass by the US technology. But the important thing here is that they accomplished their mission with whatever little that they got, and that make them a lot better than they appear to be.
Do you know what the US casualty would have been had the Vietcong had equal technology?
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