Friday, February 29, 2008Rasmei Kampuchea
Translated from Khmer by Socheata and Heng Soy
The Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC) declared on Thursday that the government decided to lease the 7,800-hectare Koh Rong Island, the largest island in Sihanoukville, to Oknha Kith Meng’s Royal Group Company, for a duration of 99-year for eco-tourism development. On that same day, the government also declared the leasing of a portion of the Koh Russey Island in Sihanoukville to a French investment company.
Kith Meng, the CEO of the Royal Group Company, signed the lease contract on Koh Rong Island on 28 February 2008 with Cham Prasidh, the minister of commerce and CDC vice-president.
Suon Sithy, the secretary general of the committee for investment in Cambodia, declared that the development of Koh Rong Island is very large because the island extends over an area of 7,826-hectare altogether. He said that, even the Royal Group did not declare about the actual amount of investment funds now, but based on the negotiation results for the development of Koh Rong Island, the plan was to invest a huge fund amounting to several millions of dollars, because the investment was included in the contract and constitutes the government priority plan.
Kith Meng did not make any declaration about the development plan of Koh Rong Island during the signing of the contract which was participated by several institutions involved. Suon Sothy added that, after the signing of the contract, the Royal Group has 18-month to cooperate with the planning committee to come with a study on the (development) master plan and submit it for review and final approval by the CDC.
Suon Sothy also said that, (the CDC) places high hope on Kith Meng, who is a local investor and president of the Cambodian Chamber of Commerce with several successful businesses, will resolve the development issue with the people (living on the island) in a reasonable manner, and that he pushes the development plan of Koh Rong Island to fruition.
At the same time, the CDC also declared that a 137-hectare portion of Koh Russey Island, in Sihanoukville, was also leased to the French Koh Russey Resort Company for a duration of 99-year for eco-tourism development.
Suon Sothy said also that the plan for the development of Koh Russey Island is part of the government priority plan to serve the eco-tourism industry. The plan for the development of Koh Russey will requires a spending of $48 million. On this issue, CDC is confident that the French company which has sufficient experience in this field, will be successful in the implementation of its development plan.
Kith Meng, the CEO of the Royal Group Company, signed the lease contract on Koh Rong Island on 28 February 2008 with Cham Prasidh, the minister of commerce and CDC vice-president.
Suon Sithy, the secretary general of the committee for investment in Cambodia, declared that the development of Koh Rong Island is very large because the island extends over an area of 7,826-hectare altogether. He said that, even the Royal Group did not declare about the actual amount of investment funds now, but based on the negotiation results for the development of Koh Rong Island, the plan was to invest a huge fund amounting to several millions of dollars, because the investment was included in the contract and constitutes the government priority plan.
Kith Meng did not make any declaration about the development plan of Koh Rong Island during the signing of the contract which was participated by several institutions involved. Suon Sothy added that, after the signing of the contract, the Royal Group has 18-month to cooperate with the planning committee to come with a study on the (development) master plan and submit it for review and final approval by the CDC.
Suon Sothy also said that, (the CDC) places high hope on Kith Meng, who is a local investor and president of the Cambodian Chamber of Commerce with several successful businesses, will resolve the development issue with the people (living on the island) in a reasonable manner, and that he pushes the development plan of Koh Rong Island to fruition.
At the same time, the CDC also declared that a 137-hectare portion of Koh Russey Island, in Sihanoukville, was also leased to the French Koh Russey Resort Company for a duration of 99-year for eco-tourism development.
Suon Sothy said also that the plan for the development of Koh Russey Island is part of the government priority plan to serve the eco-tourism industry. The plan for the development of Koh Russey will requires a spending of $48 million. On this issue, CDC is confident that the French company which has sufficient experience in this field, will be successful in the implementation of its development plan.
33 comments:
Yes, there will be more eviction if you are living illegally in the 7,800 hectare leased.
The land does not belong to you and you better move your asses. There will not be any warning or negotiating.
First, we give them a friendly notice, and if they failed to obey the order, we'll issue the eviction. That seems fair enough!
Yes, that is what we used to do. We used to give them 6 months to resettle some place else, but they don't understand that. They want the government to pay them for land that they do not own. Plus, when our official ask them to move, they throw knives and stones at them and causing injuries to our law enforcers. I don't think we can rational with these terrorists, and our law enforcers can no longer take anymore risk either. Just imagine you are one of our law enforcer, wouldn't you be concerned about your personal injury and pain?
Anyhow, it is not so much up to us, after we leased the land, but up to the owner. They can let them stay or they can have them evicted.
The only way cambodia could be saved is khmer from oversea take part in khmer voices, and khmer politic ! These riches and government official have no limit when it come to curruption.
Khmer, lets rise up and stand up against the destruction of our culture, people, tradition, and country.
Don't depend on too much on foreigners. Foreigner can only do so much.
ITs up to all of us khmer, United we will stand. Our future, start today.
Plz, :)spread the love, spread the knowledge, spread the unity !
Koh Rong Island can't be compared to Koh Tral which was taken by the Vietcong!
I wouldn't be surprised if the Vietcong use Koh Tral to aim their guns and missiles at Cambodian ships!
The fates of Cambodian international business depend on having access to the sea!
If the Vietcong and the Thaicong have their way and they will shut Cambodian out to sea completely just like what they did to Lao! And Lao depend on Cambodian for access to sea but they can't depend on the Vietcong and the Thaicong! This is something to think!
The Cambodian struggle over Koh Tral will continue...
Nope, Koh Tral is not part of Cambodia, but ancient part of Ah Khmer-Yuon's territory that is lost forever by the traitor (Ah Khmer-Yuon) themselves. We don't have anything to do with that, and we don't want to know anything about that.
And there is no missiles of any kind pointing at Cambodia under the Supreme PM Hun Sen, but there will be Megatons of it pointing at gorilla asses as usual if they don't get outta here.
The lease should be added one more year then it is 100 years. what happens is the leasee dies before 99 years or the contract ends?
Yes, the state will take back the land and everything on it, just like what happening with Hong Kong.
yes, i'm thrilled. congratulations, mr. kith meng.
and what about the other big island of koh kong? i hope it gets development interest there as well! oh, i hope sihanoukville will turn into the hong kong of cambodia, soon. i'm so thrilled, yes!!!
oh, by the way, khmer people will not forget koh tral. time will tell!
How much more times are we talking about? So far it had been over 200 years.
Yes, 11:19, ultimately, everything will be developed just as you picture it. I don't have any doubt about that.
I been to Phnom Phen and most of the places and there are so many runaway construction and I don't what the hell they are doing with those buildings because there is no artistic value, no harmony, it is congested and crowded and it has become a fucken health problem because there is no sidewalk for morning walk, no recreation such as public park especially for little children, and it is a fucken eye sore to see because Cambodia has become a mini-bangcock and mini-Hanoi look alike! It is like little children who are still learning how to build things!
I am kind a glad that AH KITH MENG chose to develop far away from the mainland otherwise it will be another embarrassing development project which will not benefit Cambodian image and for 99 years the public can’t touch his ugly creation!
Hey, we don't expect everyone to like our architect, but at least, we haven't have much complaint here.
Your architecture can't even compare to children building a tree house! Ahhahahhahah
If I live in one of them building and I will have mental block and go crazy!
Well, that is because you live in the west too long, and your brain is fried by it. I am not surprise in any way.
Reading some of these comments makes me very sad. Your are happy about terrorizing the poor people, you are not interested in solidarity and social values in your society. Your only interest is: How can we get as rich as Hongkong? Wow - you people are really poor.
It's another show time.
If you're squatting in others'or government's land, now it's time to vacate yourself. If you don't, do not blame us for a force eviction.
Kith Meng boost cambodian economic. I 100% support him. All his money earned, he's investing all in Cambodia.
We need to support our khmer investor over foreiners. How many jobs he provided to cambodian? Thousands.
Thaibungrong, Mong rithy, Ly Yung Phat, Tao-ke Hap, They are rubbists. They are rich is cambodian for long time, They don't do better then Kith Meng.
Yeah, I go for that. However, we don't have enough Khmer investors. Thus, we must open up for outside investors.
To11:29PM
You are damn right! Cambodia is dirt poor!
To 4:43AM
For a start! How about pass anti-corruption to attract more investors the Khmer investors and the outsider investors!
I am with you 100% for the anti-corruption law, mate, but I am out of idea on how to convince our stupid MPs to release it. You got any idea?
To 7:08AM
Yes I do! How about put a gun to his head to pass anti-corruption law?
His head? which one? there are 126 stupid MPs here.
Give me something practical to work with, will ya, mate? I am serious. I am as pissed as anyone else with this issue. They are holding all of us up on this because they are bickering over every little stupid imperfection as though they are smart enough to perfect anything. Isn't that fucking ridiculous? I mean we have Amendment to iron out thing latter as required; hence, what is the sense of them holding us up?
Dear All;
Seemed everyone here has own set of mind re agreement signed between the RGC and Royal Group - Kith Meng [anti than con for the benefit of national economy which might be derived from the project].
I don't know him personally except, knowing for fact that he is a Cambodian Australian from Canberra the Australia Capital Territory, is CEO of Royal Group, has had a string of businesses such as Mobitel, CTN TV, ANZ Royal Bank to name a few of his successful business. Of course, I am not pro Kith Meng but simply want to exchange ideas on investments by foreign and local businessman in Cambodia.
The comments here are outraged at least to a few people if not all.
Understood that there are many communication companies [Mobitel, Smart, Camshin Etc..] in Cambodia and most of them either half own or fully own by the foreign companies with local business people. In case of Mobitel is also 1/2 or may be more own by his partner. In this prospective, one may have to ask themselves a question.
Shall we support hom on other investment project or stop right here?
Who are the owner of Samart and Camshin?
Let say that if Kith Meng own half share of the company then at least half of that money made or has been made or is making in Cambodia stays in Cambodia [profits] toward the other project which will have no doubt benefit the local economy [don't think he sent all his profits and put in the bank in Australia if he needed for other investment].
He actually in and out the head quarter of ANZ bank in Australia many countless times in past before finally convinced and secured the ANZ as his partner in Cambodia [that's not an easy tasks to persuade the top 3 Australian bank to invest in country like Cambodia. ANZ had more confident to invest in Vietnam before they came to Cambodia].
Now let get back to the agreement - Koh Rong.
Believing strongly that Kith Meng has had no expertise in this filed, but of course, he has travel extensively to many countries around the world, and particular the coast line of Australia where eco-tourism is established and injects to the state economy if not the entire country economy.
He has 18 months to come up with master plan and blue print regarding his proposal, and he will do it [may be another business joint venture with Australians who have developed many island such as Fraser, Kepple, Whitsunady Etc.. major tourist destination].
Do any one know for sure what is the population on the island.
Many companies abroad who develop an island has always make use of the local people and their knowledge [island] by giving them the opportunity be take part of the project [during the development and after the project].
By the way, by having the resort or eco-tourism there [on the island] will also help Cambodia in a sense sending the signal to many illegal fishing boats or trailers not to over fishing in Cambodia territory.
After all, believing that the project will do more good to Cambodia economy than harm or leave the island undeveloped or unproductive.
Well said, 1:40, and thanks you for supporting Cambodia continues development.
And we need more, and I mean, "A LOT MORE".
The whole Cambodia depends on one man for economic investment! This is such a sad state of Cambodian economy!
I am not jealous of Kith Meng but he also hold a position at CDC (Cambodia Development Council)and he use his position to do business to enrich himself and his family?
Please pass anti-corruption law and let the economic investment competition begin!
Oh stop twisting thing here, will ya?
He may play an important role here, but he's not the only one investor. We got lot of Chinese, Vietnamese, Thai, ..., and Malaysian, remember?
This man in this photo is not a Cambodian nationality, trying to sell our country to Vietnam. We Khmer must protect our land before it disappears from the world map.
Easy for you to say, but when you don't have job, I bet you sell you house too. What is a hypocrite?
3:04 PM
Thank you for your fair comment.
3:40 PM
What I said is not meant that the country depending on one person for it economy growth but rather gave an example of a local business person who want to invest in many sector.
Not aware of him as member of CDC but president of Phnom Penh Chamber of Commerce.
3:59 PM
Agreed with you that there are many investors from those countries you mentioned and we need more of them as well.
10:56 PM
He is as much Cambodian as you.
He is 100% Cambodian. I don't care who he is, but he attract lot of investor to Cambodia.
Can you help to attract people to come Cambodia? just for visit is a benefit to Cambodia. This is a role that Khmer oversee should do if investment seems to much for them.
Yep, and make that two!
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