Phnom Penh (Cambodia). 16/01/2009. Hun Sen returning from Kuwait, his first visit in the Middle East. (Photo: Vandy Rattana)16-01-2009
By Ros Dina
Ka-set in English
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On Friday January 16th , Cambodian prime Minister Hun Sen and his delegation returned to Phnom Penh in the same way as they left, with a direct flight especially chartered by Kuwait. The prime Minister's first ever and “very friendly” visit in Kuwait lasted four days in all, during which the head of government and some of his Ministers signed several agreements with the Arab emirate, their new partner. Hun Sen expressed his wish for the opening “soon” of an embassy of Kuwait in Cambodia. The new cooperation seems to be going all smoothly.
Upon their arrival at Pochentong airport, Cambodian Minister of Foreign Affairs Hor Namhong indicated to the press that the two countries had reached an agreement on direct flights between Cambodia and Kuwait and intended to promote tourism between both countries. They also signed two Memoranda of Understanding, one concerning the sending of Cambodian labour to Kuwait and the other about the setting-up of irrigation infrastructures in the province of Kampong Thom, a project worth $USD350 million which would apply to 130,000ha of ricefields. Among other things, Kuwait promised to finance the renovation of two road sections in the Northeast of Cambodia, namely the Thmor Kol-Sampov Loun section and the Kôn Domrei-Pailin section. These projects, according to Hor Namhong, will not be launched without the final assent of Kuwait's direction committee.
In August 2008, a delegation from Kuwait visited Cambodia and since then, Hun Sen has invited the country to send more delegations. He also sought the help of the Kuwaiti Fund for Development, this time for support to small irrigation networks in the country “to help farmers and reduce poverty”. The prime Minister suggested that the money might either be transferred to private micro-finance structures or to the Rural Development Bank, which belongs to the state.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs reported that Hun Sen encouraged Kuwaiti investors to take an interest in Cambodia, a land admittedly agricultural, but full of resources, he claimed. He offered them, as they have started doing, to buy rice to feed their country, but also to establish stocks with a view to sell them in turn to other countries in the Near East, forced to import, like Kuwait, the majority of their agricultural and farming products. A Working group should soon be set up to tackle investment questions raised by both countries.
As for tourism, Cambodia expects a lot from Kuwait. The Cambodian Minister of Tourism Thong Khon, who was also accompanying the prime Minister, is in charge of creating a programme of cultural events including exhibitions and fairs promoting key-products in Cambodia, which would then be organised in Kuwait. Together with the Kuwaiti Minister of Commerce, Industry and Parliamentary relations, he signed a 5-year convention which will require, as a condition, the launching of projects within the first six months of its implementation.
The Minister of Tourism insisted on the interest there was in attracting to Cambodia tourists from a small country but where the GDP per capita amounts to USD50,000... (GDP per capita in Cambodia: USD1,800). “In 2008, we only welcomed some 700 Kuwaiti tourists in Cambodia. But if we could welcome 50,000, that would be good!”
Upon their arrival at Pochentong airport, Cambodian Minister of Foreign Affairs Hor Namhong indicated to the press that the two countries had reached an agreement on direct flights between Cambodia and Kuwait and intended to promote tourism between both countries. They also signed two Memoranda of Understanding, one concerning the sending of Cambodian labour to Kuwait and the other about the setting-up of irrigation infrastructures in the province of Kampong Thom, a project worth $USD350 million which would apply to 130,000ha of ricefields. Among other things, Kuwait promised to finance the renovation of two road sections in the Northeast of Cambodia, namely the Thmor Kol-Sampov Loun section and the Kôn Domrei-Pailin section. These projects, according to Hor Namhong, will not be launched without the final assent of Kuwait's direction committee.
In August 2008, a delegation from Kuwait visited Cambodia and since then, Hun Sen has invited the country to send more delegations. He also sought the help of the Kuwaiti Fund for Development, this time for support to small irrigation networks in the country “to help farmers and reduce poverty”. The prime Minister suggested that the money might either be transferred to private micro-finance structures or to the Rural Development Bank, which belongs to the state.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs reported that Hun Sen encouraged Kuwaiti investors to take an interest in Cambodia, a land admittedly agricultural, but full of resources, he claimed. He offered them, as they have started doing, to buy rice to feed their country, but also to establish stocks with a view to sell them in turn to other countries in the Near East, forced to import, like Kuwait, the majority of their agricultural and farming products. A Working group should soon be set up to tackle investment questions raised by both countries.
As for tourism, Cambodia expects a lot from Kuwait. The Cambodian Minister of Tourism Thong Khon, who was also accompanying the prime Minister, is in charge of creating a programme of cultural events including exhibitions and fairs promoting key-products in Cambodia, which would then be organised in Kuwait. Together with the Kuwaiti Minister of Commerce, Industry and Parliamentary relations, he signed a 5-year convention which will require, as a condition, the launching of projects within the first six months of its implementation.
The Minister of Tourism insisted on the interest there was in attracting to Cambodia tourists from a small country but where the GDP per capita amounts to USD50,000... (GDP per capita in Cambodia: USD1,800). “In 2008, we only welcomed some 700 Kuwaiti tourists in Cambodia. But if we could welcome 50,000, that would be good!”
13 comments:
My respect to the PM Mr. Hun Sen. It is not easy to lead and rebuild the Kingdom, that was almost destroyed in every fields, first from 1970 by the US Bombs, 1975 by Khmer Rouge and late 1978 by Vietnam Occupation.
6:43 PM
Go and fuck yourself!
We smell another wave of eviction.
7:04 PM , BULL EYE !!!!!!!!!!
Agree with you 110% !!!!!!!!
A group of people lead a small country for 30 years. Their native have no land to do for a living. And give land to foreiners. Do you think those guy smart?
We can do other ways for our coutry to be rich in five years and the properties belong to our nation.
KK CANADA
You guys have to know about Cambodia country from 1979.Khmer government have to worry about land mines first,because a lots of them to make of our khmer people were injuried everyday.Khmer government have to repbuild all street or high ways.Repbuild all schools to let all khmer lerning.I just meant all anything have to repbuild again after khmer country was going down during pol pot took over.So you guys have to thing about that first before you said to khmer situation government.
Yes this is going to be a bit challenge for Cambodia. Because the Isareal is eyeing or going to lobbying Khmer for agriculture MOU too.
Uh oh!! I hope Cambodia is not going to be a battle ground between the Islam and Jew here.
HUN SEN must take this seriously.
Think twice!!
No shit!
ignore the haters out there. there will always be haters no matter what anybody does.
anyway, welcome to the cambodia, kuwaiti, qatari, israeli, the united arab emerates, and other good middle eastern countries. god bless cambodia.
The problems with this free website is that the ignorant individuals, not just Khmer but from any race as well, have access to casting their stupidity. Hate and contempt that is all these stupid individuals can write. Stop the hate. And let us support one another, because the true and hidden enemies can also have easy access and opportunity to cast trouble into our mind. Stop the hate and let's support one another.
2:41 AM
Well said, case in point: your stupid comments were posted as well. How about that?
6:43
I have a burden question for you: when will he start?
I don't have much time.
2:41
I am one of those hidden enemy. Enemy of the state.... not my people. You, you must be one of those idiots that take advantage of this free website. You label us ignorant because we're not satisfy with the current PM?
In your state of mind; only positive comment can be posted here. You shared the same mentality as your master.
I believe this is going to be a wonderful friendship to the Kingdom of cambodia,Because our Country has been hide from the world for along time.Now it's time to manifest our kindess to the world.May God Bless the Kingdom of Cambodia!!!
Look at his face which is a real racism face he is learning from his popet Ph.D leardership role model.
This is how new genaral-star act!
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