Original report from Phnom Penh
23 March 2009
The Ministry of Commerce launched a trade development project Monday, announcing nearly $12 million toward helping build institutional capacity and promote export products.
“This amount will be used to promote the trade sector, based on the small projects identified by the government,” Commerce Minister Cham Prasidh told reporters Monday. “What is important is that the money will be spent on the priorities identified by the government in the trade sector. Importantly, we are the owner of the projects.”
The project is being financed by the European Commission, the Danish International Aid Agency and the UN Industrial Development Organization.
The money will be spent according to a direction set by the government, Cham Prasidh said. The project will be based on three pillars: solving cross-cutting issues; promoting of export production and a focus on services; and improving institutional capacity.
“This fund will be managed in accordance with the World Bank’s procurement procedures and financial procedures,” said Qimao Fan, Cambodia’s director for the World Bank, which is administering the project.
The European Union, one of Cambodia’s trade partners, will promote different products for Cambodia to export, said Rafael Dochao Moreno, charge d’affaires for the European Commission in Cambodia.
“This project will build the capacity of Cambodia to be able to promote the different products and production exports to the EU,” he said.
Yim Sovann, spokesman for the opposition Sam Rainsy Party, said Monday the project would be important for the promotion of Cambodian agricultural exports. However, he said he had little confidence that corruption would be controlled in the project.
“This amount will be used to promote the trade sector, based on the small projects identified by the government,” Commerce Minister Cham Prasidh told reporters Monday. “What is important is that the money will be spent on the priorities identified by the government in the trade sector. Importantly, we are the owner of the projects.”
The project is being financed by the European Commission, the Danish International Aid Agency and the UN Industrial Development Organization.
The money will be spent according to a direction set by the government, Cham Prasidh said. The project will be based on three pillars: solving cross-cutting issues; promoting of export production and a focus on services; and improving institutional capacity.
“This fund will be managed in accordance with the World Bank’s procurement procedures and financial procedures,” said Qimao Fan, Cambodia’s director for the World Bank, which is administering the project.
The European Union, one of Cambodia’s trade partners, will promote different products for Cambodia to export, said Rafael Dochao Moreno, charge d’affaires for the European Commission in Cambodia.
“This project will build the capacity of Cambodia to be able to promote the different products and production exports to the EU,” he said.
Yim Sovann, spokesman for the opposition Sam Rainsy Party, said Monday the project would be important for the promotion of Cambodian agricultural exports. However, he said he had little confidence that corruption would be controlled in the project.
8 comments:
That is the kind of helps Cambodia wants from richer countries. We want to stand on our own two feet. Thanks to those involved!!!
The Cambodian government should have a clear state development model which is based on export, cooperation between the government and the private sector and the market mechanism (competition).
This model requires the rstructuring of the present government. All economic ministries (Economics and Finance, Industry, Commerce, Agriculture and Foreign Affairs) should be placed under a deputy prime minister. The Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Commerce should be combined to become Ministry of International Relations and Trade. The Ministry of Water Resources and also the Ministry of Rural Development should be merged with the Ministry of Agriculture. The Forestry Department of the Ministry of Agriculture should be placed under the Ministry of Environment.
This restructuring requires the injection of new blood, that is, appointment of new people to lead those ministries.
Cambodian diplomats should also be salesmen for Cambodian products and should be well-versed with international relations, international trade and international business. Their promotion or job should be based on their performance in finding markets for those products.
LAO Mong Hay, Hong Kong
yes, i am so happy that cambodia finally wake up and join the rest of asia and the world in business and capitalism. united we will stand. khmer power forever! god bless cambodia and all our beautiful khmer people and citizens.
Yeah right...By the Viet for the Viet...got my drift?
There are many aspects/opportunities. One of that, the fast food factories i.e. snacks, fruit juice could be a consideration because there are plenty of fruits in Cambodia. For example jackfruit, pineapple, coconut, papaya, orange, water melon, cantaloupe, banana, mango, and many others.
Just help the farmers to upgrade from family scale cultivation to industrial scale.
Market-wise could be for local people first if not for export at the beginning. Achieving this will at least minimize the outflow of the country cash by reducing dependability on foreign import of these basic commodity.
Do up our internal housekeeping to lure foreign or local investment. This would help Cambodia and Khmers to prosperity.
Can this create more jobs?
Many Thanks Mr. Minister of Commerce!
keep reminding the vietcong bitches that they are in cambodia so must respect khmer way and khmer law. everybody can do this! i think the vietcong are people like khmer people, so, why some khmer people are so paranoia about vietcong bitches taking over cambodia? what is so special about the vietcong bitches? i would tell them straight up that if they want o do business in cambodia they better respect khmer way or the highway! that they had better empower khmer people and cambodia, othewise they are not welcome in cambodia! simple as that! god bless cambodia.
No, VN saved Khmer people from extinction; therefore, our home is their home.
Please help to promote Khmer Kanteil in foreign markets; please have a look at csma-kh.com; your help will also provide jobs opportunities to thousand of Khmer, particularly women.
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