Aug 17 (Reuters)- Cambodia is targeting annual rice exports of 1 million tonnes within five years, Prime Minister Hun Sen said on Tuesday, a dramatic increase from the current volume of about 20,000 tonnes.
That goal is still small compared to its neighbours, Thailand and Vietnam, which are aiming to ship 8.5 million tonnes and 6.1 million tonnes respectively this year.
But impoverished Cambodia has shown signs of aspiring to the same league as Thailand and Vietnam, respectively the world's biggest and second-biggest rice exporters.
It announced earlier this month it was looking for foreign investors to boost its fledgling rice milling sector so that it can reap higher dividends from its grain crop, much of which is currently sent to Vietnam to be milled and re-exported.
Cambodia is the world's 15th biggest rice producer and plans to raise rice production to 9 million tonnes of paddy by 2015, up from the current 7 million tonnes, industry officials said.
"The market for rice is still big," Hun Sen said during a speech on development in Cambodia, noting that recent natural disasters have damaged food crops across the world and raised the value of food commodities.
To reach the 1 million mark, Cambodia needs foreign investment as well as government-backed soft loans to improve rice productivity and boost its fledging rice milling sector, Hun Sen said.
After years of political turbulence, including civil war and the deadly Khmer Rouge era, Cambodia's economy was in tatters by the end of the 1980s. In some years it has had to import low-quality rice from Thailand.
Hun Sen said foreign investment in creating an adequate rice milling sector would help support Cambodia to reap higher dividends from its grain crop, much of which is currently sent to Vietnam to be milled and re-exported.
Apart from developing milling houses, the government also launched a loan-supporting programme by urging local banks to provide money for rice-related business.
The government has pledged to help repay half of the debts if debtor failed to pay back the loan.
That goal is still small compared to its neighbours, Thailand and Vietnam, which are aiming to ship 8.5 million tonnes and 6.1 million tonnes respectively this year.
But impoverished Cambodia has shown signs of aspiring to the same league as Thailand and Vietnam, respectively the world's biggest and second-biggest rice exporters.
It announced earlier this month it was looking for foreign investors to boost its fledgling rice milling sector so that it can reap higher dividends from its grain crop, much of which is currently sent to Vietnam to be milled and re-exported.
Cambodia is the world's 15th biggest rice producer and plans to raise rice production to 9 million tonnes of paddy by 2015, up from the current 7 million tonnes, industry officials said.
"The market for rice is still big," Hun Sen said during a speech on development in Cambodia, noting that recent natural disasters have damaged food crops across the world and raised the value of food commodities.
To reach the 1 million mark, Cambodia needs foreign investment as well as government-backed soft loans to improve rice productivity and boost its fledging rice milling sector, Hun Sen said.
After years of political turbulence, including civil war and the deadly Khmer Rouge era, Cambodia's economy was in tatters by the end of the 1980s. In some years it has had to import low-quality rice from Thailand.
Hun Sen said foreign investment in creating an adequate rice milling sector would help support Cambodia to reap higher dividends from its grain crop, much of which is currently sent to Vietnam to be milled and re-exported.
Apart from developing milling houses, the government also launched a loan-supporting programme by urging local banks to provide money for rice-related business.
The government has pledged to help repay half of the debts if debtor failed to pay back the loan.
9 comments:
Cambodia must becareful within neighbors jealousy again... because Thailand and vietnam will find the way to interfere khmer from rising!
Khmer eats shit and exports rice, good job
Cambodia i doing well!
The new water irrigation in my village makes people a lot happier! We do not worry so much about the lack of water now, we can grow twice/year.
By the way, WTF 12:19 are trying to say?!
Khmer eat shit? i think you are due!
Shut the fuck up, all of you. I will fuck you all, happy?
12:19am! your mother ate you father shit? wow! thanks for letting all of us knew...you Thai people love eating shit anyway!! don't worry khmer got plenty of shits for Thai people to eat for years long...hahaha!
This is a long over due investment from the government. If you think about 80% of the Cambodian population live in the country side. It is a well worth it move. Cambodian can export more rice for sure. Many overseas Cambodians want to buy Khmer products but arn't available.
To keep money inside the country, I think the government should also seek more investments for hospitals. More credential hospitals will keep Cambodian patients and money at home. The money saved will help spur consumer spending in the local economy. In the long term, Cambodia can expend into medical tourism where people come to Cambodia to do their medical things at the much lower price.
Technology is also another thing that I see Cambodia can expend on. Expending on technology will allow Cambodia to outsource knowledge based work, much the same way the Indians do in India. By improving technology, Cambodia will have a chance to leapfrog to the 21st century and compete heads on with other heavy weights out there. The least government can do is encouraging the industries and see their potentials. Diversify, diversify, diversify while expanding the obtained industries should be the goal. The more the more the merrier... The government must continue to look at ourselves and see what can we do right now and do it, because we don't have the time to waste. Some industries do need government help to give a boost; in return, the government will get more tax money and jobs for the people. The more people work the less they cause problem thus saving more money... This is goes on and on... Let's surprise the world how we can rebuild and excel...
12:19am, you eat shit mother fucker!
12:19am! your mother suck/lick my asshole and ate my shit!! Thai King lick my balls..
Both Thai and Vietnam are not nice To Khmer people.Khmer must be united as rock. Khmer must learn how love,care,respect,help each other all our heart and soul not to be afraid of our enemies.Khmer must learn to be nice to our Khmer blood. May all gods bless Khmer people.Bravo ! Khmer love Khmer.
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