Sun Herald (Biloxi, Mississippi, USA)
Survey reveals business owners' perspective on oil, gas and mining on Cambodian economy
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia -- Cambodians for Resource Revenue Transparency (CRRT) will announce results of its landmark business survey on the state of oil, gas and mining in Cambodia and its effects on the general business climate on Feb. 15, 2011 at the Hotel Cambodiana.
"This important survey will help all Cambodians better understand the level of knowledge about oil, gas and mining throughout the country," said Mam Sambath, CRRT chairman. "Because it is a scientific survey of the entire country, the survey will also help civil society and the Royal Government of Cambodia understand how business in Cambodia feels about these important sectors and their effects on business in general."
CRRT a coalition of civil society organizations with four members: API, DPA, NGO Forum and YRDP, is working to ensure that wealth generated from the extractive industries is managed in a socially responsible manner that is transparent, accountable, and participatory to equitably benefit all Cambodians.
The survey, conducted in conjunction with the Economic Institute of Cambodia, reflects the attitudes and opinions of business owners of small to medium sized businesses nationwide.
The survey sample represents concentrations of small and medium-sized businesses (between five and 100 employees) in the most populous Cambodian provinces of Phnom Penh, Battambang, Kampong Cham and Sihanouk Ville, as well as from 13 other provinces. The survey includes businesses from manufacturing, services and trade, according to Peoulida Ros from EIC, who added that 548 senior executives (president/manager, administration/accounting or owner) were interviewed.
Some 67% of respondents to the detailed personal interviews were female, and 96% of businesses represented employ fewer than 50 people.
Respondents had fairly good awareness in general of the presence of oil and mining enterprise in Cambodia (60%), but little awareness of gas development (23%). Moreover, most respondents listed the environment as a priority area of impact from oil, gas and mining, followed by Cambodian people, the general business environment and their own, specific business.
Meanwhile, respondents also represented a consensus on how to manage revenues derived from oil, gas and mining. Some 86% recommended that at least some revenue derived from oil, gas and mining should be reserved for Cambodia's future, and 81% of respondents endorsed the idea of establishing an independent committee to manage oil, gas and mining revenues. Nearly 50% of the respondents recommended the potential revenue from oil, gas and mining should be used to improve infrastructure in Cambodia which will benefit both business activities and the Cambodian public in general.
"We hope this survey will help the Royal Government of Cambodia make important decisions about the oil, gas and mining sectors as they work to create fair and equitable policy that will affect all Cambodians for the foreseeable future," said Sambath. "We also think the survey will prove a valuable benchmark for future research to determine how Cambodians feel about the effects these important sectors have on the quality of life in Cambodia for business people and for all Cambodians."
Complete results of the survey will be released to the public during the Feb. 15 conference.
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