PHNOM PENH, July 27 (Reuters) - North Korea wants to import Cambodian rice to try to ease food shortages and has offered in return to provide machinery and expertise to develop Cambodia's fledgling mining and energy sectors, a Cambodian official said on Wednesday.
A North Korean delegation led by Deputy Trade Minister Ri Myong-san visited Cambodia this week and the country is keen to import rice as soon as possible, said Ouch Borith, Cambodia's secretary of state for foreign affairs.
It would help Cambodia develop its mining sector and invest in hydropower dams.
The amount of rice North Korea wanted to import was not disclosed, he said. Further specific details, such as how North Korea would fund its purchases and investments, were not available.
Cambodia is the world's 15th biggest producer of rice and has set a target of exporting 1 million tonnes of the grain within the next four years.
According to the Economic Institute of Cambodia (EIC), an independent think tank, the country is expected to ship about 100,000 tonnes of milled rice this year, up from 50,000 tonnes in 2010. More goes to Vietnam to be milled and shipped from there.
North Korea is one of the world's poorest countries and it rarely produces enough food to feed its 24 million people, often as a result of bad weather affecting harvests.
International sanctions over its nuclear weapons programme combined with neighbouring South Korea's refusal to provide help have led to a substantial decline in food aid from its traditional donors.
Although Cambodia and North Korea have no trade ties, they have a diplomatic relationship. Cambodia's former King Norodom Sihanouk has a house in North Korea and was once a special guest of the country's late ruler, Kim Il-sung.
Ouch Borith said North Korea had offered to sell agricultural machinery to Cambodia, such as tractors, at cheaper prices than Western countries and wanted to provide expertise in developing mines.
"We have only small and medium-sized enterprises, not big industries, but Cambodia's natural resources are huge, such as minerals, gold, iron and aluminum," he told reporters.
"Our friends the Koreans said they would do studies and use their experience to help Cambodia make an industry from these natural resources."
Agriculture forms the biggest part of Cambodia's $10 billion economy, followed by tourism and garment manufacturing, but it is also trying to develop its energy and mining sectors.
(Reporting by Prak Chan Thul; Editing by Martin Petty)
7 comments:
Koh Tral Island must not be forgotten
By Ms. Rattana Keo
...
Smart Khmer girl, President Ms. Rattana Keo,
PS: I like it in the ass
They will purchase our rice with their weapons so we can beat the crap of Siam.
No only Siam but the Viet too, ok.
come invest in cambodia, north korea. we want korean too, you know.
Pyonyang want to invest in Hun Mena.
Khmericans = Shit the scum of American society, They can't even help Khmer Nation where they were born and how can they help American society! What’s a shameful on khmericans.
Khmericans is the most shameful community in America -> reason why they are just an opportunities people who are not afraid in sell out their Khmer Nation as well as Cambodia and How can American will put trust in these Khmericans in defence democracy and America.
Very shameful Khmericans! over 225 000 but only 100 Khmericans were turn up for Cambodia and Cambodian people justice.
The scum and the most shit cheap community in America is Khmerican. Why? Because over 225 000 Khmericans but only 100 Khmericans were turn up for protest against injustice in Cambodia. 100 Khmericans = less than 0.045% of total Khmericans population in the USA.
If these people who called themself Khmericans can't even stand to protest the injustice in their motherland called Cambodia. How can American people trust these Khmericans in protect America Nation. What’s a joke!
Shame on Khmericans! American people won't trust Khmericans in saying Khmericans will defend America because Khmericans can't even stand to fight the injustice issues in Cambodia. Khmericans in fact are opportunities and selfish community in America. Khmericans are so cheap as they demonstrate last protest 100 Khmericans were turn up out of over 225 000 total Khmericans. Khmericans are scum living beneath AMERICA SOCIETY.
Khmericans have no honour in say they will defence America because Khmericans can't even defend their previous country.
Shame! Shame! On Khmericans, over 225 000. You know you are nothing but scum in American Society.
Pi Anh,
ខ្មែរឯនាយសមុទ្រទាំងអស់ សុទ្ធតែខួរក្បាលបង្កង។
ពួកវាដៀលខ្មែរក្នុងស្រុកថា មិនចេះក្រោកឈរ
ប្រឆាំងអាហ៊ុន សែន តែពួកមិនដែលចេញទៅ
ធ្វើបាតុកម្មជាជំនួយក្នុងស្រុកទេ។
ពួកអាឯងមិននឹកនា ស្រុកខ្មែរបានទេ។
អាគម្រក់ខ្មែរនៅអាមេរិកផងដែរ!
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