Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Timing of stats questioned

Timing of stats questioned

The Phnom Penh Post | 24 July 2013

For the first time in recent memory, the Ministry of Economy and Finance has released growth projections for the first half of the year, and the numbers are good. 

Some say too good.

The ministry’s preliminary data claims that from January through June, economic growth stood at 7.6 per cent, an announcement that critics are questioning not only for accuracy but for timing. 

The national election is days away, and positive statistics would reflect back on the ruling Cambodian People’s Party, which is facing an increasingly vigorous challenge from the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party.

Kang Chandararot, president of the Cambodian Institute for Development Study, expressed doubt about the findings.

“I was surprised with the projection because this is the first-ever report that [the government] released for the first half of the year. They never release it,” he said. He added, “I am really sceptical with the figure because, based on some indicators, I don’t see any strong sectors” that can be accelerators for the growth.

According to the report, the agricultural sector grew by 4.2 per cent; the industrial sector went up by 9.3 per cent; and the garment sector rose by 7 per cent. Construction, the financial sector, and hotel and restaurant services also contributed to the growth.

“I see the demand side is not strong in the export markets,” Chandararot continued. “As far as I know, the flow of foreign direct investment in this period also dropped, so it’s likely garment exports, which dominate our export sector, went up very little. 

“The figure requires all other sectors to have accelerated more than 7.6 per cent.” 

Cambodia’s GDP expanded 7.3 per cent last year. The Asian Development Bank in April projected that Cambodia’s economy would grow 7.2 per cent in 2013, picking up to 7.5 per cent next year along with recovery in Europe and the United States.

Son Chhay, a Cambodia National Rescue Party candidate, said that the announcement was nothing more than a public relations move ahead of the election.

“Well, I don’t think the growth projection is good for our people and investors now, so what the people want to see is their actual performance.” 

Officials at the Ministry of Finance could not be reached yesterday.

Taking an altogether different view, Grant Knuckey, chief executive of ANZ Royal Bank, said that projection is heartening.

“Domestic growth was also evident through higher trading volumes for consumer goods in particular,” Knuckey said. “My view is that the weak economic outlook for Europe is not a particularly significant issue for Cambodia’s growth.” (sic! stooge foreigner)

7 comments:

Anonymous said...


You all heard what Congressman Rohrabacher said :
'Hun Sen has to go, he has been in power too long!, if he still holds on to his position of power after this election, he will be under close scrutiny'.

You know what that means 'under close scrutiny'?

It means America will investigate everything about the Hun sen's empire, including his associations (no matter where they are), all his money -how much he has, where he got it from, who he killed, who he slept with - yes the lot!

America can do this, we know what happened when they investigated the 911 terrorist attacks, the whole world knew everything about those terrorists - how, where, what, when, who and why.

We remember when America froze assets of those suspected association of these terrorists? Some of Hun sen's cronies had their assets frozen too at that time.

The aid money from America, Australia and EU came from their tax payers -their people. I'm sure they'd like to know what Hun sen did with all their money because Cambodia is not a developed country and the general population are still suffering.

So go ahead Hun sen, cheat all you want and continue to be greedy for power. I for one would like to know how much you and your cronies have in all your bank accounts, how you got it, what you use it for, what you've been up to, who and how you've killed. It would be interesting.

Anonymous said...

Long Live Viet Nam and Long Live Hun Sen and CPP...

We will killed all of you useless human.. we prepared 3 billion dollars after the election if you not joint the government... We prepared snipers forces to kills all of you and we prepared secret forces if you protest after election ... at the end we will kills all of you..

You will not get free and fair election ... because we deleted more then 1millions voters and we have more then 1 millions ghost voters and other.. so lost just with this ... CPP already won 25% just from this .. This election we will win 90 seats or more ...

Long live Viet Nam and CPP and Hun Sen...

U will never see Khmer Prime Minister only Viet Nam approved one or Vietnamese bloods ... You are all useless khmer and should never live .. soon your country will be our NEW PROVINCE ....

Anonymous said...

Yes, Hun sen knew from day one of his Vietnamese appointment that Khmer do not like him that's why he kills, threatens and bribes just so he can stay in his position of power. That's why he has blood on his hands and shit on his feet.

It's a shame he does not have the intelligence to implement genuine change in his behaviour to a more favourable one.

Real shame that no one close to him cares and dedicate enough to give him advise with any wisdom in it.

It's additional shame that his communist ideology makes him lose his religious believes, because, any good monks would advise him that when you cause suffering to others this will not bring peace to your life (karma).

In the end he has to go as Mr. Rohrabacher has said, if he is stupid enough to fight this he will go the same way as other dictators before him.

Anonymous said...

IDEM JAZZ AND MAFIA ITALIEN,RUSSIA.^^

Anonymous said...

Be mature! As a opposition party, you must accept not only critics, otherwise you are not different from CPP. Peace can't prevail without recognition and respect. It is always easy to find mistakes.

Anonymous said...

NIGHTMARE IS OVER!!!

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