Cambodian bourse is still on in spite of the current economic context?

Korea Exchange to jointly launch Cambodian bourse

SEOUL, March 24 (Reuters) - The Korea Exchange (KRX) said on Tuesday that it had signed an agreement with the Cambodian government to jointly launch a Cambodian stock exchange by the end of 2009.

The Cambodian government and KRX will control 55 percent and 45 percent of the exchange, respectively, and will jointly operate the bourse, KRX said.

The announcement marks the latest effort by the South Korean exchange to expand its presence abroad.

In November 2008, KRX signed a memorandum of understanding with Laos government on setting up the country's stock exchange, with the South Korean bourse holding 49 percent of the venture.

(Reporting by Jungyoun Park; Editing by Jonathan Hopfner)

Cambodia launches mock trading system of stock market

PHNOM PENH, Feb. 20 (Xinhua) -- A signing ceremony for a joint venture agreement on Cambodia's proposed securities exchange has been postponed, but the launch of a mock trading system to educate market operators and participants went ahead as scheduled, national media reported Friday.

Korea Exchange (KRX) Chairman and CEO Lee Jung-hwan put off the scheduled signing ceremony with the Cambodian government because of a back injury sustained last week, KRX project manager Inpyo Lee, was quoted by the Phnom Penh Post as saying.

He said the agreement would be delayed until the CEO recovered and was fit to travel, but said no date had been set.

In the absence of the CEO, KRX representatives and Cambodian Finance Minister Keat Chhon oversaw the launch of a computer training system aimed at teaching participants how to place bid and offer orders on the exchange, as well as how to conduct daily exchange and securities firm business.

The 10,000-US-dollars program, which was specially designed for Cambodia, aims to promote awareness of the exchange, Inpyo Lee said, adding that he expected the exchange to launch by December.

However, the global economic crisis and the abysmal performance of exchanges in the Southeast Asian region over the past year have led to mixed messages from government officials on the timing of the bourse's launch, which was originally set for September 9, 2009.

S.Korea, Cambodia to open JV stock exchange in '09

SEOUL, Jan 22 (Reuters) - South Korea's stock exchange operator said on Tuesday it had agreed with the Cambodian government to set up and run a joint stock exchange in the Southeast Asian country in 2009.

The Korea Exchange , Asia's fourth-largest bourse operator, has in recent years supported stock market development in Southeast Asia as part of efforts to raise its profile and draw foreign firms to Seoul for listings.>

KRX said in a statement the exchange and the Cambodian Finance Ministry were working on a detailed investment plan to set up the Cambodia Stock Exchange and a support system next year.

The Cambodian government will own a minimum 51 percent in the new bourse while KRX will hold as much as 49 percent. KRX will also help the country set up a regulatory body to oversee stock trading, it said.

South Korea said last year it would spend $1.8 million in training and help set up the modern stock market in Cambodia, which is recovering from a 30-year civil war ended in 1998.