Qatar prime minister leaves Cambodia for Vietnam

Wed, 02 Apr 2008
DPA

Phnom Penh - Qatar Prime Qatar Prime Minister Hamed bin Jasim bin Jabor al-Thani left Cambodia Wednesday after a two-day official visit during which he had a personal tour conducted by Cambodian Tourism Minister Thong Khon, a government spokesman said. The Qatar politician spent some hours inspected the ancient Angkor Wat temple complex in norther Siem Reap province, 300 kilometres from the capital, before boarding a flight, government spokesman Khieu Kanharith told journalists.

Qatar inked a tentative deal for direct flights between Cambodia and the oil-rich Arabian nation during the visit and held significant official discussions on oil and gas issues, the government said.

Government spokesman Khieu Kanharith said the Qatar prime minister, who also serves as the country's foreign minister, was also destined for a visit to China this tour.

Cambodia is expected to tap potentially rich offshore oil and gas reserves within three years.

It has enlisted the assistance of a number of more experienced petroleum producing and exporting countries such as Brunei and Qatar for advice in an effort to avoid what has become known as the "oil curse" of poorly planned petroleum wealth distribution in other countries such as Nigeria.

Cambodia establishes diplomatic relationship with Qatar

Qatar's Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim Bin Jaber Al-Thani greets well-wishers upon his arrival at Phnom Penh international airport April 1, 2008. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea

PHNOM PENH, April 1 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia and Qatar on Tuesday signed an agreement to establish the diplomatic relationship, Cambodian government spokesman Khieu Kanharith said.

The two countries agreed to select April 1 as the day to establish the diplomatic relationship, he told reporters at a press conference following talks between Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and visiting Qatar Premier.

"We also requested seven projects from Qatar and they agreed with all requests," he said.

The requests include helping to train oil and gas experts for Cambodia, allowing Cambodian labor force to work in Qatar, bringing more investments, a direct flight from Doha of Qatar to Cambodia, strengthening gas and mines cooperation and buying rice products from Cambodia, Khieu Kanharith said.

Both sides will create a law about investments promotion, he added.

Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem bin Jabor Al Thani, the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Qatar, arrived in Phnom Penh on Tuesday to pay an two-day visit to Cambodia.

Cambodia, Qatar sign MOU of direct flight

PHNOM PENH, April 1 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia and Qatar set to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) of direct flight Tuesday afternoon, a Cambodian senior official said here Tuesday.

Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Nam Hong made the remarks after Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem bin Jabor Al Thani, Qatar Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, arrived at the Phnom Penh International Airport to pay an official visit in the kingdom.

The Qatar Premier's two-day visit is to strengthen the diplomatic relations between the two countries and to bring investments from the gulf-region countries to Cambodia, Hor Nam Hong said.

"We expand the direct flight service with Qatar to attract tourists and investors to our country," Moa Havannal, Secretary ofState for the Secretariat of Cambodian Civil Aviation, told Xinhua.

After signing the MOU, it will have a direct flight from Qatar to the Phnom Penh International Airport for first step, he said, adding that later the flights will be expanded to other airports.

The Qatar Premier will hold a talk with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and he will also meet with Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni, a press release from the Cambodian Foreign Ministry said.

Oil high on Qatar prime minister's Cambodian agenda

Tue, 01 Apr 2008
DPA

Phnom Penh - Oil and gas issues were high on Qatar Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem bin Jabor Al Thani's agenda on day one of his two-day official visit to Cambodia, a government spokesman told a press conference Tuesday. The sheikh, who is also Qatar's foreign minister, met with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and almost immediately inked deals ranging from oil and gas exploration cooperation to direct airline flights, government spokesman Khieu Kanharith told journalists.

After being presented with a gift of Cambodian sandalwood by Hun Sen, the Qatar politician signed an expected deal on direct flights between the Qatari capital of Doha and the Cambodian capital, as well as the northern tourist town of Siem Reap.

The sheikh also answered a call by Cambodia for foreign donors to assist it to prepare for an expected influx of oil and gas revenue from offshore oil reserves predicted to be tapped within three years.

He agreed to assist with training of Cambodians in oil and gas exploration, as well as teaming up with the Cambodian government in the future to increase exploration for oil, gas and minerals.

Cambodia has been described as Asia's new mining frontier and the government is hopeful additional petroleum deposits lie under its massive inland Tonle Sap lake.

"He also negotiated for Qatar to begin farming cotton in Cambodia and agreed to loans for roads and irrigation," Kanharith said.

The leaders also discussed investment protection legislation and a multi-million-dollar donation for a new school just outside of the capital.

The sheikh is scheduled to fly to Siem Reap Wednesday to visit the ancient Angkor Wat temple complex before flying out the same day.

Qatar PM arrives in Cambodia for visit

PHNOM PENH, April 1 (Xinhua) -- Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem bin Jabor Al Thani, the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Qatar, arrived here on Tuesday to pay an official visit to Cambodia.

The Qatar Prime Minister's two-day visit will focus on investment in Cambodia and both sides plan to open direct flight, said Sin Bun Thoeun, the director of Information Department of theMinistry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Cambodia.

The Qatar Premier will be accompanied by businesspeople to find the possibility of investment in Cambodia, Sin Bun Thoeun said.

He added that the Premier is also the chairman of the Qatar investment group and the chairman of a major Qatar airline which owns a large number of planes.

The Premier's visit coincides with the start of the flight of his airline between Doha, Qatar and Siem Reap of Cambodia, he said.

The Qatar Premier will also visit the Angkor temples in Siem Reap province of Cambodia.

Qatar PM to visit Cambodia for direct flight, investment co-op

March 27, 2008

Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem bin Jabor Al Thani, the Prime minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Qatar, will pay an official visit to Cambodia on April 1-2, a Cambodian official said on Thursday.

The Qatar Prime Minister's visit will focus on investment in Cambodia and direct flight plan between the two countries, said Sin Bun Thoeun, the director of Information Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Cambodia.

The Qatar Premier will be accompanied by businessmen to find investment opportunities in Cambodia, Sin Bun Thoeun said.

He added that the Premier is also the chairman of the Qatar investment group and the chairman of a major Qatar airline which owns a large number of planes.

The visit is expected to bring about more investment from Qatar and the Middle East and the Persian Gulf region in Cambodia, the official said.

Source: Xinhua

Qatar PM to visit Cambodia in early April

Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Socheata

The PM of Qatar will perform an official visit in Cambodia at the beginning of April. The Rasmei Kampuchea newspaper quoted Sin Bun Thoeun, the information director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, saying, on Tuesday morning, that Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem bin Jabr Al Thani, Qatar PM and Minister of Foreign Affairs, will visit Cambodia between 01-02 April. Sin Bun Thoeun said that the goal of the Qatar PM visit is to observe the situation and the possibility for investment in Cambodia, since the Sheikh is also the chairman of the Qatar investment group, and he is also the chairman of a major Qatar airline that owns a large number of planes. The Sheikh’s visit coincides with the start of the flight of his airline between Doha, Qatar, and Siem Reap.