Cambodia gets B37m loan pledge from PM
By APINYA WIPATAYOTIN
Bangkok Post (Thailand)
Helsinki - Caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra pledged financial assistance of $100,000 (about 37 million baht) to Cambodia in a bid to help it speed up the long-delayed rail project which would link Aranyaprathet and Cambodia's Sisophon district.
The initiative is part of the China and Asean linkage project.
Mr Thaksin's offer would cover the freight charge to transport old railway components from Malaysia's Padang Besar to Aranyaprathet to complete construction of the 48km rail track between Poipet and Sisophon.
However, Mr Thaksin turned down a request made by Phnom Penh for $13 millionin loans (about 480 million baht) for the entire project in Cambodia.
The project aims to link China with four Asean member countries - Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos and Thailand.
Instead, Mr Thaksin urged his Cambodian counterpart to turn to the Asian Development Bank.
"We are not rich enough to provide a huge amount of money," he said.
The financial constraints of some member countries have put the project, a Malaysian initiative, on hold.
"We need an additional $15 million [561.7 million baht] to complete the project. It would be possible to collect some from Asean members. We need further discussion on the issue during the Asean-China Summit in October," he said.
Mr Thaksin was speaking after a meeting with his counterparts from four Asean countries - Malaysia, Singapore, Cambodia and Vietnam - before attending the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) 6 opening ceremony.
The initiative is part of the China and Asean linkage project.
Mr Thaksin's offer would cover the freight charge to transport old railway components from Malaysia's Padang Besar to Aranyaprathet to complete construction of the 48km rail track between Poipet and Sisophon.
However, Mr Thaksin turned down a request made by Phnom Penh for $13 millionin loans (about 480 million baht) for the entire project in Cambodia.
The project aims to link China with four Asean member countries - Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos and Thailand.
Instead, Mr Thaksin urged his Cambodian counterpart to turn to the Asian Development Bank.
"We are not rich enough to provide a huge amount of money," he said.
The financial constraints of some member countries have put the project, a Malaysian initiative, on hold.
"We need an additional $15 million [561.7 million baht] to complete the project. It would be possible to collect some from Asean members. We need further discussion on the issue during the Asean-China Summit in October," he said.
Mr Thaksin was speaking after a meeting with his counterparts from four Asean countries - Malaysia, Singapore, Cambodia and Vietnam - before attending the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) 6 opening ceremony.
1 comment:
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