Are Western Consumers Willing to Pay More for Apparel?

Watch Are Western Consumers Willing to Pay More for Apparel? on PBS. See more from PBS NewsHour.

June 14, 2012
PBS Newshour (US Public Broadcasting System)

SUMMARY:

Fred de Sam Lazaro reports on the working conditions in Cambodia's garment industry, which exports much its clothing to the United States.

JUDY WOODRUFF: Next, labor unrest in Cambodia's clothing factories. Workers are calling for fewer hours, better conditions and higher wages. That raises a question: Are Western consumers ready to pay more for apparel?

FRED DE SAM LAZARO: Back in the 1990s, Cambodia, impoverished and rebuilding after its genocidal Khmer Rouge years, took steps to give its new garment industry a competitive leg up. It agreed to a system of labor standards, with minimum wages and a limit on working hours, union representation and freedom of expression.

All would be open to international inspection. Today, there are perhaps 400,000 garment workers in more than 300 factories in and near the capital, Phnom Penh, subcontractors to retailers and brands across Europe and North America.

Beginning from scratch less than two decades ago, Cambodia's garment industry has grown into the largest export earner for this country. Three out of four dollars that come into Cambodia come from the garment factories.

The key question is how much all this has benefited workers, almost all of whom are female, or, if you listen to the unions, whether it has benefited them at all.

Many factories have been plagued by labor unrest. Occasionally, it has been violent. There have been frequent reports of workers fainting on the factory floors.

Union leader Chea Mony blames unhealthy conditions and workers weak from malnourishment.

ចោម​លឹត៖ ចិន​ និង​កម្ពុជា​ជា​ដៃគូ​ដ៏​ល្អ ​ជា​មិត្តសម្បត្តិ​រតនៈ​ [ចំណែក ខ្មែរ-យួន ជាមិត្តជាប់ច្រវាក់]

ចិន​ប្ដេជ្ញា​ថា​នឹង​ជំរុញ​ការផ្លាស់​ប្តូ​ពាណិជ្ជកម្ម​ឲ្យ​កើន​ពី​ជាង ​២.៣០០​លាន​ដុល្លារ ​នៅ​ឆ្នាំ​២០១១ ​ដល់​ចំនួន ​៥.០០០​លាន​ដុល្លារ​អាមេរិក​នៅ​ឆ្នាំ២០១៧។ (Reuters)

កម្ពុជា​សុំ​ឱ្យ​ចិន​មក​វិនិយោគ​បន្ថែម​ទៀត

ថ្ងៃអាទិត្យ, 08 ខែមេសា 2012
ដោយ គង់ សុឋានរិទ្ធ វីអូអេ ខ្មែរ | ភ្នំពេញ

«ចិន​ និង​កម្ពុជា​ គឺ​ជា​ប្រទេស​ជិត​ខាង​យ៉ាង​ល្អ ​ដែល​ជឿ​ទុកចិត្ត​គ្នា​ទៅ​វិញ​ទៅ​មក ​ជា​ដៃគូ​ដ៏​ល្អ ​ជា​មិត្ត​ដ៏ល្អ។ ​ប្រវត្តិ​ទំនាក់​ទំនង​ដ៏​យូរលង់ ​មិត្តភាព​យ៉ាង​ជ្រាលជ្រៅ​ជា​ទ្រព្យសម្បត្តិ​រតនៈ​រួម​គ្នា​របស់​យើង»។

មន្ដ្រី​ជាន់​ខ្ពស់​របស់​រដ្ឋាភិបាល​កម្ពុជា​បាន​បញ្ជាក់​នៅ​ថ្ងៃ​សុក្រ​នេះ​ថា​កម្ពុជា​មាន​ជំហរ​យ៉ាង​ «រឹងមាំ​ច្បាស់លាស់» ​សម្រាប់​កសាង​ទំនាក់​ទំនង​កាន់​តែ​ជិតស្និទ្ធ​បន្ថែម​ទៀត​ជាមួយ​ប្រទេស​ចិន។

លោក ​ចម ​ប្រសិទ្ធ ​ទេសរដ្ឋមន្ដ្រី​និង​ជា​រដ្ឋមន្ដ្រី​ក្រសួង​ពាណិជ្ជកម្ម​កម្ពុជា​បាន​បង្ហាញ​ជំហរ​យ៉ាង​ដូច្នេះ​ ក្នុង​សិក្ខា​សាលា​ក្នុង​ទីក្រុង​ភ្នំពេញ​ស្ដីពី​ការ​ជំរុញ​កិច្ចសហ​ប្រតិបត្តិការ​លើ​វិស័យ​សេដុ្ឋកិច្ច​និង​ពាណិជ្ជកម្ម​រវាង​ខេត្ត​យន់ណាន់​និង​កម្ពុជា។

លោក​បាន​បញ្ជាក់​ថា៖

«កម្ពុជា​ សូម​អះអាង​ឡើង​វិញ​ពី​ការ​ប្តេជ្ញាចិត្ត​របស់​ខ្លួន​ក្នុង​ការ​ពង្រឹង​ទំនាក់​ទំនង​ឲ្យ​កាន់​តែ​ជិតស្និទ្ធ​រវាង​កម្ពុជា​និង​ចិន​ដើម្បី​ប្រែក្លាយ​ឲ្យ​ទៅ​ជា​ដៃគូ​យុទ្ធសាស្ដ្រ​គ្រប់​ជ្រុងជ្រោយ​ពិត​ប្រាកដ​មួយ​ ជា​ពិសេស​ខាង​ផ្នែក​សេដ្ឋកិច្ច ​ពាណិជ្ជកម្ម ​វិនិយោគទុន ​នយោបាយ​ និង​សន្ដិសុខ​ ក្នុង​បណ្ដា​ទសវត្សរ៍​ខាង​មុខ»។

Weak spots seen in Kingdom trade

Tuesday, 08 November 2011
Don Weinland and May Kunmakara
The Phnom Penh Post

While the World Trade Organisation yesterday lauded Cambodia’s economic achievements since joining in 2004, officials pointed to the lack of much-needed financing for the Kingdom’s burgeoning trade sector.

Cambodia lacks the capacity to finance the manufacturing and agriculture exports that would allow the country’s industries mature, Minister of Commerce Cham Prasidh said yesterday, speaking at a presentation of the WTO’s first trade policy review of the Kingdom, released on Friday.

“We are still running short of liquidity from commercial banks and from other financial institutions. We have a lot of warranties to trade but not [enough] money to roll out these activities,” he said.

US$1.5 million in alm from China to beggar Hun Xen

Cambodian PM's Visit to China Fruitful: Commerce Minister

2011-10-21
Xinhua

The visit of Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen to China's Nanning to join the 8th China-ASEAN expo and investment and business summit has brought Cambodia with humanitarian aids and closer ties on politics, trade and investment between Cambodia and China, concluded Cambodia's Minister of Commerce Cham Prasidh on Friday.

During his stay in Nanning, the capital city of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Prime Minister Hun Sen had met with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao to discuss ways to further strengthen and expand the bilateral cooperation, Prasidh told reporters at Phnom Penh International Airport upon the prime minister's return from China.

He said that Hun Sen informed Wen about the worst floods that have hit Cambodia since August and killed 247 people as well as damaged about 10 percent of agricultural crops this year.

In response, Wen expressed deep sympathy over the loss of life and crops and he pledged to provide an additional 1.5 million U.S. dollars to help Cambodian flood victims.

Cambodia seeks to improve business ties with Turkey

Cambodia’s Trade Minister Cham Prasidh (C) has said he want to share Turkey’s experience in making new investments and to cooperate with Turkey in third markets.

11 September 2011, Sunday
RAMAZAN SOLAK , İSTANBUL
Today's Zaman (Turkey)

Cambodia expects to improve its current trade relations with Turkey and boost bilateral investments, the country’s trade minister, Cham Prasidh, told the Cihan news agency in İstanbul Saturday.

Prasidh was in Turkey to participate in the 80th İzmir International Fair (İEF). The minister met with members of the Association for Social and Economic Solidarity with Pacific Countries (PASİAD) in İstanbul on Saturday. Evaluating Cambodia’s business relations with Turkey, Prasidh said Cambodia wants to share Turkey’s experience in making new investments and to cooperate with Turkey in third markets.

Mekong Countries Move Toward More Integration

Cambodian Minister of Commerce Cham Prasidh speaks during the 17th GMS Ministerial Conference at the Peace Palace in Phnom Penh August 4, 2011. Representatives from the six participating countries in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) Economic Cooperation Program meet to review and agree on the new GMS Strategic Framework for 2012-2022. (Photo: Reuters)

Thursday, 04 August 2011
Chun Sakada, VOA Khmer | Phnom Penh

“We have inadequate resources to develop a number of infrastructure projects. We need more money for infrastructure development, and we lack human resources.”

The countries of the lower Mekong River are moving toward greater integration, but Cambodia’s commerce minister said Thursday the country is ill prepared.

Ministers from Burma, Cambodia, China, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam met in Phnom Penh to discuss a second phase of economic cooperation under and Asian Development Bank program.

The plan calls for an “economic corridor” linking the Greater Mekong countries and investment in urban and rural areas alike.

Cambodia to postpone Thai expo slated for next week in Phnom Penh

May 14, 2011
Xinhua

Cambodia decided to postpone the Thai expo planned for next week in Phnom Penh, saying it is not the right time to hold such an expo.

"Due to recent restrictions on border trade by Thai military region 2, I am of the opinion that this is not the right time to promote Thai products in Cambodia," Cambodian Commerce Minister Cham Prasidh said in a letter to Thai embassy in Phnom Penh on Friday.

Cambodia's decision is a response to the 2nd Thai Army command' s order on Tuesday to halt a further exports of fuel and other products into Cambodia, claiming the Cambodian military may need them to support their troops in operations against Thai forces along the disputed border.

"The export ban will last until the border situation really returns to normal," the Bangkok Post online reported, citing the order letter of the 2nd Army command.

Sacrava's Political Cartoon: Family Business

Click on the cartoon to zoom in

Cartoon by Sacrava (on the web at http://sacrava.blogspot.com)

The Ministry of Commerce Corruption,Tep Bopha Rules: Opinion by Kok Sap

Cham Prasidh and his wife, the powerful Lok Chumteav Tep Bopha Prasidh

24/3/2010
Opinion by Kok Sap
Originally posted at http://khamerlogue.wordpress.com

Old saying,” sleep with dog get fleas,” so as we see as it happened in the Ministry of Commerce that affirmed Shakespeare famous line”to be or not to be”. Family ties are the essence to grow rich in Cambodia systematic nepotic and despotic government. It appears true as Global Witness has reported Cambodia Family Tree seems getting stronger and bigger than before in the business to sell Cambodia for profits.

We remember on 15 March 2005 when Dr. Cham Prasidh (at birth as Hong You Tekleng and Prasidh was given to him by Yuon bo doi), was miffed with Hun Sen inability to stop corruption by entrusting the corruptive Sok An to draft the laws. He threatened and vowed to quit at the end of 2005 if corruption was unresolved but Tep Bopha, the man-eater tigress, would not allow him to do so. In the end he had not followed her order to stay in the job but to become the nouveau filthy rich in a flash.

In the last five years as a Sino descent, Prasidh is no dummy. Not only he adapts to systematic corruption but becomes Sok An relative through their children marriage. So often he accompanies Hun Sen in trips abroad. Now he is not only unscrupulous but enjoying the privilege tremendously to be in the same sacred Sok An-Hun Sen circle of big fat Gau Prey.

It’s been said about Cambodia present political clique; if the husband were a captain then the wife must be a colonel. It appears relevant in Prasidh case, the multi-millionaire and senior Minister of Commerce. He may be the minister on the book but the real decision maker and powerhouse in all daily affairs at the ministry is Madame Tep Bopha. She’s the minister’s former elder sister-in-law but turned official wife when his brother died. She’s known as the tigress of Cham Chao fortress. Her protégé and confidante is Ms. Cham Nimul, a US business degree holder, with the master key to her papa secret safe, appointment schedule and important dossiers. Her official job is the director of her papa cabinet. But literally speaking, she is the designated minister who runs the ministry and answers to none below her papa. How nice for Prasidh to have his wife and daughter run and look after his business in the ministry.

Man-eater Tep Bopha is a control freak and overbearing boss. She can order around any staff from the ministry to run her errands or personal businesses on state time. Those who satisfied her insatiable desire and power hunger would be elevated through rank in office that the person never had to show up at work but at Cham Chao fortress, instead. She lives lavishly off her acquired wealth from obscure sources. Her luxurious multimillion dollar compound is wired and equipped with short circuit cameras in every conspicuous corner. She runs her servants via intercom. Besides her sizeable expensive automobile fleet, she wears expensive exquisite jewelries and outfits that made former Queen Monique unnoticeable.

In 2007 when I visited Wat Chompous Kha-aek near Phnom Penh, I heard the story that Tep Bopha had mistakenly tossed her over $20,000 diamond ring in the trashes. She was crying her eyes out all day. So Prasidh asked around if was there any holy monk practicing Hindu-ayurvedic mantra and fortune telling. He frantically went to see a Yuon mixed monk living at Wat Chompous Kha-aek.
By luck, the monk was innocently saying she should look at her trashes first before declared permanent loss. After she found her ring, she dispatched the young monk to visit and give her holy water bath plus magical love potion to keep Prasidh in a short leash.

Monk received handsomely financial reward and become her regular visitor at the fortress. Soon after that,the Young monk aged barely 25 was elevated to the title of Somdech Vanaradh is equally as the provincial level religious sect chief. Many of foxy ladies in Phnom Penh including Annie Sok An and Bun Rany followed suit and became this holy man loyal worshippers too.

With enormous wealth at disposal, the subordinates and officials treat the tigress Tep Bopha as equal as to Hun Sen’s wife. She shops at top designer boutiques in Phnom Penh or in Singapore. Her escorts are members of ministry staff whom she personally assigned and selected to be her daily errand maids. She frequents the expensive super market in Phnom Penh for groceries and house-needs.

From times to times, the tigress Tep Bopha appears at the public ceremonies or inauguration in Prasidh place. She is vested power to sign deals with foreign investors. She owns special economic zones and special businesses that she needs no salary from her husband payroll. Interestingly, this man-eater has not only pawed her way to the prominence but has steadily gained her social notoriety. She has secured her husband job which will soon pass it down to her daughter in one of these days.

This may be the reason that Prasidh no longer criticizes Sok An not to mention Hun Sen. If not soon but down in the line, the 30 or so old time ministers will end up sharing blood line with Hun Sen or Sok An in one way to the other. Through associative and distributive relations: Sok An’s wife is related to Hun Sen’s wife through marriage so is Tep Bopha’s kid; henceforth, if Sok An related to Hun Sen through his kid relations therefore the same goes for Prasidh whose kid is related to Sok An by CPP tradition. The same connector will make Hun Sen a relative to Prasidh as well. This is the way CPP elites stick to powerful posts by exploiting their own kid emotional and relationship growth.

Joint committee for Development Triangle holds its fourth session

12/22/2009
VOV News (Hanoi)

The fourth session of the joint co-ordination committee for the Cambodia-Laos-Vietnam Development Triangle was held in Buon Me Thuot, Dak Lak province on December 22 to discuss the implementation and adjustment of an overall socio-economic development plan for the region .

The session drew the participation of Ministers of Planning and Investment and Trade from Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia and leaders from ten provinces in the region.

Cambodian Minister of Trade Cham Prasidh, who is also chairman of the co-ordination committee, said that this was an important session, aimed at implementing the agreements signed by the three countries in Vientiane recently on investment, trade and tourism. He highlighted the implementation of the development triangle over the past years in terms of building infrastructure, attracting investment and training human resources.

Participants also assessed the implementation of the socio-economic plan for the area and reviewed the upgrading of the website in the Khmer and Laos languages which is an important tool to facilitate co-ordination work.

In addition, they also evaluated the results of using US$20 million in Japanese aid in the region and the implementation of a memorandum of understanding on preferential policies for the triangle.

Over the past years, the zone posted a high economic growth rate of 12 percent per year on average despite the impact of the global economic crisis. The region has made remarkable changes in terms of economics and social security with the Japanese government’s aid package of US$20 million.

Cambodia Wants Tax-Free Exports to US: Minister

By Taing Sarada, VOA Khmer
Original report from Washington
02 December 2009

[Editor’s note: Last month, the International Finance Corporation invited Commerce Minister Cham Prasidh to its offices in Washington, to celebrate the 10th anniversary of preferential trade agreements between Cambodia and the US. On his visit, Cham Prasidh testified before the Trade Subcommittee for the US House of Representatives’ Committee on Ways and Means. He also sat with VOA Khmer for an interview at a hotel in Washington. What follows is an excerpt of that interview, in the first segment of an eight-part series.]

Q. What gains has Cambodia received from 10 years of trade agreements with the US?

A. The trade agreement in 1999 provided us with a big opportunity to export clothes for sale to American over other countries. As you know, countries usually export their products within a limited quota by the US. For some countries the US would increase this by 6 percent after the first export. But because Cambodia has this agreement, Cambodia had the 6 percent increased to 14 percent. We exported more than other countries, and around 20 garment factories in Cambodia grew quickly to almost 300 factories.

Q. What is the next strategy to improve Cambodian trade and people’s daily lives?

A. Overall, we need an open market. That means that if the US grants us duty-free and quota-free status, we will have the possibility of selling more products, and we also have the possibility of attracting investors to agriculture. So we’re trying very hard to get the US market. The US market is the biggest market for Cambodia.

Q. You requested that US Congress remove taxes on every product, including clothing. Do you believe this request will be fulfilled?

A. It is our request, but we’ve only come here to lobby them to draft a bill to submit to Congress. I came to lobby them in 2004, and there was a bill in 2005 submitted to Congress. But the bill hasn’t gone further. Among more than 200 Congressmen, 40 of them supported us, but hundreds more still have not yet looked at our bill. Now, in 2009, we started lobbying and submitted it again, but it has not progressed yet because of, as you know, the economic downturn in the US.

We’ve come here this time to reaffirm [our position] as America prepares to review its [generalized system of preferences]. And I’ve come here to express to them that Cambodia needs to have free taxes on our products exported to America, as America considers which countries should be provided the GSP and which countries should be cut back on the GSP. If the US market opens for us, then all the products that come to America will be tax free. Then we will also have to attract many investors to our country, and our people will have better living conditions.

Q. According to your report, Cambodia paid $407 million in tariffs to America on exports worth $2.4 billion. That’s a tariff of 16.7 percent, which is much higher than that for developed countries like the United Kingdom, Thailand, Russia or South America. Do you think it’s fair for Cambodia to pay such a large tax, when its sales are so small?

A. It is extremely unjust for us as an impoverished country. After we told them these tax statistics, they seemed to feel embarrassed. We are also a poor country, like Africa, but they have not allowed us free duty, while some poor countries in Africa can access America’s market with free duty. It is not fair when a small, poor country pays taxes greater than rich countries like France and the UK. They export more products to America but pay less tax. Cambodia exports a small amount of products, but pays a higher tax. So our struggle here is to lobby the US to lower the tax. Then we can export more.

Trade Officials Fight Allegations of Label Swaps

Cham Prasidh involved in garment quota sale to neighboring countries?

By Taing Sarada, VOA Khmer
Original report form Washington
27 November 2009

“No one can trick us. The one who talk about the Vietnamese clothes, they even provoke problem at the Vietnamese border. (sic!)” - CPP Cham Prasidh

Commerce officials are working in the US to counter accusations that garments claiming to be made in Cambodia are actually produced in neighboring Vietnam.

Members of the opposition “told America that our shirts were not made in Cambodia, but were made in Vietnam,” Commerce Minister Cham Prasidh told VOA Khmer in an interview on a recent visit to Washington. “Is it fair to say that?”

Cham Prasidh and other officials were in Washington to seek more markets for Cambodian products and to lobby for continued preferential trade agreements.

The garment industry provides more than 300,000 jobs and is economic earner for Cambodia, sending most of its items to the US market.

Sandra Polaski, deputy undersecretary of the US Department of Labor said allegations of label-swapping had reached her, but she dismissed them.

“There is actually a fairly strict system to monitor, to be sure that the products that were labeled, ‘Made in Cambodia,’ came from Cambodia. So I don’t think it is an extensive problem.”

Similarly, Cham Prasidh said that the Cambodian ministry of commerce has effective examine systems to every garment factories that can’t be cheated. He urges those critics better to think more about the country benefits.

“We have control systems at every garment factory,” Cham Prasidh said. “No one can trick us. The one who talk about the Vietnamese clothes, they even provoke problem at the Vietnamese border.”

Sam Rainsy Party parliamentarian Son Chhay said the allegations should be investigated.

And Chea Mony, president of the Free Trade Unions of Workers of the Kingdom of Cambodia, said the government still needs to establish an inspection group to monitor factories.

Van Sou Ieng, president of the Garment Manufacturers Association of Cambodia, said there was no benefit to label swaps, as the costs of smuggling goods or paying bribes to conduct the scheme would outweigh the benefits.

Vietnam tries to cash in Cambodia-Thailand dispute by promoting its products in Cambodia

Vietnam Trade Fair opens in Cambodia

09/03/2009
VOV News (Hanoi)

The 2009 Vietnam Trade Fair, the second of its kind, opened at the Mondial National Exhibition Centre in Phnom Penh on September 2.

Attending the opening ceremony, Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Trade Minister Cham Prasit described the event as a great effort of the Vietnamese Government to boost trade ties between the two countries to raise two-way trade to US$2 billion in 2010.

Deputy PM Cham Prasit said that through trade fairs, trade turnover between the two countries has consistently increased in recent years from US$935 million in 2006 to almost US$1.7 billion in 2008.

As many as 125 Vietnamese businesses are displaying their wares, including industrial products, commodities, foodstuff, cosmetics and garments.

During the fair, seminars will be held to discuss on business and investment opportunities between enterprises of the two countries.

The fair will run through September 6.

Sacrava's Political Cartoon: Cham Prasidh's Express

Cartoon by Sacrava (on the web at http://sacrava.blogspot.com)

One way trade deficit with Thailand ... while Cambodian rice and cassava are banned in Thailand: What is there to be proud of, Mr. Cham Prasidh?

Cambodia-Thailand: Trade exchange on the rise

23 March 2009
By Ky Soklim
Cambodge Soir Hebdo
Translated from French by Tola Ek
Click here to read the article in French

In spite of the world financial and economic crisis, the results of the economic trade between the two kingdoms show a significant increase. This news was announced by Cham Prasidh, the Cambodian minister of Commerce, during a Thai trade fair held in Phnom Penh.

On 22 March, Cham Prasidh declared during the opening of the Thai trade fair that “commercial trade between the two countries never stops increasing from one year to another.”

In 2008, the volume of commercial trade between the countries amounted $2.1 billion, i.e. a 52% increase over 2007. Cambodia exported about $90 million, but it imported $2 billion worth from Thailand.

“In spite of the financial crisis which affects the region and the world, trade between our two countries is not affected,” Cham Prasidh claimed while adding that the volume of trade exchange amounted only to $1.4 billion in 2007.

The Thai trade fair is held at the Mondial Center in Phnom Penh between 22 and 26 March. 124 companies are participating in the event showcasing 214 display stands. Construction materials, beauty supplies, food, clothes etc… are on display to the Cambodian public. “ I believe that these products are distributed in Cambodia, and they attract more and more the local customers,” Cham Prasidh added.

Hanoi's marching order: Boost the one-sided trade to $2 billion

Vietnam, Cambodia talk trade cooperation

16/03/2009
VietNamNet/VNA

VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnamese Minister of Industry and Trade Vu Huy Hoang and Cambodian Minister of Trade Cham Prasidh held talks in Phnom Penh on March 16, agreeing to accelerate trade activities towards a target of 2 billion USD in turnover by 2010.

During the talks, the two ministers reviewed the implementation of trade cooperation agreements and discussed obstacles on the way to reach the targets.

The two sides agreed in principle to set up a coordination mechanism, probably a specialised board co-chaired by the two ministers, to deal with emerging issues in a timely manner.

They agreed that the two countries should meet to revise existing regulations on customs procedures for transit goods and border gate management in order to facilitate goods transport and travel along their shared border.

After the talks, the ministers signed minutes of their meeting, pledging to accelerate the implementation of trade agreements signed by the two countries’ Prime Ministers and the two ministries. They also plan to cooperate in personnel training hold more meetings between the two ministries to solve any rising problems, and promote border trade to boost sales of agricultural products and create more jobs for border inhabitants.

Earlier the same day, the two ministers co-chaired the opening ceremony of the second conference on Vietnam-Cambodia border trade cooperation.

During his stay in Cambodia from March 15-16, Minister Hoang was received by the Cambodian Prime Minister. He also had a working session with Vietnamese investors in Cambodia to learn of their projects and their difficulties in the process of implementation.

Premier Hun Sen 'Will Not Dare To Clash With Cham Prasit' [-Nepotism in full swing among the CPP ministers in P.Penh]

Cham Prasidh and his wife, the powerful Lok Chumteav Tep Bopha Prasidh

09 Feb 09
Moneaksekar Khmer
Translated from Khmer by Anonymous

Minister of Public Works and Transport Tram Iv-tek has appointed his daughter as office chief. Tek Leakhena was appointed office chief while her husband was made deputy director general of a department in this ministry. At the Ministry of Environment there is also competition among Minister Mok Maret's relatives. Such an example has been adopted by officials of the Cambodian People's Party (CPP) as seen with Trade Minister Cham Prasit and Social Affairs Minister It Sam Heng.

Sources have reported that Public Works Ministry personnel were greatly surprised when Tram Iv-tek appointed his daughter Tek Leakhena as office chief, along with Tek Leakhena's husband as deputy director general of a department. The ministry staff said that it is a bit too soon to make Tek Leakhena's husband a deputy director of a department and Tek Leakhena office chief.

At Mok Maret's Ministry of Environment competition is still ongoing for the posts of director general of administration and office chief between Mok Maret's brother-in-law (younger brother of Maret's wife) and Mok Maret's nephew. There has been no decision yet on this matter as Mok Maret has difficulty deciding who to give the position to: one is brother-in-law, the other is nephew. In any case the position of director general of administration will not escape from Mok Maret's brother-in-law or nephew. The incumbent director general has been reported trying hard to find a backer; it would be very hard, however, for the incumbent director to keep his position once the circular on retiring officials is out.

It Sam Heng at the Social Affairs Ministry is the most well known for appointing relatives and his own children to high positions at the ministry's office or cabinet. With so many relatives and offspring working at the ministry, and in order to avoid criticism from various circles, It Sam Heng ordered his relatives to change their family names and hide their biographies. Some of these are It Sam Heng's nephews but some officials at the ministry did not realize this when looking at the names before these people were accepted.

Trade Minister Cham Prasit is the one renowned for considering relatives first for jobs at the ministry: offspring, nephew, and wife all work at the ministry. Daughter Cham Nimol is chief of the minister's office. Son Cham Borit is deputy director general at Camcontrol department. Most special of all is Cham Prasit's wife: Tep Bopha; she is head of the archives department and in charge of Cham Prasit's secret documents. The trade ministry is the most famous in appointing offspring, nephew, and wife to high positions to facilitate corruption and to hide documents.

At the Trade Ministry Chm Prasit's wife is the one at the helm. In Cham Prasit's absence it is not any one of the many officially appointed state secretaries who will be acting minister; instead it is Tep Bopha Prasit even though she has not been officially appointed. Tep Bopha Prasit's power is very strong. Some of the state secretaries have nothing to do while Tep Bopha Prasit has plenty of work to do with no time to rest.

Apart from the Trade Ministry and the above other ministries, there is also the Ministry of Urbanization of Im Chhun Lim who made his son office chief. This appointment drew a lot of attention from some leading officials at the ministry as it was made in this fourth term.

And it is the same work structure based on family ties at other institutions. This culture is increasingly expanding now with ministers holding the same portfolios for the past three or four terms. Some appointments have been seen as appropriate looking at the officials' competence. Some others are not competent work wise and are not suitable for their positions; they are there due to the leadership positions of their fathers or uncles. Some of these officials only carry the minister's documents and oversee the budget; this is part of corruption.

Apart from the various ministries, in some provinces and cities relatives have been appointed office chiefs. Phnom Penh City Governor Kep Chutema appointed his daughter as his personal assistant. This personal assistant's influence has been affirmed to be even stronger than that of the office chief. Everyone is fearful of the influence of Kep Chutema's daughter.

No action by the prime minister to deal with this issue has been seen. And this has led to the inefficiency of circulars putting officials into retirement as seen currently spreading at various ministries and offices. Each ministry is the sole property of the minister in charge and his family. There are some subordinate officials who could not work with and who have left those ministries.

Such a culture has not been dealt with because it is believed that if it is to be dealt with, the trade ministry should be the first. It is said that in any event Prime Minister Hun Sen will not dare to clash with Cham Prasit. If it is going to be dealt with, it has to be done with everyone. If not, let it spread all over.

Cambodia says trade will be unaffected by border spat with Thailand

Sun, 26 Oct 2008
DPA

Phnom Penh - Cambodia's trade with Thailand will remain largely unharmed by an increasingly tense border dispute because Cambodia is too attractive a market for Thailand to abandon to China and Vietnam, a minister said Sunday. Commerce Minister Cham Prasidh - addressing reporters at Phnom Penh International Airport on his return from the two-day Asia-Europe Meeting in Beijin - said he did not believe the Thais would "become stupid".

The meeting also saw bilateral talks between Thai and Cambodian officials dealing with fallout from the border dispute which has simmered since July, when the 11th century Preah Vihear temple was awarded World Heritage status by UNESCO over Thai objections.

"If Thailand is not here, Cambodia still has Vietnam and China, but for me, I do not believe Thailand will become stupid and give up a big market," he said, alluding to calls by some political groups to boycott bilateral trade amid nationalistic fervour on both sides.

Prasidh said conflict-related drops in cross-border trade were temporary, noting that in 2007, Thailand had imported more than 1.4 billion dollars of goods to Cambodia, while Cambodia had exported just 40 million dollars worth to Thailand - mostly raw materials.

Cambodia remained an attractive market to investors due to its continued healthy growth but relative under-development, he said, and did not feel threatened by threats of loss of trade from any one market.

"Even though we do not call China to come here, China still wants to come," he said, referring to one of Cambodia's most important trading partners and donors.

Minister: Cambodia-Thailand trade to be normal soon [-Cham Prasidh admits Cambodia's dependence on Thai products]

PHNOM PENH, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian Commerce Minister Cham Prasidh said Sunday that the trade between Cambodia and Thailand would be normal soon after a deadly clash at the border.

The armed clash did not impact the economic field for both sides, Cham Prasidh told reporters at the airport after returning from China.

"It is nearly normal. It was not a war yet," he added.

"The Thai side is not crazy to escape from Cambodian market. Cambodia is a main market for Thai products," he said, adding that Cambodia also can make business with others countries.

The Cambodian government has called for calm following last week's border clash that has resulted in the deaths of three Cambodian soldiers and a Thai trooper.

Regional border committees of Cambodia and Thailand on Friday signed an agreement to ease their months-long tension along the border near the 900-year-old Preah Vihear Temple.

In July, tensions ran high after the Preah Vihear Temple was awarded world heritage status by UNESCO, angering nationalists in Thailand who still claim ownership of the site.

The tension later turned into a military stalemate, in which up to 1,000 Cambodian and Thai troops faced off for several weeks.

Cham Prasidh in India to drum up trade link

Cambodian minister for better links with North-east

Surajit khaund
The Assam Tribune (India)

GUWAHATI, Sept 14 – Senior Minister of Commerce, Cambodia, Cham Prasidh, has suggested better linkage between North-east India and Cambodia to boost trade activities. Talking to this correspondent here today, Prasidh, said that road and air linkage should be established between Cambodia and the region so that traders of both the countries can reap the benefit.

“We have very close historic links with the North East and therefore we are keen to develop our business relations with the region, but to increase our bilateral trade, we have to develop the existing communication system,” he said, adding that he had already invited Ministry of DoNER to make an in-depth study in Cambodia to explore business opportunities.

The senior minister of Cambodia arrived in Guwahati yesterday to participate in the 4th North East Business Summit beginning from tomorrow.

Providing more information on trade, Prasidh informed that the volume of trade between India and Cambodia has been gaining momentum. “ The present volume of trade can be doubled by way of opening up more road and sea routes,” he added. In this context, he said that a direct air link between North East and Cambodia should be established so that traders can explore the markets and share their business views as well. “Since tea is the main industry in the region, traders can explore our market. Moreover, we are very keen to bring tea technology to our northern region in which tea is cultivated,” he added.

Asked about his future plans, He said that Cambodia is eager to increase the volume of trade with India. “Since India has emerged as a major economic power in Asia, we are keen to boost our trade ties with it. Moreover, as far as trade is concerned, India can export pharmaceutical, tea and electronic products to our country and similarly we can export rice to India. We have already invited Indian companies to invest in our country,” he stated.

Prasidh also laid emphasis on cementing the cultural relations between North East and Cambodia.

MK Saharia, Chairman, North Eastern Regional Council, ICC, who accompanied the Minister, said that ICC has been making efforts to turn the region into an investment friendly destination. “The North East Summit is aimed at bringing more investments into the region,” he added.