REAKSMEY KONGKEA

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA The “Ho Chi Minh City Expo 2010” under the theme “Vietnamese Product-More Choices-Much Trusted” will be organized for five days from the 15th to 19th of July at the Kohl Pich Diamond Exhibition Center in Phnom Penh. The event is jointly organized by the Ho Chi Minh City Investment and Trade Promotion Centre, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Culture Sports and Tourism, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, and the Vietnamese Embassy and Vietnamese Commerce Affairs, in collaboration with the Ministry of Commerce of the Kingdom of Cambodia. There are more than 250 Vietnamese companies and 300 exhibition booths which will attended the “Ho Chi Minh City Expo 2010” in Phnom Penh in order to sell their products for people and to promote Vietnamese products and investments in Cambodia. Mr. Tu Minh Thien, Chief of the Organization Boards of the “Ho Chi Minh City Expo 2010”, said that it marked the 14th year as the Ho Chi Minh City...

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA More than 600 people including Cambodian troops, government officials, Buddhist monks, nuns, laymen and villagers have gathered on the 7th of July at Preah Vihear Temple in Preah Vihear province to mark the “2nd Anniversary of Preah Vihear Temple” when it was officially included into the World Heritage’s List in 2008, by the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The celebration of the “2nd Anniversary of Preah Vihear Temple” was organized by the Preah Vihear Authority, the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts and Preah Viherar Provincial Authority. H.E. Chuch Phoeung, Secretary of State for the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts, said that the event marked the second year as Cambodia has organized the 2nd Anniversary of Preah Vihear Temple. He stated that the event aimed to mark and remember the date and the inclusion of Preah Vihear Temple into the World Heritage’s List by UNESCO in 2009. “Preah Vihear Temple belongs to Cambodia...

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA The Cambodian Centre for Study and Development in Agriculture (CEDAC) has conducted a workshop on “Rural Youth and Based Development” in Agriculture for media groups for two days from July 3rd-4th in Preah Sihanbouk province. The workshop was sponsored by the Friedrich-Naumann Foundation for Liberty (FNF). The workshop on “Rural Youth and Based Development” is aimed to encourage and promote the youths, especially the students who dropped out or abandoned their studies to turn to agricultural skills professionals so that they can become a future professional farmer or young agro-entrepreneurs in the Kingdom of Cambodia. More than 50 Cambodian journalists from newspapers, radio and television and farmers have attended the workshop. Dr. Yang Saing Koma, CEDAC’s President, said that the youths are the strength and main human resources in the rural based development and the country development. Currently many Cambodian youths and students had dropped out of school o...

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA The Salvation Centre Cambodia (SCC) which is a non-governmental organization has conducted the Social Counselling Skills training for three days from the 8th to 10th of July 2010 in Phnom Penh. More than 30 SCC’s keys community representatives from Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and Battambang provinces have attended the workshop, focussing and learning about how to counsel the people living with HIV/AIDS in Cambodia. Mr. Prum Thoeun, Director of SCC, said that the workshop is to train their staff and key community representatives about Social Counselling Skills so that they can improve their skills to work with people living with HIV/AIDS in Cambodia in the future. “This is the first time as SCC has organized the social counselling skills for our key staff and community representatives in Cambodia. The purpose of the workshop is to train our key community representatives about the skills of social counselling so that they can improve their working skills related to the...

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA The Royal Government of Cambodia and the Republic of Philippines are now working and cooperating on economic sector in order to promote trade and investments opportunities for the benefits of the two countries in the future. The signing ceremony of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Trade and Investment Promotion between the Philippines-Cambodia Business Council of the Philippines Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Cambodian Chamber of Commerce was made by Oknha Kith Meng, President of the Cambodian Chamber of Commerce and General Jose P. Magno, Representative of Philippines-Business Council on July 9th in Phnom Penh. Dr. Cham Prasidh, Senior Minister and Minister of Commerce, said that the diplomatic relations between Cambodia and the Republic of Philippines were established way back in 1957, and the bilateral relations have strengthened over the years through high-level visits between leaders of the two countries. The trade volume between Cambodi...

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA The Royal Government of Cambodia will host the first Multi National Military Training Exercise under the Scheme “Angkor Sentinel 2010” on the 17th of July 2010 at the ACO Military Training Centre in Kampong Speu province. Twenty-six countries will attend the military training exercise including Cambodia, China, France, Korea, Nepal, Japan, Indonesia, Canada, New Zealand, Philippines, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Germany, Mongolia, Tonga, Australia, Singapore, Russia, Brunei, India, Laos, Thailand, Italy, Switzerland, Chilli, and the United States of America. General Chhum Socheat, Spokesman for the Ministry of National Defence, said that the event marks the first time on Multi National Military Training Exercise under the Scheme “Angkor Sentinel 2010” with the participation of about 30 countries in Cambodia. The multi nation military training is organized by the Ministry of National Defence with financial support by the United Nations (UN), aiming to exchange military...

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA Eight Cambodian migrant workers who were trafficked to India from Thailand’s gulf have arrived at the Phnom Penh International Airport on July 6th after six months in an Indian detention centre. The eight Cambodian workers reportedly left Cambodia last September to find jobs in Thailand, having struck a deal with a broker who promised them fake Thai visas, passage across the border and construction work, according to the victims and competent authorities. Kim Sovanna, Deputy Director of the Legal Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, said that the eight people are among many victims of human trafficking that has become a growing problem for Cambodians seeking work abroad. He stated that the trafficked men would remain under the jurisdiction of the International Organisation for Migration for the time being and did not know when they would be able to return to their families. “I think that these men are lucky because they a...

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA The Cambodian Amateur Boxing Association (CABA) in cooperation with the Bayon Television and Radio Station has scheduled to organize the “Cambodian-French International Kbach Kun Boran Khmer Championship” on the 11th of July. Twelve selected boxers including six Cambodian boxers including one female fighter and other five French boxers including one female will compete on Sunday July 11th, 2010 at the Bayon Television and Radio Station’s boxing arena in Phnom Penh in order to compete and to become the Bayon Television Boxing Championship. The participated international fighters included: Oth Phouthorng, weighs 67 kilograms from RCAF’s Boxing Association competing with Abotsi Jerome, 67 kilogram, from France; Yuk Yeakil, 69 kilograms, from Poi Pet Boxing Club, competes with Khdoja Adil, 69 kilograms, from France; Chan Ratana, 69 kilograms, from Khmerak Cla Hors (Fly Tiger) Boxing Association competes with Chaige Ludovie, 69 kilograms, from France; Miss Ny Samnan...

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA The Cambodian People’s Party (CPP), has marked the 59th Anniversary of the CPP founding on June 29th in Phnom Penh. About 10,000 supporters who are high-ranking government officials, Buddhist monks, students and teachers attended the celebration. The historical event was presided over by Samdech Chea Sim, CPP’s President and President of the Senate; Samdech Heng Samrin, CPP’s Honorary President and President of the National Assembly, Embassy officials in Cambodia. Samdech Techo Hun Sen, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, and Vice-President of CPP did not attend the 59th Anniversary Celebration because of his health problems. Samdech Chea Sim said that in the past 59 years the Cambodian People’s Party kept its own identity as the party, which was created by the Cambodian people and worked for the Cambodians and, moreover, it led the national liberation movement to strongly fight against the French colonial administration and also contributed comprehensiv...

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA H.E. Dr. Sok An, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Council of Ministers and also Chairman of the Cambodian National Petroleum Authority (CNPA), said that the Royal Government of Cambodia plans to pump oil in Sihanoukville’s offshore areas in 2012. The Deputy Prime Minister continued to say that according to the Cambodian government’s plan, the Government will start pumping oil for the first time in December 2012 as it looks to tap the potential of its offshore reserves in Cambodia. “The Royal Government of Cambodia will begin pumping oil in Preah Sihanouk province in December 2012. The first drop of oil production would start in two years,” he said at a meeting with CNPA on June 21st in Phnom Penh. So far, there over 20 oil companies that has signed the agreements with Cambodian governments researching the drill for oil, minerals, gas and petroleum in Cambodia’s offshore areas. These foreign oil companies included: Total Company, Chevron Company, Mitsui...

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA The Care International in Cambodia has conducted a media workshop on “Community Based Avian Influenza Project” on June 29th in Phnom Penh to disseminate about avian influenza project as well as to raise awareness about the danger and epidemics of the avian influenza for Cambodians. About 40 of the electronic and print media organizations, newspapers, magazines, and radios, and farmers have invited and attended the media workshop on the “Community Based Avian Influenza Project” in Phnom Penh. Sharon Wilkinson, Country Director of the Care International in Cambodia, said that the workshop provided information to the participants as they need to learn about the project. She stated that the project has succeeded in integrating hygiene promotion and bio-secure poultry farming practices through demonstration farms with a community-based surveillance system comprised of the village surveillance teams. “I hope that the lessons we have documented would help inform the f...

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) in collaboration with the National Committee for Sub-National Democratic Development (NCDD) Secretariat in the Ministry of Interior has organized the “Local Development Forum and Launched the Local Development Outlook on Cambodia” on July 1st in Phnom Penh. The event was presided over by H.E. Sak Setha, Secretary of State for the Ministry of Interior and Head of the National Committee for Sub-National Democratic Development (NCDD) Secretariat, Mr. Douglas Broderick, United Nations Resident Coordinator, Ms. Elena Tischenko, UNDP’s Country Director, and the senior government officials from national and sub-national levels, and representatives of UN agencies, Development Partners, academic institutions and civil society organizations. The participants have discussed local development through different angles, including from the perspective of decentralization, de...

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA One of The University of Cambodia’s “Samdech Techo Hun Sen’s Vision-100 Scholarships 2008”, Nara Sokhema, 18, has provided an interview to The Southeast Asia Weekly on July 2nd, telling about her desire as she wants to become economic and political analyst in the future. Nara Khema was born in 1991 in Phnom Penh. She has one old sister and she is the youngest in the family. She is now studying Economics at The University of Cambodia (UC) in Phnom Penh after she passed the scholarship exams with UC in Phnom Penh in 2008. She is also studying the International Studies Program (ISP) at the Institute of Foreign Languages. “I am pleased to pass the UC’s exams and to have the opportunity to study Economics with The University of Cambodia in Phnom Penh. I think that I have been lucky to study Economics at UC which is one of the best qualified universities in Cambodia,” she told the Southeast Asia Weekly. Sokhema studied at the Preah Sisowath High School in Phnom Penh,...

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA The Royal Government of Cambodia has announced that the domestic violence against women has significantly declined. The announcement was made on June 29th in a new result of the “Violence Against Women: 2009 Follow-Up Survey”, surveyed by the Ministry of Women's Affairs in cooperation with development partners, showed that domestic violence against women declined from 64 percent in 2005 to 53 percent in 2009. The Launching Ceremony of the “Violence Against Women: 2009 Follow-Up Survey” was presided over by H.E. Dr. Ing Kantha Phavi, Minister of Women’s Affairs with representatives from government agencies and development partners who attended. The Minister said that the “Violence Against Women: 2009 Follow-Up Survey” was cooperated with development partners including the German GTZ, UNDP, UNFIPA, UNIFEM, and AusAID, aiming to inform on relevant changes in behaviors and attitudes related to domestic violence in particular in Cambodia. The survey has recently...

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA One of The University of Cambodia’s “Samdech Techo Hun Sen’s Vision-100 Scholarships 2008”, Nara Sokhema, 18, has provided an interview to The Southeast Asia Weekly on July 2nd, telling about her desire as she wants to become economic and political analyst in the future. Nara Khema was born in 1991 in Phnom Penh. She has one old sister and she is the youngest in the family. She is now studying Economics at The University of Cambodia (UC) in Phnom Penh after she passed the scholarship exams with UC in Phnom Penh in 2008. She is also studying the International Studies Program (ISP) at the Institute of Foreign Languages. “I am pleased to pass the UC’s exams and to have the opportunity to study Economics with The University of Cambodia in Phnom Penh. I think that I have been lucky to study Economics at UC which is one of the best qualified universities in Cambodia,” she told the Southeast Asia Weekly. Sokhema studied at the Preah Sisowath High School in Phnom Penh,...

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA The Royal Government of Cambodia has announced that the domestic violence against women has significantly declined. The announcement was made on June 29th in a new result of the “Violence Against Women: 2009 Follow-Up Survey”, surveyed by the Ministry of Women's Affairs in cooperation with development partners, showed that domestic violence against women declined from 64 percent in 2005 to 53 percent in 2009. The Launching Ceremony of the “Violence Against Women: 2009 Follow-Up Survey” was presided over by H.E. Dr. Ing Kantha Phavi, Minister of Women’s Affairs with representatives from government agencies and development partners who attended. The Minister said that the “Violence Against Women: 2009 Follow-Up Survey” was cooperated with development partners including the German GTZ, UNDP, UNFIPA, UNIFEM, and AusAID, aiming to inform on relevant changes in behaviors and attitudes related to domestic violence in particular in Cambodia. The survey has recently...

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONKGEA A total of 151 Petanque players including 139 male players and 12 female players from 24 Petanque Clubs and Associations have attended t he “Sar Kheng Petanque Championship 2010” tournament on June 27th at the National Stadium in Phnom Penh. The Petanque competition was organized by the Cambodia Petanque and Sport Boules Federation (CPSBF) and supported by Deputy Prime Minister Sar Kheng, Minister of Interior; Phnom Penh Governor Kep Chuktema, Anco pure water; FBT Company and CocaCola Company. H.E. Nuth Sa An, Secretary of State in the Ministry of Interior and Honorary President of CPSBF, said that the event marked the 11th time the Federation has organized this “Sar Kheng Petanque Championship” tournament. The objective of the competition is to develop and promote the Petanque in Cambodia as well as to prepare for the future Petanque competitions inside and outside Cambodia. “As you know, Petenque is one of the Cambodia’s potential sports which have brought th...

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA A total of 40 youth football teams with 880 players from cities and provinces across the country will attend the “Cambodia Festival U13 Tournament 2010”, starting from the 6th to the 14th of July 2010 at the National Football Center located at Cheng Meng village in the Kambol’s Military Police Training Center in the outskirt of Phnom Penh. The U13 Tournament was organized by the Football Federation of Cambodia (FFC) and supported by a number of local and international sponsor companies in Cambodia. Gen. Sao Sokha, Chief of the Military Police Headquarters and President of the Football Federation of Cambodia (FFC), said that it marked the first time as FFC will organize the “Cambodia Festival U13 Tournament 2010” in Phnom Penh. The purpose of the U13 football tournament is to promote youth footballers, young football human resources, and select qualified youth football players in preparing for future national and international competitions in a...

BY BUTHG REAKSMEY KONGKEA Mrs. Soprano KIM Myungsil, a veteran and experienced Korean music teacher has organized a Concert “The Young Sopranos” on June 25th. The Concert was performed at the Cambodia-Japan Cooperation Center (CJCC) in Phnom Penh in order to show about young soprano singers in Cambodia. Teacher Myungsil received a diploma in vocal studies from Verdi Conservatory in Italy. She graduated from Reggio Calabria Academy (Italy). She won prizes at the Torino competition and performed as a soloist in several concerts in Bolzano, Trento, Milano, and Monza. Her repertoire includes Mozart, Donizetti, Bellini, Rossini’s opera and special opera buffa. Joining her husband, she has been living for over two years in Cambodia and she established Cantabile, a group of professional vocalists in Phnom Penh. The Concert was performed by a 13-year-old Cambodian girl Bosba Panh, Miss OH Dabeen, 16 years old, Korea and LEE Seul, 21, Korea. The three young sopranos singing Italian opera and Kh...

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA The Ministry of Economy and Finance and UNESCAP have organized a high Level Workshop on “Strengthening the response to the global financial crisis in Asia-Pacific: the role of macroeconomic policies” for three days from the 22nd to 24th of June in Phnom Penh. The main purpose of the joint workshop was to provide an opportunity for Cambodia’s high level officials, policy makers and experts to conduct a focused discussion of concrete policy options to address these and other challenges facing the country’s economy. The key experts are the high level officials from key partner countries of Cambodia such as People’s Republic of China, Thailand, Vietnam, Republic of Korea, and India as well as experts from ESCAP, ADB, UNDP, IMF and the World Bank. H.E. Keat Chhon, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance, said that the workshop is timely, and would greatly contribute to enhancing the capacity of Cambodian makers in coping with the future global fina...

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA About 140 people including students, youth volunteers, communities’ representatives and civil society representatives from involved government institutions and NGOs have attended the learning filed trip on “Role of Youth in Development and Community’s Resources Conservation” on June 16th in Banteay Prey fishery community in Andoung Thmor commune, Prey Nup district, Preah Sihanouk province. The event was organized by the Cambodian Volunteers for Society (CVS) in collaboration with the Youth Resources Development Program (YRDP), Fishery Action Coalition Team (FACT), Administrative Fishery Office of Preah Sihanouk province, NGO Forum on Cambodia and Banteay Prey community in order to encourage the youths to be networked and involved in the developing work in Cambodia. Mr. Pen Somony, Executive Director of CVS, said that the purpose of the event was to provide the opportunity for youths to learn about real practice in social work in local communities towards streng...

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA The Sacombank Jewelry (SBJ)-Cambodian Company which is the only Vietnamese Jewelry and Bank Branch office in Phnom Penh has launched the “Than Tai Gold Bullion” circulation on 24th June 2010 in Phnom Penh to boom its gold and silver business and products in the Kingdom of Cambodia. The official opening and launching ceremony was presented by Mr. Dang Van Thanh, Chairman Sacombank-SBJ Group/Vietnam, Mr. To Thanh Hoang, Chairman Sacombank-SBJ; Mr. Hoang Long Hoi, Chairman Sacombank-SBJ Cambodia; Mr. Pham Anh Tai, General Manager of the Sacombank-SBJ Cambodia Company; and H.E. Mok Sothearih, Cambodian government representative and personal advisor to the National Assembly President Samdech Heng Samrin. Mr. Dang Van Thanh, Chairman Sacombank-SBJ Group/Vietnam, said that it marked the first time as the Vietnamese Sacombank-SBJ Group has established its business branch, SBJ-Cambodia Company, and to officially launch the Than Tai Gold Bullion in Cambodia. He added tha...

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA The People Health Development Association (PHD) and six partnership universities including The University of Cambodia; the Build Bright University; Putisastra University; Phnom Penh International University; Norton University; and the University for National Management have signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in order to cooperate and support the implementation of the “Man Engagement to Stop Violence Against Woman Project” in Cambodia. The MOU was signed by the PHD’s President and six representatives of partner universities on June 25th in Phnom Penh. Mr. Ou Ratanak, President of the People Health Development Association, said that the MOU is aimed to seek the close cooperation and supports from partner universities for implementation of the “Man Engagement to Stop Violence Against Woman Project” in Cambodia. He said the project will run for three years and will be implemented from 2010 to 2013. “The PHD and partner CARE International under the financi...

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA The Nationwide Secondary and Higher Education Sport Students Competition 2010 has begun and will last for three weeks from the 19th of June to July 1stat the National Sport Complex in Phnom Penh. A total of 1,053 students including 167 female students from 30 different state and private universities, high schools, institutions and NGO schools from cities and provinces across the nation have attended the event. The Sport Students competition was organized by the Ministry of Education Youth and Sport, aiming to select the best sports players at student level in 2010 in Cambodia. Prum Bunyee, Chief of the Sport Students Tournament Organizing Committee, said that there are a total of four sport choices for this year’s sport student’s competition. The four sports include football; basketball; volleyball and athletes. “The Ministry of Education Youth and Sport is proud to organize the competition in Phnom Penh this year,” he said. “The purpose of the competition is t...