Cambodian economy expected to grow 7 pct in 2013: official

Xinhua | 2013-1-14 13:02:20
By Agencies

Cambodia's GDP is projected to grow by 7 percent this year even though the global economy remains fragile and high risk due to persisting sovereign debt crisis in Europe and sluggish economic recovery in the United States, a commerce official said Monday.

"Through Cambodian government's deep reforms, Cambodia's economic growth has rapidly recovered from the global economic crisis and it has maintained annual growth of 7 percent last year and the same rate is expected this year," Ou Proum Virak, deputy director of the Commerce Ministry's Trade Promotion Department, said in a trade seminar.

He said the growth would come mainly from garment exports, tourism, agriculture and construction.

Meanwhile, he said global economy at the end of 2012 and in 2013 still faces high risks amid lingering sovereign debt issue in Europe and slow recovery of the US economy.

"These could be challenges for Cambodia either to increase external businesses or to attract foreign investment," he said.

Last Tuesday, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) predicted that Cambodia is expected to register an economic growth rate of 6. 7 percent this year.

"A fragile global economic outlook, rapid credit growth, and potentially extreme weather conditions continue to pose significant risks," the IMF cautioned in the annual review of Cambodia's economic and financial conditions.

China eyes natural resources in Cambodia

The Irish Times - Tuesday, January 8, 2013

CLIFFORD COONAN

China’s influence in Asia is sure to keep growing in 2013, and two Chinese companies have set out their stall early, signing an €8.6 billion deal to build a new railway, port and steel mill in Cambodia.

As with investments in Africa, accessing natural resources is a big part of the motivation behind the spending.
China Rail Group will co-operate with Chinese-owned Cambodia Iron and Steel Mining Industry, to jointly build a 404km railway from Preah Vihear province to Koh Kong province in the southwest.
They will also build a seaport in Koh Kong to support the metal mining industry in Preah Vihear. A spokesman told local media construction should begin by July.

Chinese companies have invested heavily in Cambodia over the last 10 years in projects ranging from hydroelectric dams to agriculture.

Late last month, the Cambodian government gave the green light to construction of its first oil refinery. Sinomach China Perfect Machinery Industry Corp was given the go-ahead to invest €1.77 billion.

Cambodia: Tourist arrivals top estimates

Last Updated on 01 January 2013

By Rann Reuy

 

The number of tourists to arrive in Cambodia in 2012 was at least 200,000 higher than expectations, possibly reaching 3.5 million, officials said yesterday.

Thong Khon, Minister of Tourism, told the Post yesterday that  in the first 11 months of 2012, Cambodia received 3.2 million tourists, and that he assumed for the whole of December, Cambodia would receive an additional 300,000 tourists. He said the number of international tourists arriving in Cambodia reached nearly 2.8 million in 2011, so 2012 saw an increase of more than 20 per cent.
He pointed out that there are some key factors leading to the increases in tourist arrivals, such as political stability and security, as well as being  the host country of ASEAN summits and other related meetings.

He said other reasons included Cambodia establishing new tourism products such as developments in the coastal areas and inland, under the “Green and Clean” slogan. He added that Cambodian services had also improved.

The numbers would be sure to increase even more with direct flights between Cambodia and Indonesia and the long-awaited ACMECS’ single visa implementation for Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam.

“In 2012, if there are not obstacles, and if we solve some problems, we can achieve higher numbers,” he said, adding: “If we push it fast, the increase is faster than what we receive now.”

Sinan Thourn, chairman of the Pacific Asia Travel Association, said he agreed that tourist arrivals increased in 2012. But he said at the same time some hurdles prevented a greater increase.
He said direct flights from Japan or India should be launched to push the increase in tourism, while direct flights from China are still limited.

“If Cambodia [launches more] direct flights with India, China and Japan, then we believe numbers will increase more,” he said. He added that “tourists in Asia Pacific are crucial for Cambodia because it is a huge market”.

Ang Kim Eang, president of the Cambodia Association of Travel Agents, said along with growth, there were some guests extending their stay in Cambodia as a result of the development of tourism products.
 

China to invest $9.6b in Cambodia

Last Updated on 01 January 2013

By May Kunmakara

 

The Cambodia Iron & Steel Mining Industry Group (CISMIG) and the China Railway Group Limited agreed yesterday to build a new railway line with 11 stations as well as an iron and steel factory in Preah Vihear province.

The Memorandum of Understanding between the Groups is worth US$9.6 billion.

“We will start our project in July next year and it will take about four years,” Zhang Chuan Li, Chairman of CISMIG, told the Post yesterday. He added that Chinese and Cambodian experts analyzed the project’s feasibility and its environmental impact in October 2010.

According to the company statements the railway will be 405 kilometres long, from the mining area of Preah Vihear province through the southern provinces of Kampong Thom, Kampong Chnang, Kampong Speu and finally Koh Kong province. It will not connect to the existing lines of Toll Royal Railways.

Zhang Chuan Li told reporters at the signing ceremony that the $9.6 billion investment will be used to build the new railway line, a new port and a new bridge in Koh Kong. The planned iron and steel plant in Preah Vihear will cost $1.6 billion.  

However, he said that the company received 1,300 square kilometres of land concessions from the government and 10 square kilometres would be necessary for the factory in Preah Vihear. The companies did not disclose the exact route of the new line.

Yim Sovann, spokesman for the opposition Sam Rainsy Party, claimed that the government should follow the international bidding process for the approval  of any foreign investment in all industry sectors.

“I don’t want to see companies grab people’s property and destroy natural ressources,” he said. “It will allow corruption, if government and company agree on such projects without a public bidding process.”

Referring to the factory, Zhang Chuan Li explained: “With the factory we  want  to  minimise  the country’s import of steel. We also plan to export to neighbouring countries like Vietnam and Thailand.”
The construction of the factory, which will produce 1 million tonnes of steel and iron per year, will take two and a half years, according to the CISMIG chairman.

The company will not import raw material for the production, but use national mines in Preah Vihear, Rattanakkiri, Kampong Thom and Stung Treng provinces.

Minister of Transportation Tram Iv Tek, who participated in the signing ceremony yesterday morning in Phnom Penh, said the investment will contribute to the development of the Cambodian economy.
“If the investment is successful, it will definitely help the development of Cambodia’s economy. It will not only allow the transportation of resources, but also of agricultural and industrial products as well as passengers,” he said.

Youn Heng, director of the Evaluation and Incentive Department of the Council for Development of Cambodia, confirmed that the CISMIG’s plans were approved by the government in 2010.

Chinese investments in Cambodia, mostly in the garment, textile, agriculture and mining industry. They totalled $9.1 billion between 1994 until the end of July 2012.

On Friday the stretch of railway line from Phnom Penh to Preah Sihanouk province started temporary operations.

The first operations on the southern railway will boost trade activities in the region and attract trade transportation activities, officials said.
 

Cambodia: A matter of life and death

Last Updated on 24 December 2012

By Tong Soprach

 

Last month, a sand truck swerved to avoid a car and crashed into wedding tent erected beside National Road 1. More than 20 wedding participants were seriously injured. Who should be held responsible? The wedding party? A court has yet to address this issue.

In the past, people always complained that traffic accidents were caused by bad roads. Now the roads are better, but the accident rate is still climbing.

This year, road accidents in Cambodia have caused nearly 2,000 deaths and more than 4,000 serious injuries.

Fatalities in road crashes outnumber deaths from HIV and AIDS.
The number of deaths in traffic accidents is also 10 times higher than those caused by land mines and unexploded ordnance.

Fighting on the border of Thailand left 10 Cambodian soldiers dead, causing serious concern and sparking a strong reaction by the Royal Government. Yet the carnage on our roads seems to be accepted as inevitable.

Handicap International calculates that in 2011, traffic accidents cost the nation $310 million. This year, the figure will be higher.

If a road-accident victim dies or becomes permanently handicapped, the loss is even greater when the impact on their livelihood, and that of their family, is taken into account.
This leads to increased poverty, which in turn imposes a bigger burden on the government.
Another factor is the loss of our human resources.

The increased risk of road accidents affects the number of people that could potentially become our leaders of tomorrow.

Last May, Kratie provincial governor Kham Poeun died in a traffic accident. He had worked hard to reach that position, only to be killed in a crash.

During the Khmer Rouge regime, innocent Cambodian families were slaughtered. Today, why do innocent families continue to lose their lives in traffic accidents that can be prevented?
The consequences of this, the human and financial costs, are obvious, so why do so few drivers care about them?

Air passengers automatically buckle their seat belts without needing to be reminded. They take their lives seriously and secure themselves from departure until landing.

Aircraft accidents are very rare, with a one-in-eight-million chance of crashing. Yet air travellers are much more careful than when they travel in cars or buses, which have a much higher accident rate.
Many bus drivers seem not care about their passengers’ lives or the lives of those around them in other vehicles. When a bus crash occurs, the driver often flees the scene, leaving the bus company to deal with the aftermath.

Some truck drivers look too young, and I often see them consuming alcohol while they wait for passengers or goods to be loaded on their vehicles.

Do we know whether they are good drivers or whether they even have official driver’s licences?
Truck drivers often seem to drive very aggressively and carelessly, despite having many passengers aboard. Many trucks are also old and in poor condition, which also must affect the safety of passengers.

Crashes involving local and foreign tourist buses cost insurance companies a lot of money, leading to some insurers refusing to cover bus companies because of their poor driving record.
Traffic problems also have an impact on tourism and investment. As publicity about deaths and serious injuries increases, more and more foreign tourists and businesspeople will shy away from taking to the road in Cambodia.

Preventable deaths on Cambodia’s roads are becoming more and more like hidden murders.
Last year, the relevant ministries agreed to increase fivefold the fine for motorbike riders and passengers who don’t wear helmets. But the draft amendment has not yet been approved by the Council of Ministers. Why is it taking so long?

The government should also increase fivefold the jail sentence for drivers who are found to have caused injury and death to others on the road through carelessness and negligence. This sentence should be in addition to compensation for the accident damage.

Police cite speeding and driving under the influence of alcohol as the main causes of road accidents, but there are a few other contributing factors.

Many vendors sell goods or food on the sidewalk, forcing pedestrians to walk on the street.
Similarly, many drivers park on the sidewalk or on the street, sometimes four cars deep. This causes accidents when pedestrians have to walk in the street and when drivers are forced to drive in the opposite lane because there’s no more space on the road.

Many houses are built right up to the street, leaving no sidewalk, and people are taking up half the street for events such as weddings, birthday parties or traditional ceremonies. No article of the traffic law allows them to do this.

The Royal Government must prioritise the issue of road safety. It should begin by analysing the root of the problem and setting up camera systems on streets and national roads to catch people who break the law.

The state should buy modern patrol cars so the police can arrest speeding or drunk drivers rather than paying a vast amount for more than 200 military tanks.

Otherwise, the health ministry’s aim of reducing the proportion of deaths caused by road  accidents to 2.8 per cent by 2015 will be in vain.

 

Bank Accounts Rare in Cambodia, Even for Rich

By Simon Lewis - December 27, 2012

Despite an expanding financial sector, increasing access to credit and strong economic growth in recent years, fewer than 1 in 20 Cambodians has a bank account, according to a new policy working paper by the World Bank.


According to the paper—released earlier this month and based on questions added in 2011 to the Gallup World Poll, which surveyed at least 1,000 people in each of 148 countries—the low number of people covered by the banking sector is a barrier to Cambodia’s economic progress.

“Without financial inclusion, individuals and firms need to rely on their own resources to meet their financial needs, such as saving for retirement, investing in their education, taking advantage of business opportunities, and confronting systemic or idiosyncratic shocks,” the World Bank paper says, adding that those with bank accounts are more likely to save money and be prepared for harder times.

Highlighting how underdeveloped the banking sector still is in Cambodia, the paper says that just 19 percent of Cambodian adults surveyed had received a loan from a financial institution in the past year. But far more, 39 percent, had taken a loan from family or friends.

Only 4 percent of people nationwide have a bank account in which they can deposit money—a figure that is halved when only the poorest 40 percent are looked at. And even among the richest 20 percent of Cambodians, only 12 percent have a bank account, the report says.

Those figures put Cambodia well below its peers in the number of people with a bank account—a key measure of financial inclusion according to the report. Cambodia is among only a few countries—including the Central African Republic, Kyrgyzstan and Yemen—where more than 95 percent of adults are without bank accounts.

The report says rates of financial inclusion depend largely on banking costs, how close people live to a bank and the kind of documentation required to open a bank account.

“Policies targeted to promote inclusion—such as government requirements to offer basic or low-fee accounts, exempting small or rural depositors from onerous documentation requirements, and the use of bank accounts for government payments—are especially effective among rural residents and the poor,” the paper says.

The low banking rate cannot just be explained by Cambodia’s large rural population, said Chan Sophal, president of the Cambodian Economic Association.

“Even in Phnom Penh, many people do not bank and it’s fewer in the provincial towns,” he said. “Because of the upheaval in history, people did not use banks for many years. It’s been changing but it is slow to catch up.”

Still, Mr. Sophal said the low bank coverage in the country did not mean people in the country were not spending or investing.

When the Khmer Rouge came to power in 1975, the regime abolished money and banks in Cambodia, blowing up the National Bank of Cambodia. Many in the country still remember when the riel was reintroduced in 1980.

“That means they don’t feel secure enough about the social-political situation…. Maybe instead of putting the money in the bank, they use the money to buy property or land,” said independent political analyst Chea Vannath, noting that many believe they can make more money from speculating on land rather than putting it in bank accounts.

“There is a cultural barrier—Cambodian people have not used bank accounts in their lives,” said Bun Mony, chair of the Cambodian Microfinance Association and chief executive at Sethapana Limited microfinance bank.

He said the seven leading microfinance institutions had expanded into all provinces and were now offering deposit accounts, which would make more people aware of the benefits of banking.

“The number of customers using the microfinance banking service accounts is increasing every day, so people will begin to understand why it is helpful,” Mr. Mony said.

© 2012, The Cambodia Daily. All rights reserved. No part of this article may be reproduced in print, electronically, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without written permission.

Cambodia: Regional single visa launched

Last Updated on 27 December 2012

By May Kunmakara

 

 

 

 

 Tourists gather to watch the sun rise and take pictures at the Angkor Wat temple, in Siem Reap province. Photograph: Reuters

 

Cambodia and Thailand will launch their single visa today to facilitate a flow in tourists and enable easier travel between the two countries.

Thai newspaper The Nation reported that Thai Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul and Cambodian Foreign Minister Hor Namhong had agreed on the visa on Tuesday during the nations’ eighth Joint Commission for Bilateral Co-operation.

The Nation reported that tourists from 35 nations would be able to enter both countries with the single visa.  Koy Kuong, a spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation could not be reached for comment.

In a pilot project under the Ayeyarwady-Chao Phraya-Mekong Economic Co-operation Strategy single visa scheme, tourists from other countries can apply for entry at either Cambodian or Thai embassies or consulate offices for visiting the two kingdoms.
Tourism Minister Thong Khon said the project would enhance and facilitate tourism between Cambodia and Thailand.

“We will get mutual benefits: no one loses or wins,” he said.  “It will help to ease travel for tourists. If tourists  are close to a Cambodian or Thai embassy or consulate office, they can apply for it.
“Our embassy or consulate just issues them the visa, but they still have to pay the fee at any checkpoints.

“It is good for us, because in some countries we don’t have enough consulate offices.
“If the pilot project [is successful], we will continue [this] with Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam.”
Ang Kim Eang, president of the Cambodia Association of Travel Agents, welcomed the project.
“It is pretty good, because the tourists can enjoy their visit in the two countries,” Eang said.
“Furthermore, this scheme will help to boost the number of tourists visiting our country.”
For many years, Thailand was the main tourism hub for Cambodia, but  relations between the two countries have been strained since 2008, when violence first broke out between troops stationed along the border.

The situation has improved since Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra came to power last year.
Thong Khon said the number of tourists arriving via Thailand was on the rise.
“Now, the number of tourists from Thailand accounts for 35 per cent, which is the same as from Vietnam.

“I hope that when the project is successful, we will get more,” he said.
Figures from the Ministry of Tourism show tourists from Thailand ranked fifth in number over the first 10 months, reaching 160,028 arrivals. This represents a rise of 90.1 per cent compared to the same period last year.

Earlier this month, Thailand and Cambodia announced that a Thai state-owned transport company would commence services from Siem Reap and Phnom Penh to Bangkok via Poipet on December 29.
 

EU Ambassador Says Listen to Envoy’s Advice

By The Cambodia Daily - December 11, 2012

The European Union’s ambassador to Cambodia yesterday urged the government to heed the advice of the U.N.’s visiting human rights envoy, who has come under increasing rebuke from officials for his unflattering reports.


Addressing a crowd of about 3,000, mostly garment factory workers, at Phnom Penh’s Freedom Park to mark International Human Rights Day, E.U. Ambassador Jean-Francois Cautain spoke up for the work of the U.N.’s local human rights office and of the U.N.’s human rights envoy to the country, Surya Subedi.
“We believe the work of this office has contributed tremendously to the promotion and protection of human rights,” Mr. Cautain said of the U.N.’s human rights office in Cambodia.

“Similarly, the work of the U.N. special rapporteur, professor Subedi, who is here…in Cambodia, provides a unique opportunity for the government of Cambodia to receive expert recommendations for improving human rights,” he continued.

Government officials have recently stepped up their public criticism of Mr. Subedi, who arrived here on Sunday for his eighth fact-finding mission since taking up the unpaid post in 2009.
At least two officials, including the head of the government’s Human Rights Committee, Om Yentieng, have accused the U.N. envoy of effectively working for the political opposition. In October, Mr. Hun Sen referred to the envoy’s last report on the government’s highly controversial economic land concessions as “flimsy.”
The E.U. is currently reviewing Mr. Subedi’s report on land evictions in order to decide whether or not to launch its own investigation into possible human rights violations committed by Cambodia vis-a-vis free trade rules with Europe.

Also present at yesterday’s demonstration was the U.S. Embassy’s charge d’affaires, Jeff Daigle, who reminded the crowd of U.S. President Barack Obama’s visit to Cambodia last month, during which he pressed Mr. Hun Sen on the country’s deteriorating human rights record.
“Protecting human rights is essential to strong rule of law, civilian security, economic development and, ultimately, lasting peace,” Mr. Daigle said.

“This was a key message of President Obama during his visit to Cambodia last month, when he urged progress on these issues and stressed that the promise of Cambodia’s great people would only be realized when human rights are fully respected and all voices are heard,” Mr. Daigle added.
The U.S. president urged Mr. Hun Sen to create an independent election committee, let opposition parties work freely and release all political prisoners—including imprisoned radio station owner Mam Sonando.
Rights groups claim that the government has been regressing on its human rights record in recent years, increasingly using the police and courts to clamp down on dissenters and peaceful protesters.
In February, Bavet City governor Chhouk Bundith shot into a crowd of demonstrating garment workers, hitting three women, one through the lung. Though charged and implicated by eyewitnesses, the courts have made no attempt to arrest Mr. Bundith and could still drop the case.
Nuth Sokhorn, one of the women shot, allegedly by Mr. Bundith, reminded the crowds gathered at Freedom Park of the case.

“We are three women who were shot by Chhouk Bundith, who is still free. Please find justice for us,” she said, before breaking down in tears.
Thun Saray, president of local rights group Adhoc, said several government officials had been invited to the event, including Phnom Penh governor Kep Chuktema and Mr. Yentieng, but were told they would all be busy.

Police presence around the park was light. But just a few blocks away near the corner of Monivong and Russian boulevards, about 100 riot police officers blocked about as many anti-eviction activists from staging their own march to Mr. Hun Sen’s Peace Palace to deliver a petition requesting his help in their land disputes.
As the police confronted protesters, one police officer was seen knocking a female protester to the ground then kicking her in the abdomen. Once the protesters decided to disperse at about 10:30 a.m., police officers detained Nhep Ly, a community empowerment officer for the Housing Rights Task Force, for taking photographs.

Mr. Ly was taken to Srah Chak commune police headquarters in Daun Penh district but released soon after.
“The police accused me of taking pictures of the protest without asking permission in advance from authorities, but I told them that I just took pictures of the general activity like the other photographers,” he said after being released from custody.

Commune police chief Kan Vannak declined to comment on the violence and detention of Mr. Ly.
(Reporting by Aun Pheap, Khoun Narim, Phok Dorn and Zsombor Peter)

© 2012, The Cambodia Daily. All rights reserved. No part of this article may be reproduced in print, electronically, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without written permission.

Great Huangs of history

Wednesday, 05 December 2012

Stuart Alan Becker

 

The book The Great Dictionary of Famous Chinese (published in 1921), lists 613 Huangs.

Here follows a partial list of of famous Huangs, including some of the descendants of Huang Qiaoshan (871-953).

Xia dynasty (2205 BC-1766 BC)  Huang Yuan (Prime Minister)

Shang Dynasty (1766 BC-1122 BC)  Huang Yin (Yi Yin ) (Prime Minister)

Zhou Dynasty (1122BC- 256 BC)  Huang Xie Lord of Chunshen (Prime Minister of Chu) 314 BC-238 BC

Qin Dynasty (221 BC-206 BC)  Huang Shigong (Strategist)

Western Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 9)  Huang Ba Duke of Jiancheng (Prime Minister) 130 BC-51 BC

Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220)  Huang Xiang (Famous Official) AD 53- AD117

Three Kingdoms Period (220-280)  Huang Zhong (General of Shu Han) AD220  Huang Gai (General of Wu)

Tang Dynasty (618-907) Huang Chao (Leader of Peasant Rebellion Army) ?-AD 884

Five Dynasties Period (907-960)  Huang Quan (Painter) c.903-965; Huang Jucai (Painter) 933-?

Song Dynasty (960-1279), Huang Tingjian (Poet and Calligrapher) 1045-1105

Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368)  Huang Daopo (female) (Weaver) c.1245-? ; Huang Gongwang (Painter) 1269-1354

Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) Huang Senping (Ong Sum Ping) (Noble of Sultanate of Brunei)  Huang Wan (Famous Scholar)  1477-1551; Huang Daozhou (Scholar, Painter and Patriot)  1585-1646 ; Huang Zongxi (Thinker) 1610-1695

Qing Dynasty (1644-1911); Huang Shen (Painter)  1687-1770; Huang Jingren (Poet)  1749-1783; Huang Yizhou (Classics Expert)  1828-1899; Huang Feihong (Wong Feihung) (Martial Artist & Physician) 1847-1924; Huang Zunxian (Poet and Statesman) 1848-1905

Modern Period (1911- Present) Huang Binhong (Painter) 1865-1955 ; Huang Xing 兴 (Revolutionary) 1874-1916 ; Huang Kan (Philologist) 1886-1935; Huang Kecheng (General of the China's People's Liberation Army) 1902-1986; Huang Zhou (Painter) b.1925; Huang Jiasi (Medical Expert) 1906-1984; Huang Ziqing, (Chemist) 1900-1982; Huang Jinhui (Wee Kim Wee)(Former President of Singapore) 1915- 2005; Huang Huahua (Present Governor of Guangdong Province, People’s Republic of China) b.1946; Huang Gencheng (Wong Kan Seng) (Present Home Affairs Minister of Singapore) b.1946; Huang Jiading (Ong Ka Ting) (Former Housing and Local Government Minister of Malaysia); Huang Guangyu (Businessman) b.1969. The richest man in China according to Time magazine 30/04/2006.

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To contact the reporter on this story: Stuart Alan Becker at stuart.becker@gmail.com

Time to invest in people

Friday, 07 December 2012

Pamela Cox

 

For more than a decade, Cambodia has sustained impressive economic growth.

The World Bank expects real gross domestic product to increase by 6.6 per cent this year – a figure to be envied in today’s fragile global economy.

At this pace, Cambodia can rapidly become the industrialised and productive economy it aspires to be.

Is this the future that Cambodians can rightfully look forward to?

The answer is yes, but only if Cambodia invests in its most precious resource – its people – to enable each individual to realise his or her potential and productively contribute to the nation’s economy.

Until now, much of Cambodia’s investment has focused on infrastructure, agriculture and manufacturing – priority areas during the early stages of the country’s economic development.

But with economic progress, it has become increasingly clear that these efforts are not enough to help the country achieve equitable, sustainable growth and, most important, reduce poverty.

Today, despite the nation’s economic achievements, roughly 20 per cent of Cambodians – that’s 2.8 million people – are still poor.

Nearly 40 per cent of children under the age of five suffer from malnutrition, and 28 per cent in the same age group are underweight.

Over the past decade, workforce skills of adults improved at a slower rate than in other East Asia countries, and the proportion of skilled workers among earners stagnated.

When the economy is booming, it’s tempting to turn a blind eye to such statistics.

But for the sake of Cambodia’s future, these are the figures we must confront, and this is where the World Bank can help.

Ending poverty, and building shared prosperity, are central to the Bank’s mission. 

Investments in human development, particularly in the areas of health and education, need to be a priority in Cambodia to create opportunities for all, especially the poor and vulnerable.

Interventions in these areas work hand in hand to build a country’s human-resources pool even before schooling begins.

Growing evidence shows the importance of adequate nutrition and health care during early childhood, to lay the foundation for intellectual progress and life-long learning.

The government has taken significant steps towards improving access as well as the quality of education, and 96 per cent of children aged six to 11 now go to primary school.

The average test performance of primary- and secondary-school students has improved, and higher-education enrolments increased fourfold between 2001 and 2011.

The World Bank is supporting health and education in Cambodia.

With the government and our development partners, we are financing health equity funds and school scholarships, having provided 2.5 million health-care treatments for poor people since 2009 and scholarships for 63,000 poor secondary-school students since 2005.

But much more needs to be done to improve the coverage, quality and governance of these sectors.

Although Cambodia’s economy is growing, employers report a mismatch between the skills university graduates bring to a job and the skills the labour market demands.

A recent World Bank study found that 22 per cent of foreign employers in Cambodia identify skills as a severe constraint to businesses.

This means many Cambodians earn less than they could if they had adequate education and skills.

For the country, this leads to lower productivity, limiting Cambodia’s potential to attract investment and improve living standards for all.

As a global knowledge and financial institution, the World Bank works with governments and a broad array of stakeholders gathering best practices and providing solutions for the most difficult development issues countries and communities face.

It draws from the knowledge and experience of other nations, and is able and ready to assist, inspire and inform Cambodia’s efforts to achieve its development goals.

In Indonesia, for example, the World Bank supported a social assistance program designed to address three lagging Millennium Development Goals – maternal health, child health and universal education – using a successful, community-driven approach.

Communities themselves took charge and allocated block grants targeting 12 health and education indicators, enabling 1.6 million women and children to receive nutrition counselling and support; helping 365,000 children receive immunisations; eliminating 185,000 cases of underweight children; and providing assistance to about 380,000 poor school students.

Tajikistan also has a high percentage of underweight children resulting from malnutrition exacerbated by the 2008 food-price shock.

The World Bank supported a community and basic health project to provide food packages and micro-nutrient supplements to about 50,000 women, infants and children.

By mid-2011, the project had trained 1,000 primary health workers and 300 community volunteers to deliver education on breast-feeding, good nutrition and the care of sick children.

Delivering these results requires a tremendous, co-ordinated effort by governments, donors, the private sector, civil society and others.

During my visit to Phnom Penh this week, I discussed with the government and our development partners how the World Bank can support Cambodia’s development strategy, to ensure all Cambodians can participate in, and benefit from, their country’s future prosperity.

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Pamela Cox is the World Bank vice-president for East Asia and the Pacific.

Tribunal betrays the ideal of justice

Tuesday, 11 December 2012

Raoul Marc Jennar

 

Dear Editor,

Like most Cambodians, I was happy when the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia began their judicial process in 2007.

There is a pressing need for justice in Cambodia, because the Khmer Rouge was among the most criminal regimes in human history.

And, like most Cambodians,  I was happy when the final decision in the first case was handed down and Kaing Guek Eav, alias Duch, former chairman of the Khmer Rouge S-21 security centre in Phnom Penh, was sentenced to life imprisonment.

But today, like most Cambodian people, I am extremely disappointed by the Trial Chamber’s delay in dealing with Case 002.

This case involves the highest-ranking surviving members of the so-called Democratic Kampuchea regime.

They are charged with crimes against humanity, grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions of 1949 and genocide against this country’s Muslim Cham and Vietnamese populations.

The Trial Chamber held the initial hearing of Case 002 in June, 2011, 17 months ago, but the first verdict is far from being handed down.

May I remind the judges of the Trial Chamber that the Nuremberg war-crimes trials, which had to deal with 24 former leaders of Germany’s Nazi regime, took less than a year to decide the defendants’ fate?

Despite this unbearable slowness, the Trial Chamber recently made a decision to reduce the weekly number of hearings. This is a shame.

More important, it is an insult to the victims and survivors of the Cambodian tragedy who are waiting for justice.

It is also an insult to the people whose taxes in their home countries contribute to the ECCC’s budget.

Above all, it is an insult to all the people around the world who believe in internal penal justice and the absolute necessity to fight impunity.

Raoul Marc Jennar
A Cambodian citizen

Cambodia's tax revenue totals $683 million

Tuesday, 11 December 2012

May Kunmakara

 

The Cambodian government collected $683 million in taxes over the first 11 months of this year, according to data from the General Department of Taxation released last week.

An economist said the increase in domestic tax revenue emphasised that Cambodia still has room for improvement in tax collection and should aim to eliminate reliance on foreign aid. However, it warned that there needs to be more diversification of taxes imposed.

According to a statement from the GDT, revenues were collected from various taxes such as: tax on profits, withholding tax, salary tax, Value Added Tax, turnover tax, vehicle tax, patent tax and property tax.

Kang Chandararot, director at the Cambodia Institute for Development Study, said the rise of domestic tax revenue reflects the improvement of tax collection and increasing economic activity.

“It emphasises that we have a lot of hope to build a stronger base to repay foreign debt, and reduce reliance on foreign aid. We are happy to see the revenue grow in domestic tax,” he said.

“However, reducing our reliance on foreign aid requires us to improve and diversify our tax collection,” he added.

“We also notice that we have a lot of room to impose tax. At the same, we also need to make reforms to reduce some unnecessary expenses. I think tax collection expansion is a must for the economy,” said Chandararot.

The opposition party claimed the revenue was far from the potential figure, citing corruption as the reason for the disparity.

Yim Sovann, a spokesperson for the Sam Rainsy Party, said Cambodia currently collects around 12 per cent of its GDP from taxes, which is very low compared to other countries in the region, like neighbouring Thailand.

“Our domestic revenue does not match the actual amount which can be taken,” he said.

“We lose between $500 million to $1 billion per year because of corruption,” he added, saying that a lot of revenue has not been fully collected from economic land concessions, Cambodia’s 50 casinos, and tickets sold to visit Angkor Wat.

Last week, the government approved an increase in national budget expenditure to nearly 13 per cent for 2013 to more than $3 billion from this year’s $2.7 billion.

Prime Minister Hun Sen yesterday raised no concern over the budget rise, saying the revenue also continues to increase.

“If the expense is more than $3 billion, the revenue should be more than $3 billion.”

Sovann said the increase of expenditure puts a greater burden on the country, resulting in the government seeking foreign aid as a solution.

“The government cannot generate enough domestic revenue to meet the expenditure,” he said.

“Of course, they can increase the revenue if they strengthen the tax collection system. They always borrow around $1 billion [in foreign aid] to meet their expenses,” he added.

According to the draft national budget for 2013, Cambodia currently owes $3.6 billion in foreign debt.

បុគ្គលិកកម្មករ​ឯកជន​នឹង​ទទួល​បាន​ប្រាក់​ចូល​និវត្តន៍​ដូច​មន្ត្រី​រាជការ

 

 

 បុគ្គលិក​កាស៊ី​ណូនៅ​ប៉ោយ​ប៉ែត​ ធ្វើការ​តវ៉ា​កាល​ពីម្សិលមិញ​​។ សហការី

 

Tuesday, 11 December 2012

មុំ គន្ធា

 

 ភ្នំពេញៈ បុគ្គលិក កម្មករ និយោជិត មកពី​ក្រុមហ៊ុន និង​សហគ្រាស​រោង​ចក្រ​ឯកជន​នានា​ត្រូវ​មន្ត្រី​នៃ​ក្រសួង​ការងារ​អះអាង​កាល ពី​ម្សិល​មិញថា នឹង​ទទួល​បាន​ប្រាក់​សោធន​និវត្តន៍ នៅ​ក្នុង​ឆ្នាំ​២០១៥ ដូច​ជា​មន្ត្រី​រាជការ​រដ្ឋដែរ នៅ​ពេល​ពួកគេ​ចូល​និវត្តន៍ ប៉ុន្តែ​ជា​ដំបូង​គឺ​ត្រូវ​ទៅ​ចុះ​ឈ្មោះ​នៅ​បេឡាជាតិ​របប​សន្តិសុខ​សង្គម (ប.ស.ស)។

លោក ស៊ុំ សោភ័ណ្ឌ នាយក​រង​បេឡា​ជាតិ​របប​សន្តិសុខ​សង្គម​នៃ​ក្រសួង ការងារ​បាន​ឲ្យ​ដឹង​ថា​រដ្ឋាភិបាល​នឹង​ចាប់​ផ្តើម​លើ​គម្រោង​នេះ​នៅ​ក្នុង ឆ្នាំ​២០១៥ សម្រាប់​សហគ្រាស​ឯកជន​ទាំង​ឡាយ​ណា​ដែល​មាន​បុគ្គលិក កម្មករ​និយោជិត ចាប់​ពី​ចំនួន ៨ នាក់​ឡើង​ទៅ។
លោក សោភ័ណ្ឌ ​បាន​មាន​ប្រសាសន៍ថា៖ «ខ្ញុំ​មិន​អាច​ប្រាប់​លម្អិត​បាន​ទេ​នៅ​ពេល​នេះ​ថា តើ​កម្មករ ឬ​និយោជិត​ដែល​បាន​ចុះ ឈ្មោះ​ត្រូវ​បង់​វិភាគ​ទាន​ចំនួន​ប៉ុន្មាន និង​ថា តើ​ពួកគេ​អាច​នឹង​ទទួល​បាន​ប្រាក់​សោធន​និវត្តន៍​ចំនួន​ប៉ុន្មាន​ភាគរយ។ យើង​នឹង​ប្រកាស​នៅ​ពេល​ក្រោយ»។

លោកបាន​បញ្ជាក់​ថា ចំនួន​កម្មករ បុគ្គលិក​៨​នាក់ និង​លើស​នេះ ដែល​មក​ពី​រោងចក្រ សហគ្រាស​ឯកជន ត្រូវ​ចុះ​ឈ្មោះ​នៅ ប.ស.ស ដើម្បី​ទទួល​បាន​ប្រាក់​ចូល​និវត្តន៍ ដែល​ប្រការ​នេះ វាគឺជា​កាតព្វកិច្ច​របស់​ពួកគេ។

លោកបន្តថា៖ «ជំហាន​ទី១ យើង​ត្រូវ​ធ្វើ​ជាមួយ​រោងចក្រ​សហគ្រាស​ដែល​មាន​បុគ្គលិក​៨ នាក់​ឡើង​សិន ហើយ​បន្ទាប់​មក​សហគ្រាស​ដែល​មាន​បុគ្គលិក​តែ​ម្នាក់​ក៏​អាច​ចុះ​ឈ្មោះ​បាន ដែរ។ ពួកគេ​ត្រូវ​តែ​ធ្វើ​ការ​ចុះ​ឈ្មោះ ពីព្រោះ​នេះ​ជា​កាតព្វកិច្ច ស្ថិត​ក្រោម​ច្បាប់​ការងារ។
មកដល់ពេលនេះបុគ្គលិក កម្មករ និយោជិត ជាង​៧២ម៉ឺន​នាក់ បាន​ចុះ​ឈ្មោះ​រួច​ហើយ​ជា​មួយ ប.ស.ស ពួកគេ​មក​ពី​១៩ ​ខេត្ត​-ក្រុង មាន​តែ​ខេត្ត​៤​ទៀតទេ ​មិន​ទាន់​ចុះ​បញ្ជី​នៅ​ឡើយ ​ដូចជា ខេត្ត​រតន​គិរី មណ្ឌល​គិរី ព្រះ​វិហារ និងខេត្ត​ឧត្តរ​មានជ័យ។

លោកបន្តថា៖ «ពួកគេ​នឹង​ទទួល​បាន​ប្រាក់​សោធននិវត្តន៍​ជា​រៀង​រាល់​ខែ​បន្ទាប់​ពី ពួកគេ​ចូល​និវត្តន៍​រហូត​ដល់​ស្លាប់»។ លោក​ថា លក្ខខណ្ឌ​ច្បាប់​របស់ ប.ស.ស ដើម្បី​ទទួល​បាន​ប្រាក់​សោធននិវត្តន៍ គឺ​រៀបចំ​រួច​រាល់​ហើយ នៅ​រង់ចាំ​តែ​ធ្វើ​សេចក្តី​ប្រកាស​នៅ​ក្នុង​ឆ្នាំ​២០១៤។

លោកលើកឡើង​ថា ​៖ «យើង​មិន​អាច​ធ្វើ​ការ​ប្រកាស​នៅ​ពេល​ណា​ដែល​យើង​ចង់​ទេ ប៉ុន្តែ យើង​ត្រូវ​ការ​អ្នក​ជំនាញ​ធ្វើ ដើម្បី​គណនា​ថា តើ​មាន​ប៉ុន្មាន​ភាគរយ​ដែល​បុគ្គលិក​ម្នាក់ៗ​ចូល​និវត្តន៍​ត្រូវ​ទទួល បាន និង​ត្រូវ​បង់​វិភាគទាន ប៉ុន្មាន ហើយ​អ្វី​ខ្លះ​ដែល​ពួកគេ​ត្រូវ​ធ្វើ ប្រសិន​បើ​ពួកគេ​មិន​អាច​បំពេញ​​ទៅ​តាម​លក្ខខណ្ឌ​របស់​យើង​បាន»។

លោក រ៉ុង ឈុន ប្រធាន​សហភាព​សហជីព​កម្ពុជា បាន​គាំទ្រ​គម្រោង​របស់​ក្រសួង​ការងារ​ដែល​តម្រូវ​ឲ្យ​កម្មករ បុគ្គលិក​ឯកជន​ទទួល​បាន​ប្រាក់​ចូល​និវត្តន៍​ដូច​មន្រ្តី​រាជការ​នេះ។
លោកថ្លែងថា៖ «ខ្ញុំសូម​ស្វាគមន៍​គម្រោង​នេះ ដែល​បុគ្គលិក​កម្មករ​ឯកជន ក៏​អាច​ទទួល​បាន​ប្រាក់​ចូល​និវត្តន៍​វាជា​ជំហាន​មួយ​ដែល​កម្ពុជា​យើង​គួរ​ ធ្វើ​ដូច​ប្រទេស​នានា»។ លោក​បន្ត​ថា នេះ​គឺជា​ផល​ប្រយោជន៍​ដ៏ល្អ​មួយ សម្រាប់​បុគ្គលិក កម្មករ និយោជិត នៅ​កម្ពុជា៕ CC

ពលករ​ខ្មែរ​ជាង​១៦​ម៉ឺន​នាក់​នៅ​ថៃ​ ត្រូវ​ប្រឈម​នឹង​ការ​និរទេស​មក​ស្រុក​វិញ

 

 

 ពលករ​ខ្មែរ​ខុ​សច្បាប់​ដែល​ខាង​ថៃ​ចាប់​បញ្ជូន​មក​ស្រុក​វិញ​​​​​។ រូបថត ផា លីណា

 

 

Monday, 10 December 2012

មុំ គន្ធា-Stuart White

 

ភ្នំពេញៈ ពលករ​ចំណាក​ស្រុក​កម្ពុជា​ជាង​១៦​ម៉ឺន​នាក់​នៅ​ក្នុង​ប្រទេស​ថៃ ត្រូវ​ប្រឈម​នឹង​ការ​និរទេស បើ​សិន​មិន​បាន​ទៅ​ចុះ​ឈ្មោះ​ក្នុង​កិច្ច​ដំណើរ​ការ​ផ្ទៀតផ្ទាត់​ជាតិ​ សាសន៍ មុន​ថ្ងៃ​កំណត់​ថ្ងៃ​សុក្រ​សប្តាហ៍​នេះ​ទេ​។ នេះ​បើ​យោង​តាម​ប្រព័ន្ធ​ផ្សព្វ​ផ្សាយ​រដ្ឋ​របស់​ថៃ​រាយការណ៍​កាល​ពី ម្សិលមិញ។

ប្រព័ន្ធ​ផ្សព្វផ្សាយ​ថៃ MCOT បាន​ស្រង់​សម្តី​មន្រ្តី​ថា មាន​ពលករ​ចំណាក​ស្រុក​កម្ពុជា​តែ ៥៦ ​៧៧៦ នាក់ បាន​បំពេញ​ចប់​សព្វ​គ្រប់​នូវ​កិច្ច​ដំណើរ​ការ​ផ្ទៀងផ្ទាត់​ជាតិ​សាសន៍ នៅ​សល់​ពលករ​កម្ពុជា​ប្រមាណ​១៦៥ ៦៥៤​នាក់​ទៀត បូក​នឹង​ពលករ​ចំណាក​ស្រុក​ជាង​១លាន​នាក់​មក​ពី​ប្រទេស​ដទៃ​ទៀត ដែល​អាច​ទទួល​រង​ការ​ចាប់​ខ្លួន ការ​និរទេស និង​ការ​កេងប្រវ័ញ្ច ការ​ជំរិត​ទារ​ប្រាក់ និង​ទាសករ​បំណុល​។ នេះ​បើ​តាម​អ្នក​ជំនាញ​និង​សង្គម​ស៊ីវិល។

បើ ទោះ​ជា​រដ្ឋាភិបាល​ថៃ​បាន​ពន្យារ​ថ្ងៃ​កំណត់​នៃ​ការ​ផ្ទៀងផ្ទាត់​ជាតិ សាសន៍​ពីរ​លើក​រួច​ហើយ ដែល​ការ​ពន្យារ​ថ្មី​ៗ​បំផុ​ត គឺ​ពន្យារ​ពី​ថ្ងៃ​ទី១៤ ខែ​មិថុនា ដល់​ថ្ងៃ​ទី ១៤ ខែ​ធ្នូ​ ក៏​ដោយ ក៏​ប៉ុន្តែ លោក Andy Hall នៃ​វិទ្យាស្ថាន​ប្រជាជន​និង​ស្រាវជ្រាវ​សង្គម​នៅ​វិទ្យាល័យ Mahidol នៅ​ប្រទេស​ថៃ បាន​ថ្លែង​ថា ពលករ​ចំណាក​ស្រុក​ប្រឈម​នឹង​ឧបសគ្គ មិន​រំពឹង​ទុក​មាន​ច្រើន​មក​ដាក់​ពាក្យ​សុំ​ទេ។

លោក​ថ្លែង​ថា​៖ «​វា​មិន​ពិបាក​ខ្លាំង​ទេ។ វា​គ្រាន់​តែ​ដោយ​សារ​អំពើ​ពុករលួយ»។ លោក​គិត​ថា ប្រាក់​សំណូក​អាច​មាន​ពី​២០០ ទៅ ៣០០​ដុល្លារ​អាមេរិក ក្នុង​ចំណោម​បញ្ហា​ដទៃ​ទៀត។ «វា​ច្រើន​សម្រាប់​ពួក​គេ ហើយ​វា​ជា​ដំណើរ​ការ ​បែប​ការិយាធិបតេយ្យ និង​ពុករលួយ ... វា​មិន​មែន​ជា​កំហុស​កម្មករ​ទេ។ វា​ជា​កំហុស​របស់​និយោជក និង​ជា​កំហុស​មន្រ្តី»។

លោក​បន្ត​ថា ការ​និរទេស​ក៏​ធ្វើ​ឲ្យ​ពលករ​ចំណាក​ស្រុក​ប្រឈម​នឹង​សេចក្តី​សម្រេច​ដ៏ ពិបាក ប្រសិន​បើ​ពួក​គេ​ចង់​វិល​ត្រឡប់​មក​វិញ។ ការ​ចូល​ទៅ​ប្រទេស​ថៃ​វិញ​ខុស​ច្បាប់​ធ្វើ​ឲ្យ​ពលករ​ងាយ​រង​ការ​កេង​ ប្រវ័ញ្ច​ពី​និយោជក និង​អាជ្ញាធរ ប៉ុន្តែ​ការ​ចំណាយ​ខ្ពស់​ក្នុង​ការ​វិល​ត្រឡប់​មក​វិញ​ដោយ​ស្រប​ច្បាប់ នឹង​ធ្វើ​ឲ្យ​ពួក​គេ​ជាប់​បំណុល។ ​លោក​បន្ត​ថា វា​គ្រោះថ្នាក់​ណាស់​។ ពលករ ប្រៀប​ដូច​«ចុះ​ទឹក​ក្រពើ​ឡើង​លើ​ខ្លា»។

លោក Phil Robertson អនុ​ប្រធាន​ផ្នែក​អាស៊ី​នៃ​អង្គការ​ឃ្លាំ​មើល​សិទិ្ធ​មនុស្ស​បាន សង្ខេប​ពី​ស្ថានភាព​របស់​ពល​ករ​ចំណាក​ស្រុក​នៅ​ថៃ​យ៉ាង​ច្បាស់ តាម​អ៊ីមែល​ថា៖ «ការ​បង្ក្រាប​លើ​ពលករ​ចំណាក​ស្រុក​នៅ​ថៃ​មាន​ន័យ​ថា ជា​ការ​រំលោភ​សិទិ្ធ​មនុស្ស​ពី​អាជ្ញាធរ​ថៃ គឺ​ការ​វាយ​ដំ​រូប​កាយ និង​ការ​ធ្វើ​ទារុណកម្ម ការ​យាយី​ផ្លូវ​ភេទ ​និង​ការ​កំហែង​យក​ប្រាក់​ជា​លក្ខណៈ​ប្រព័ន្ធ ជា​អ្វី​ទាំង​អស់​ដែល​នឹង​កើត​មាន»។

លោក​បាន​បន្ថែម​ថា៖ «​កម្ពុជា​បាន​ធ្វើ​កិច្ចការ​ល្អ​ក្នុង​ការ​ជួយ​ពលករ​ចុះ​ឈ្មោះ ប៉ុន្តែ​មិន​សូវ​ល្អ​សោះ ក្នុង​ការ​ជួយ​ការពារ​សិទិ្ធ​ពួក​គេ​ពី​ការ​រំលោភ​បំពាន»។

ទោះ​ជា​ យ៉ាង​ណា លោក មឿន តុលា ប្រធាន​កម្មវិធី​ការ​ងារ​នៅ​មជ្ឈមណ្ឌល​អប់រំ​ច្បាប់​សម្រាប់​សហគមន៍​បាន​ ថ្លែង​ថា និយោជិត​កំពុង​ទទួល​ជំនួយ​តិច​តួច​ពី​រដ្ឋាភិបាល​កម្ពុជា។
លោក តុលា បាន​បន្ថែម​ថា៖ «​អ្នក​ទាំង​នោះ​មិន​បាន​ចុះ​ឈ្មោះ យើង​សង្ស័យ​ថា តើ​អ្នក​ទាំង​នោះ​កំពុង​ព្យាយាម ហើយ​មិន​អាច​ចុះ​ឈ្មោះ​បាន​ឬ​យ៉ាង​ណា? យើង​សង្ស័យ​ថា ​ស្ថានទូត​កម្ពុជា​មិន​បាន​ជួយ​គ្រប់គ្រាន់ ក្នុង​ការ​អនុញ្ញាត​ឲ្យ​ពួក​គេ​បាន​ទៅ​ចុះ​ឈ្មោះ​ឡើយ​»។ លោក​​ថា វា​ធ្លាប់​កើត​មាន​ពី​មុន​រួច​មក​ហើយ។

តាម​លោក មឿន តុលា ឲ្យ​ដឹង​ថា ការ​និរទេស​ពលករ​ចំណាក​ស្រុក​ជា​ច្រើន​ពី​ប្រទេស​ថៃ​ គ្រាន់​តែ​ជា​រោគ​សញ្ញា​នៃ​កង្វះ​ការងារ​នៅ​កម្ពុជា។ លោក​ តុលា បាន​បញ្ជាក់​ថា ដោយ​គ្មាន​ប្រព័ន្ធ​អប់រំ​ល្អ​ប្រសើរ ការ​បណ្តុះ​បណ្តាល​វិជ្ជាជីវៈ ​និង​ឱកាស​ការងារ ក្រៅ​ពី​ការងារ​កេង​ប្រវ័ញ្ច បញ្ហា​នៃ​ការ​និរទេស​នឹង​បន្ត​មាន។

លោក​ តុលា បន្ត​ថា៖ «​ប្រសិន​បើ​ពួក​គេ​ត្រូវ​និរទេស ដូច្នេះ រដ្ឋាភិបាល​គួរ​មាន​ផែនការ​ធ្វើ​សមាហរណកម្ម ពួក​គេ​ចូល​ទៅ​ក្នុង​សង្គម​វិញ។ ប្រសិន ពួក​គេ​ត្រូវ​បាន​និរទេស​មក​វិញ ដោយ​គ្មាន​ផែនការ​នេះ​ទេ វា​នឹង​គ្មាន​អ្វី​ផ្លាស់​ប្តូរ​ឡើយ​ ដូច្នេះ ពួក​គេ​នឹង​ព្យាយាម​ធ្វើ​អន្តោ​ប្រវេសន៍​ថ្មី​ទៀត»។

មន្រ្តី​រដ្ឋាភិបាល​កម្ពុជា​បាន​ថ្លែង​ថា ការ​ចរចា​នេះ​អាច​ស្ថិត​ក្នុង​ដំណើរ​ការ ប៉ុន្តែ​មិន​ច្បាស់​អំពី​សេចក្តី​លម្អិត​ទេ​។

លោក អ៊ុំ មាន រដ្ឋ​លេខាធិការ​ក្រសួង​ការងារ បាន​ថ្លែង​ថា លោក​មិន​ច្បាស់​អំពី​ការ​និរទេស​នេះ​ទេ ប៉ុន្តែ​ថា៖ «​ខ្ញុំ​គិត​ថា មាន​តែ​លោក សេង សក្តា អគ្គ​នាយក​នៃ​ក្រសួង​ការងារ​ទេ​ដែល​ដឹង ព្រោះ​គាត់​បាន​ហោះ​ហើរ​ទៅ​ប្រទេស​ថៃ​កាល​ពី​សប្តាហ៍​មុន ប្រហែល ដើម្បី​ពិភាក្សា​អំពី​បញ្ហា​នេះ»។

ក្នុង​របាយ​ការណ៍​ MCOT ​រាយការណ៍​ថា លោក Prawit Kiengpol ​អគ្គ​នាយក​នៃ​អគ្គនាយក​ដ្ឋាន​ការងារ​ថៃ បាន​ជំរុញ​លោក សេង​ សក្តា ឲ្យ​ត្រៀម​ទទួល​យក​ពលករ​ចំណាក​ស្រុក​កម្ពុជា​ជា​ច្រើន​នាក់​។ ​ជាមួយ​នោះ​លោក សក្តា បាន​ស្នើ​សុំ​អាជ្ញាធរ​ថៃ​ឲ្យ​បន្ត​ជួល​ពលករ​កម្ពុជា​ជា​ថ្មី​ឲ្យ​បាន​ឆាប់ ដោយ​បន្ថែម​ថា អាជ្ញាធរ​កម្ពុជា​នឹង​ចេញ​ឯកសារ​ចាំបាច់​ឲ្យ​បាន​ឆាប់​។
លោក​សេង សក្តា មិន​អាច​ទាក់ទង​បាន​ទេ​ពី​ម្សិលមិញ៕ TK
 

Siem Reap International Airport Passes 2-Million Visitor Mark

By Ben Woods - December 4, 2012

More than 2 million visitors have passed through Siem Reap International Airport since the start of the year, marking the greatest number of annual air passengers to transit any Cambodian airport, Cambodia Airports announced yesterday.


“At Siem Reap International Airport, we broke the 2 million passengers mark [for the] year…. This is the first time in Cambodia,” said Khek Norinda, communications manager at Cambodia Airports, which operates the Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and Sihanoukville international airports.

Total handling capacity for both Phnom Penh and Siem Reap airports is 2.5 million passengers per year, according to Cambodia Airports, which has plans to expand the two facilities.

But while the number of international visitors to Cambodia is increasing steadily each year, experts say this growth is largely driven by Asian tourists, who have a lesser financial impact on the local economy than their European and American counterparts.

According to the Ministry of Tourism, nearly 2.9 million people arrived in Cambodia by land, air and sea during the first 10 months of the year, up from 2.3 million during the same period last year, a 24 percent increase.

Most visitors were Vietnamese, followed by South Koreans and Chinese.
Laos and Thailand, however, saw the most dramatic increases compared to last year, and the number of Lao tourists in Cambodia almost doubled from 106,000 in 2011 to 201,000 so far this year. Thai tourists increased from 91,000 to 160,000 during the same period.

In contrast, tourists from the U.S. and France—both of which have strong historical ties with Cambodia —accounted for only 8 percent of total visitors so far this year.

Emmett McHenry, general manager of the Sokha Angkor Resort in Siem Reap, said the province has seen a drop in tourists from countries such as Spain, Italy, Portugal and the U.K., attributing the trend to the recent economic recession in Europe. Mr. McHenry said that visitors to Siem Reap from neighboring countries such as Vietnam, Thailand and Laos are increasing most rapidly.

Rainer Deyhle, president of the Foreign Business Owners Association of Cambodia, said that tourists from Vietnam, South Korea and China often pay for group tour packages—which include flights, accommodation, food and in-country travel—while still in their home countries, meaning they spend almost no money in Cambodia.

“They’re not spending any [money] here; they paid already at home…. They stay in a group,” Mr. Deyhle said, noting a recent decline in the number of Western tourists, who contribute to local businesses by staying in upscale hotels and dining in high-end restaurants.

“People from Europe, they spend very well,” said Luu Meng, president of the Cambodia Hotel Association, adding that better transportation options and higher standards of cleanliness in hotels and restaurants would increase the number of wealthy tourists visiting Cambodia.

Cambodia Retains Its Reputation for Corruption

By Lauren Crothers - December 6, 2012

Cambodia continues to rank among the most corrupt countries in the world and much needs to be done to enforce the Anti-Corruption Law and investigate allegations of corruption, Transparency International (T.I.) Cambodia said yesterday.


According to T.I.’s 2012 Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), Cambodia ranked 157th among 176 countries and territories listed, with a score of just 22 out of 100—a slight improvement on last year’s ranking of 164.

“The CPI score for 2012 indicates that Cambodia is still perceived as a highly corrupt country,” T.I. said in a statement.

“For corruption to be reduced in Cambodia there is a need for further progress in the enforcement of the Anti-Corruption Law and an increase in the capacity and outreach of the Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) to effectively investigate corruption cases and bring them to court.”

Transparency also said the government needs to pass an Access to Information Law in order to make the state budget and other important financial decisions made by the government more transparent and “improve the effectiveness of the anti-corruption law enforcement.”

The Central African Republic and war-torn Syria fared better than Cambodia on the index, with joint rankings of 144. Mexico, in which a long-running and grisly drug war has claimed thousands of lives, also rated higher, ranking 105th in the world. Regionally, only Laos (160/21) and Burma (172/15) fared worse than Cambodia.

Neighboring Thailand was ranked 88th with a score of 37, while Vietnam came 123rd with 31 points. Among the Asean member nations, Brunei was judged the “cleanest,” with a rank of 46th and score of 55.
Speaking at a press conference to launch the report, Preap Kol, executive director of T.I.’s Cambodia office, likened corruption to HIV, saying that it infected many levels of society from education and health services to human rights and the judicial system.

Mr. Kol added that Cambodians “should have access to decent health care and education without paying bribes and fees.”

In a statement, T.I. Board of Directors Chairman Rath Sophal said law enforcement is crucial to minimizing corruption.

“Fighting corruption requires unwavering political will and determination of the government in terms of having an adequate legal framework and governance mechanisms that minimize the opportunity for corruption along with consistent enforcement,” he said.

Since its inception in 2010, the ACU has received hundreds of complaints detailing allegations of corruption, though only four arrests have been made so far. The most high profile of the arrests was Moek Dara, former head of the National Authority for Combating Drugs, who is serving life in prison on a raft of drug trafficking and bribery charges.

When asked how the ACU could improve, Mr. Kol said it is suffering from a lack of capacity.
“They don’t have the full capacity to investigate those cases,” Mr. Kol said. He also said he questioned the independence of the unit, which once had a statue of Prime Minister Hun Sen in its courtyard, but removed the effigy as it apparently displeased the prime minister.

Mr. Kol said corruption also impacted the economic sector and investment in particular. “If a company pays a bribe, they can be subject to sanctions in their own countries,” he said.
Council of Ministers spokesman Phay Siphan said the T.I. scorecard results were encouraging, but not reflective of the situation on the ground.

“I hope everyone on Earth understands that Cambodia is in a state of transformation,” he said. “We are reforming throughout the hierarchy of the government agencies. We should reform because the government will be a better service provider. That’s our goal.”
Mr. Siphan cited the ACU and the Anti-Corruption Law as examples of the effort the government has made to clean up graft, but said that all levels of society from government to NGOs needed to work together to stamp out the problem.

“It’s the government’s intention to fight corruption and change people’s mindsets.”
Mr. Siphan also noted that corruption in the U.S., which is ranked 19th on this year’s list, was the primary catalyst for the global financial crisis, but that Washington had a “sophisticated system” to deal with it.
Thun Saray, president of rights group Adhoc, said corruption pervades many tiers of society, but that the “poor and vulnerable” are affected the most.

“It creates more unhappiness of the people, and also creates social instability if we allow this kind of disease,” he said. “I think we have to acknowledge it and continue to collaborate to fight this social problem.”

David Carter, CEO of Infinity Insurance and president of the Australian Business Association, said Cambodia had come a long way in terms of its development, and that many developing countries wrestle with the problem of corruption.

“If you look at where the place has come from to here, it’s no surprise that corruption still remains an issue,” Mr. Carter said. “But it has improved dramatically in that time…and that might not be apparent in [the] report.”

© 2012, The Cambodia Daily. All rights reserved. No part of this article may be reproduced in print, electronically, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without written permission.

Angkor Wat site in danger: Deputy PM

Friday, 07 December 2012

Thik Kaliyann

In a rare acknowledgement of deforestation concerns, Deputy Prime Minister Sok An, chairman of the National Commission for UNESCO, said the widespread clearing of forests around Angkor Wat was harming views of the historic temple complex.

Sok An made the remarks in Siem Reap at a Plenary Session of the International Co-ordinating Committee for the Safeguarding and Development of the Historic Site of Angkor (ICC-Angkor) on Wednesday, and stressed that the forest, known as Phnom Kulen, was degraded and needed immediate attention.

“I’ve known that Phnom Kulen is endangered now, thus this plateau region needs urgent protection,” he said, calling for a halt to all forest clearing which “affects our view of our national park”.

Sok An also called on Siem Reap provincial governor Sou Phirin to co-operate with the APSARA Authority and UNESCO to protect the national park.

Council of Ministers spokesman Phay Siphan said that the Phnom Kulen issue was on the government’s radar.

“In the meeting, we’re paying attention to Phnom Kulen,” he said. “It’s becoming an endangered place.”

According to Siphan, talks are ongoing about problems posed by both flooding and groundwater fluctuations, which are thought to be causing some temples to sink, which in turn causes structural damage.

“We are still discussing surface water, and we have to make sure that there’s no flooding in the temples and Siem Reap city,” he said.

In September the Italian government donated $200,000 to repair an embankment and stairway in the temple’s moat that were damaged by floods.

Angkor marks its 20th year on UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites this year, but, due to the national mourning for King Father Norodom Sihanouk, who played a key role in Angkor’s addition to the list, anniversary celebrations will be postponed until the World Heritage Committee meeting in June.

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To contact the reporter on this story: Thik Kaliyann at kaliyann.thik@phnompenhpost.com

Opposition party alleges corrupt government land deal

Friday, 07 December 2012

David Boyle and May Titthara

 

 

 Sam Rainsy Party whip Son Chhay, pictured in March 2012, confronted parliament on the question of Economic Land Concessions. Photograph: Heng Chivoan/Phnom Penh Post

 

A now defunct Australian firm signed a more than $100 million contract for hundreds of thousands of hectares of land claimed by a Cambodian company through a highly suspicious deal in 2008, according to documents obtained by the Post.

The opposition Sam Rainsy Party raised the deal in parliament yesterday as yet another example of how a shadowy trade in economic land concessions has emerged due to a lack of transparent government disclosure.

SRP party whip Son Chhay pointed out yesterday that the only official fees paid for such ELCs were minuscule amounts of stamp duty, an investment that appeared to have netted original grantee P.C.Co Peanich Ltd $112 million for 350,000 hectares of land in Stung Treng province that was supposed to be for development.

But there is no evidence that the original ELC was even granted, and Stung Treng provincial governor Loy Sophat said yesterday that the government had never given the land in Stung Treng to a private company.

“And I don’t know why they have the contract on the paper, as I am an authority here – I have never known anything [about this]. I don’t know where that paper came from,” he said.

Sophat said the land remained in state hands and was not up for development.

A copy of the contract, which is not signed by any government body, provided by Son Chhay shows Australian firm Prestige Finance & Investments Pty, Ltd, which is listed by the Australian Securities and Investment Commission as deregistered, as having signed for the land.

ASIC records show the Australian firm, which had a list of unspecified officeholders and other roles made up of eight Vietnamese-born individuals and one Israeli in 2010, was deregistered on June 20 the same year.

The contract lists the company representative as Hannah Nguyen or Tong My Hanh, who ASIC records show owned $3,000 worth of the firm’s total $10,000 in stock while it existed.

After the sitting, Chhay said CPP lawmakers had refused to come clean about the details of this deal and others, declining to answer such questions as to why it appeared the previous lease holders of the land had illegally speculated.

“They commit wrong­doing, and when the government have not acted or have not done anything about it, I think they are somehow involved with wrongdoing.”

“So this is something interesting, so the question is who owns this land now? The government has to respond to my question. I am still waiting for Mr [Deputy Prime Minister] Sok An to respond to this,” he said, adding he had first made inquiries about the case nine months ago.

CPP lawmakers remained mum yesterday on specific cases of questionable ELCs raised by Chhay, instead talking more broadly of the government’s “leap frog” (step-by-step) development strategy.

Nicolas Agostini, a land expert at the rights group Adhoc, said the stated goal of ELCs as a driving force of development could not be achieved unless all relevant documents were made publicly available.

“They have to be consistent; if they claim that ELCs are for the development of Cambodia, then the development has to be transparent so they have to disclose all information,” he said.

“Also, given the moratorium that was announced in May, we have been told that some ELCs have been granted since the moratorium, and we have been told we cannot be told how many more ELCs are in the pipeline.”

Prime Minister Hun Sen set that moratorium on new ELCs amidst swelling public outrage about rampant land-grabbing but included a clause which allowed concessions already under consideration to still be granted.

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To contact the reporters on this story: David Boyle at david.boyle@phnompenhpost.com
May Titthara at titthara.may@phnompenhpost.com

Index shows equitable rule of law long way off

Monday, 03 December 2012

Bridget Di Certo

 

Cambodia lags significantly in establishing a rule of law free from corruption, the World Justice Project (WJP) Rule of Law Index shows.

The index, published last week by the international agency, ranks Cambodia as low as 94 out of 97 countries canvassed on some of the nine concepts based on four universal principles that, according to the WJP, are needed for a functioning rule of law.

These include an accountable government, security and fundamental rights, open government and regulatory enforcement, and the delivery of justice.

In last year’s survey, Cambodia ranked 66 out of the 66 countries surveyed.

In the 2012 index, the third in the annual series, Cambodia scored the lowest in the East Asia and Pacific region in nearly every category.

Globally, Cambodia was ranked 90 out of 97 countries in establishing effective limits on government power and 94th in regulatory enforcement and civil justice, according to the country profile published by the WJP.

The Kingdom stands significantly lower compared to its global and regional counterparts as an “accountable government”.

Cambodia showed strengths in some indicators for security and fundamental rights, achieving its highest scores in “absence of crime” and “civil conflict is effectively limited”.

In the other indicators for security and fundamental rights, however, the country scored relatively poorly with its lowest rank in ensuring “people do not resort to violence to redress personal grievances”.

It was the report’s findings on corruption, however, that dragged down Cambodia’s score the most.

“Cambodia is ranked lower than most other countries in the region on all dimensions.

“The overall legal and institutional environment remains quite weak, which is highlighted by low scores in key areas, including effective limits on government powers (ranking 90th); regulatory enforcement; access to civil justice; and absence of corruption (ranked 85th),” according to a WJP press release accompanying the report.

“Property rights are very weak, and police abuses remain a significant problem. On the other hand, Cambodia has lower crime rates than most countries in the low-income group,” the press release reads.

Council of Ministers spokesman Phay Siphan said the findings echoed numbers and findings of other agencies that had been floated around for years.

“What they don’t understand is that we have been reforming the government for the past five years. We, the government, feel very satisfied with the system that exists and those agencies don’t understand [the realities],” Siphan told the Post.

កិច្ចសម្ភាសន៍ពី ស្ថានភាពមេធាវី កម្ពុជាបច្ចុប្បន្ន រវាងលោក សយ សុភាព និងលោកមេធាវី សុក ស៊ីផាន់ណា (មេធាវីដ៏ល្អជាអ្នករក ដំណោះស្រាយ ឲ្យអតិថិជនមិនមែន ឲ្យជំរុញកូនក្តី ខ្លួនឡើងតុលាការទេ)

Monday, 29 October 2012 12:08 ដោយ ៖ ដើមអម្ពិល(DAP): ID-078

ភ្នំពេញៈ បន្ទាប់ពីត្រូវបាន ក្រុមមេធាវីធ្វើការបោះឆ្នោត ផ្តល់សេចក្តីទុកចិត្ត ជាសមាជិក ក្រុមប្រឹក្សាគណៈមេធាវី នៃព្រះរាជាណាចក្រកម្ពុជា អាណត្តិ ទី៧ លោក សុក ស៊ីផាន់ណា បេក្ខភាពក្រុមប្រឹក្សា ដែលទើបនឹងជាប់ឆ្នោត បានផ្តល់បទសម្ភាសន៍ ជាមួយអគ្គនាយក មជ្ឈមណ្ឌលព័ត៌មាន ដើមអម្ពិល លោក សយ សុភាព ពីស្ថានភាព មេធាវីកម្ពុជាបច្ចុប្បន្ន ។
ខាងក្រោមនេះ ជាកិច្ចសម្ភាសន៍រវាងលោក មេធាវី សុក ស៊ីផាន់ណា និងលោក សយ សុភាព ជុំវិញនិងស្ថានភាព មេធាវីកម្ពុជាបច្ចុប្បន្ន ។

សយ សុភាពៈ បន្ទាប់ពីលោកជាប់ឆ្នោតជាសមាជិក ក្រុមប្រឹក្សាគណៈមេធាវី តើលោកមាន អ្វីដើម្បីចែករំលែក ជាអទិភាពចំពោះ មេធាវីកម្ពុជា ?


សុក ស៊ីផាន់ណាៈ ខ្ញុំគិតថាមុនគេ យើងត្រូវពង្រឹងសមត្ថភាព មេធាវីក្មេងៗ ជំនាន់ក្រោយ ដែលចូល មកព្រោះ ការចេញ ពីសាលាមិនមែន មានន័យថា យើងចេះធ្វើការនោះទេ កុំច្រឡំឲ្យសោះ យើងចេញ ពីសាលាគឺចេះតែ ទ្រឹស្តី យើងមើលច្បាប់ យល់ប៉ុន្តែអត់ដឹង អនុវត្តន៍យ៉ាងម៉េចនោះទេ ? អ្វីដែល សំខាន់ ត្រូវមានការហ្វឹកហ្វឺន ដល់ ពួកគេឲ្យយល់ក្នុង ការប្រកបវិជ្ជាជីវៈ វាជារឿងសំខាន់ក្នុងនាម ជាមេធាវី តើយើងត្រូវចេះ អ្វីខ្លះ? មិនមែនចេះ ចេញពី សាលាមក អាចអានច្បាប់យល់នោះទេ “អានច្បាប់ ដឹងអីចឹង ពិរោះអីចឹង” ប៉ុន្តែសួរថា មានន័យថាម៉េច អត់ដឹងទេ ?

សយ សុភាពៈ តើអាចនឹងមានបញ្ហាប្រឈមទេ ចំពោះមេធាវីកម្ពុជាសព្វថ្ងៃ នៅពេលចូល អាស៊ាន ?


សុក ស៊ីផាន់ណាៈ ការប្រឈមរបស់យើង គឺនៅពេលដែលសេដ្ឋកិច្ច ទីផ្សារក្នុង តំបន់បើក លំហូ ប្រជាជន លំហូ អ្នកជំនាញ បច្ចេកទេស លំហូ វិនិយោគទុន លំហូទំនិញមក ! តើមកជាមួយអ្វី ? គឺមកជាមួយសេវា ការពារ ក្រុមហ៊ុន ហើយអទិភាពមុន គឺគេរកតែពីរមុខ ប៉ុណ្ណោះ គណនេយ្យ និងមេធាវី ការពារក្រុមហ៊ុន ។ អាពីរមុខនេះ ដាច់ខាតហើយ មុនគេដាក់ជើងរកស៊ី គឺត្រូវការអាពីរនេះ ជាចំបាច់ អីចឹងបើមេធាវីយើង មិនពូកែផ្នែក ពាណិជ្ជកម្ម ផ្នែកវិនិយោគទុន ផ្នែកអាជីវកម្ម យើងបាត់ ទីផ្សារធំ ព្រោះនៅពេលនោះ គេនឹងរត់ទៅរកអ្នកណា ដែរមាន សមត្ថភាព ។

សយ សុភាពៈ តើសព្វថ្ងៃនេះមេធាវីកម្ពុជាយើង មានជំនាញផ្នែកអ្វីច្រើនជាងគេ ?


សុក ស៊ីផាន់ណាៈ ខ្ញុំសង្កេតឃើញ ភាគច្រើន គឺផ្នែករដ្ឋប្បវេណី ផ្នែកព្រហ្មទណ្ឌ ពួកគាត់មិនមាន ជំនាញត្រូវ ទីផ្សារ ដែរត្រូវការនោះទេ ។ ក្នុងសង្គម យើងត្រូវមាន អ្នកការពារក្តី ត្រូវតែមានអ្នក ឡើងតុលាការ ព្រហ្មទណ្ឌ រឿងនេះវាជៀសមិនរួច ក៏ប៉ុន្តែយើងមិនអាច កសាងសេដ្ឋកិច្ច យើងឲ្យមំាបាន ការពារអត្ថប្រយោជន៍របស់ ប្រជាពលរដ្ឋខ្មែរយើង ដែរចូលដៃគូ ជាមួយបរទេស នៅពេលដែល បរទេសគេមក គឺត្រូវតែរកស៊ីជាមួយខ្មែរយើង ក្នុង រូបភាពអ្វីមួយ ? ជារូបភាពដៃគូ ជារូបភាពសេវាកម្ម ជារូបភាពវិនិយោគទុន ខ្មែរយើងត្រូវមានសកម្មភាព អ្វីមួយជាមួយ បរទេសហើយ ប្រសិនមេធាវី ខ្មែរ យើងពុំមានលទ្ធភាព អាចការពារ អាចចរចា អាចរកចំណុច ឈ្នះឲ្យកូនក្តី ឬម៉ូយ របស់ខ្លួន នោះ គឺចាញ់ប្រៀបគេ ។

សយ សុភាពៈ តើសព្វថ្ងៃមេធាវីយើង មានជំនាញខាងពាណិជ្ជកម្ម ច្រើនដែរឬទេ ?


សុក ស៊ីផាន់ណាៈ ខ្ញុំគិតថាខាងពាណិជ្ជកម្ម ខាងវិនិយោគទុន អត់ពូកែទេ ព្រោះសាលាបង្រៀន ភាគច្រើន បង្រៀន ផ្នែករដ្ឋបាល ផ្នែករដ្ឋប្បវេណី និងផ្នែកព្រហ្មទណ្ឌ ច្រើនជាង អីចឹងនៅពេល និស្សិតចេញមក គាត់មិន អាចមានជំនាញ ដែលអាចហ្វឹកហ្វឺន ទៅធ្វើអាជីវកម្មកើត ។ ខ្ញុំឃើញថា សព្វថ្ងៃសេដ្ឋកិច្ច នៅកម្ពុជា យើងមាន ឧកញ៉ា ដែលមានជីវភាព ធូរធាច្រើនណាស់ អាជីវកម្មរបស់ គាត់រីកធំ ហើយតម្រូវការច្បាប់ បញ្ហាផ្នែកគតិយុត្តិ នៅក្នុងក្រុមហ៊ុនរបស់គាត់ ក៏សម្បូរណាស់ អីចឹងគាត់អាចជួល មេធាវីខ្មែរម្នាក់ឲ្យធ្វើការ ប្រចាំក្រុមហ៊ុន ឲ្យប្រាក់ ខែគេ២០០០ ដុល្លារ ទៅ៣០០០ ដុល្លារ ក៏បានដែរ ព្រោះការងារដែលគាត់ធ្វើ រាល់ថ្ងៃគង់តែជួលអ្នក ក្រៅដដែរ អីចឹងមានន័យថា យើងត្រូវតម្រង់ទិស ឲ្យបានច្រើនឲ្យមេធាវីយើង រៀនជំនាញផ្នែកពាណិជ្ជកម្ម ផ្នែកក្រុមហ៊ុន ដំណើរការ ក្រុមហ៊ុន ច្បាប់ការងារ និងរបៀបដោះស្រាយវិវាទក្រៅ ប្រព័ន្ធតុលាការ ទាំងអស់នេះសុទ្ធតែ ជា ជំនាញបច្ចេកទេស ដែលអាចរកអាជីព បានដោយមិនចំាបាច់ ឡើងតុលាការ ។ ចង់មិនចង់ អ្នករកស៊ី គេមិនចង់ ឡើងតុលាការនោះទេ ជម្លោះ គាត់បញ្ជៀសបាន គាត់ជៀសហើយ ការបញ្ជៀសជម្លោះ អាចធ្វើបាន ក៏ដោយសារ តែយើងមាន លទ្ធភាពក្នុងការសរសេរ កិច្ចសន្យា ដែលវា មិនផ្អៀង ខ្លំាង ។ ប្រសិនបើកិច្ចសន្យា ផ្អៀងខ្លំាង ដល់ ពេលមួយអ្នកដែរនៅ ខាងក្រោមនឹង អាជញ្ជីងមួយ ដែលបះជាងគេនឹង ដល់ពេលណាមួយ នឹងរើបម្រះ ទៅជា ជម្លោះ អីចឹងនៅពេល អ្នករកស៊ីមាន ជម្លោះគឺខាតទាំងអស់គ្នា ។

សយ សុភាពៈ ដោយសារតែសព្វថ្ងៃនេះ មេធាវីនៅមានបញ្ហាមួយ ខាងផ្នែកពាណិជ្ជកម្ម តើក្នុងនាម គណៈមេធាវី អាចមានឥទ្ធិពលអ្វីមួយ ដើម្បីជំរុញ ខាងរដ្ឋាភិបាល ឲ្យជួយបង្កើតតុលាការ ពាណិជ្ជកម្ម បានដែរ ឬទេ ?

សុក ស៊ីផាន់ណាៈ ពេលដែលយើងចូលអង្គការពាណិជ្ជកម្ម ពិភពលោក WTO រដ្ឋាភិបាល បានប្តេជ្ញា ហើយ គឺ យើងត្រូវតែធ្វើ តែ៦ឆ្នាំ ៧ឆ្នាំនេះ យើងមិនទាន់បានធ្វើនោះទេ ប៉ុន្តែវាមានការវិវឌ្ឍន៍ មួយល្អដែរ មានមជ្ឈត កម្មពាណិជ្ជកម្ម គឺការដោះស្រាយវិវាទ ក្រៅប្រព័ន្ធតុលាការ ហើយដំណើរការ ទៅបណ្តើរៗហើយ គេបង្វឹកបង្វឺន មួយក្រុម ដំបូងចំនួន៥០ នាក់ជាង សម្រាប់តុលាការ ពាណិជ្ជកម្ម ត្រូវតែមាន ព្រោះជាកាតព្វកិច្ច ក្នុងការសន្យា របស់យើង នៅពេលចូលក្នុង អង្គការ WTO ។ ប្រសិនបើយើងមានតុលាការ ពាណិជ្ជកម្ម ជាការផ្តល់សញ្ញាមួយ ទៅឲ្យបរទេស ឃើញថា ប្រសិនបើអ្នក ឯងមានមាយាទ យើងមានតុលាការ ពាណិជ្ជកម្ម ដែលអាចរកយុត្តិធម៌ ឲ្យវិវាទពាណិជ្ជកម្ម ដែរមាន ។

សយ សុភាពៈ នៅឆ្នាំ២០១៥ ខាងមុខនេះ គេសមាហរណកម្មចូលគ្នា ការងាររកស៊ី មួយចំនួន ដោយឡែក ខាងមេធាវី តើច្បាប់អនុញ្ញាត ឲ្យមេធាវី បរទេសបើក ការិយាល័យ នៅកម្ពុជាដែរឬទេ ?

សុក ស៊ីផាន់ណាៈ ច្បាប់យើងដែរធ្វើ តាមរយៈ WTO យើងអាចអនុញ្ញាតឲ្យគេ មកផ្តល់ជាអនុសាស្រ្ត តែលើ ច្បាប់ ប៉ុន្តែមិនមែនច្បាប់ កម្ពុជានោះទេ វាមានន័យថានៅពេលឡើង តុលាការប្រើច្បាប់ខ្មែរ មេធាវីខ្មែរជាអ្នក ការពារ ។ ដោយឡែកនៅក្នុងចរន្តនៃ វិនិយោគទុនឆ្លងដែន ប្រសិនបើ វិនិយោគទុន មួយមកពីប្រទេស វៀតណាម មកពីប្រទេសថៃ អីចឹងអ្នកមកពីថៃ គឺត្រូវការច្បាប់ថៃ ត្រូវការមេធាវីថៃ ព្រោះគាត់ចាប់ដៃគូ ជាមួយខ្មែរ ព្រោះរឿងនេះ មេធាវីខ្មែរម្នាក់ឯង មិនអាចផ្តល់យោបល់ថា បើអ្នកឯង រកស៊ីជាមួយខ្មែរ ច្បាប់វាយ៉ាងនេះ ឬវា យ៉ាងនោះ ច្បាប់ពន្ធដា វាយ៉ាងម៉េចនោះ អីចឹងគាត់មិនអាច និយាយទៅលើច្បាប់ថៃ បាននោះទេ បើគាត់មាន ដៃគូ ជាមួយមេធាវីថៃ គាត់អាចរួមគ្នា ឲ្យយោបល់អំពី ការបង្កើតអាជីវកម្ម នៅ ស្រុកខ្មែរ បង់ពន្ធដាយ៉ាងម៉េច ហើយដៃគូជាមេធាវី ថៃអាចប្រាប់ខាងថៃថា បើអ្នកឯងរកស៊ី នៅស្រុកខ្មែរ អ្នកឯងបង់ពន្ធតម្លៃនេះ អ្នកឯងអាច ចំណេញ ប៉ុន្មាន កត្តានេះ វាជាឱកាស ផ្តល់កិច្ចសហប្រតិបត្តិការ ចាប់យកទីផ្សារឲ្យបាន ។ ចំពោះផលវិបាកសព្វថ្ងៃ បញ្ហាមេធាវី បរទេស មួយ ចំនួន គាត់ចូលមកគ្មាន តម្លាភាព មកលួចលាក់ ដាច់ខាត យើងត្រូវ តែគ្រប់គ្រងមេធាវី បរទេសដែលមកធ្វើ អាជីវកម្ម នៅស្រុកខ្មែរ ការគ្រប់គ្រងនេះ មានន័យថា មិនតម្រូវឲ្យ គាត់ ធ្វើអ្វីក្រៅពី ច្បាប់កម្ពុជា ប្រសិនបើយើងមិនទាញ ពួកគាត់ចូលក្នុងរង្វង់ ច្បាប់គ្រប់គ្រងរបស់យើង គាត់ នឹងនៅតែ លួចលាក់ ជិះ យន្តហោះមក គាត់ចុះកិច្ចសន្យា ហើយចុងបញ្ចប់ រុញឲ្យខ្មែរបកប្រែ ។ ក្នុងន័យនេះ មេធាវីបរទេស ត្រូវធ្វើការជាមួយមេធាវីខ្មែរ ក្នុងអង្គការ WTO ដែលកំពុងចរចា មានន័យថា មេធាវីបរទេសអាច ធ្វើអាជីវកម្មរកស៊ីមានបាន ក្នុងស្រុកខ្មែរ ទី១.ត្រូវធ្វើការជាមួយមេធាវីខ្មែរ ទី២.ទាល់តែមាន សកម្មភាពហ្វឹកហ្វឺន មេធាវីខ្មែរ ប៉ុន្មានឆ្នាំក្រោយមក អ្នកឯងត្រូវជម្រុញ សមត្ថភាពឲ្យមេធាវីខ្មែរ ឡើងឋានៈ ឬអ្វីមួយ ទាំងអស់នេះ គឺយើងអាចពង្រឹង សមត្ថភាពមេធាវីខ្មែរ ។

សយ សុភាពៈ តើបច្ចុប្បន្ននេះក្រមសីលធម៌ វិជ្ជាជីវៈមេធាវី យ៉ាងម៉េចដែរ ?


សុក ស៊ីផាន់ណាៈ ខ្ញុំគិតថាក្រមសីលធម៌យើងត្រូវប្រឹងមែនទែន ខ្ញុំមិនបានពាក់ព័ន្ធ ច្រើនរឿង នឹងទេ ប៉ុន្តែតាម ការឮ វាជារូបភាពមួយ ដែលយើង ត្រូវពង្រឹង ខ្ញុំមិនវាយតម្លៃទេ ប៉ុន្តែធ្វើអ្វីមួយត្រូវ តែមានការចាប់ផ្តើម ពីកន្លែង ណាមួយ អីចឹងយើងកុំមើល ថយក្រោយ យើងមើលទៅមុខ វិញថាធ្វើ យ៉ាងម៉េច ដើម្បីពង្រឹងវិជ្ជាជីវៈ ឲ្យទទួល ស្គាល់ថា វិជ្ជាជីវៈគាត់ គឺជាវិជ្ជាជីវៈកិត្តិយស ដែលគេទុកចិត្ត ដែលគេមានភាពកក់ក្តៅ ដល់ពេលនឹងគាត់និង ធ្វើត្រឹមត្រូវហើយ វិជ្ជាជីវៈមេធាវី ប្រសិនបើគេទុកចិត្ត យើងគឺមិនធម្មតាទេ ។ សម្រាប់ខ្ញុំនៅពេលមាន អតិថិជន គេមកពឹងពាក់ ឲ្យជួយមើលការងារឲ្យ និងចាត់ចែងឲ្យ នេះគឺពិតជាកិត្តិយស សម្បើមណាស់ ការទុកចិត្តនេះ មិនមែនជារឿង ធម្មតាទេ នៅពេលដែរគេប្រគល់ ជីវិតពាណិជ្ជកម្ម ធនធាន ការសន្សំរបស់គេ មកឲ្យយើងជួយ គិត វាមិនមែនជារឿង ធម្មតានោះទេ រឿងនេះមេធាវីយើង ត្រូវគិត មិនមែនដូចជា ការងាររកស៊ី ដូចយើងទៅលក់ នំបុ័ង លក់កាហ្វេនោះទេ មេធាវី គឺជាអាជីពកិត្តិយស បំផុត នៅក្នុង ស្រុកគេមេធាវី មួយៗមិនធម្មតានោះទេ រឿង នេះទាល់តែជំរុញ ស្មារតីចិត្តសាស្រ្ត ឲ្យ ខ្លំាងមែនទែន រឿងនេះមិនមែន ជាអាជីវកម្ម ចេញមកលក់របស់ របរនោះ ទេយើងពាក់អាវផាវ វាមិនធម្មតានោះទេ ។

សយ សុភាពៈ តើលោកយល់យ៉ាងម៉េច ដែរសព្វថ្ងៃនេះ មតិសាធារណជន ខ្លះតែងនិយាយថា មេធាវី និងបុគ្គល ព្រះរាជអាជ្ញា ចៅក្រមមួយចំនួនខ្លះ នៃតុលាការរកស៊ីចូលគ្នា ចរចាលុយគ្នាត្រូវហើយ ទើបកាត់សេចក្តី ?

សុក ស៊ីផាន់ណាៈ បញ្ហានេះ ដូចអ្វីដែលខ្ញុំបានលើកឡើងដំបូងអីចឹង ប្រសិនបើយើងមិន ពង្រឹងសមត្ថិភាព មេធាវីឲ្យចេះធ្វើការងារ ពាណិជ្ជកម្ម អាជីព នៅក្នុងក្រុមហ៊ុន ។ ខ្ញុំផ្ទាល់តាំងពីធ្វើជាមេធាវី គឺមិនដែរបានឡើងទៅ តុលាការម្តងសោះឡើយ ព្រោះជំនាញខ្ញុំវា មិនទាក់ទង តុលាការ ជំនាញ ខ្ញុំនៅពេលដែលឲ្យ យោបល់ទៅ អាជីវករ ដែររកស៊ីជាមួយគ្នា ធ្វើយ៉ាងម៉េចកុំ ឲ្យមានវិវាទ ព្រោះនៅពេលមានវិវាទ គឺខាតទាំងអស់គ្នា ឲ្យតែវិវាទ អាជីវកម្មគាំង មនុស្សឈ្លោះគ្នា អត់រកស៊ីជាមួយគ្នា សេដ្ឋកិច្ចធ្លាក់ អីចឹងយើង ឃើញថា មេធាវីល្អគឺមេធាវី ដែររក ដំណោះស្រាយ ឲ្យអតិថិជនរបស់ខ្លួន ដើម្បីរកផលចំណេញ មិនមែនជំរុញ ឲ្យអតិថិជនរបស់ខ្លួន ឈ្លោះគ្នាដើម្បី ឡើងទៅតុលាការ បានផលកំរ៉ៃនោះទេ ។ ជំនាញខ្ញុំ ខាងពាណិជ្ជកម្ម អីចឹងគឺឲ្យយោបល់ ធ្វើយ៉ាងម៉េច ដើម្បីកុំ ឲ្យអ្នកឯងឈ្លោះគ្នា យោបល់ នេះសំខាន់ណាស់ ខ្មែរយើងនៅពេលមាន ដៃគូ៣ នាក់ ទៅ៤ នាក់ រកស៊ីជាមួយគ្នា មិនស្រួល ប្រហែល៤ ខែក្រោយមកឈ្លោះគ្នា យើងអត់មានក្របខណ្ឌ អត់មានមូលដ្ឋាន ជាក់លាក់ ខ្ញុំសុខចិត្តឲ្យគាត់ ឈ្លោះ គ្នាមុនគាត់ចុះ ហត្ថលេខា ប៉ុន្តែចុះហត្ថលេខា រួចហើយ គាត់នៅ សុខដុម ជាមួយគ្នា២០ ឆ្នាំក្រោយមក រឿងនេះយើងត្រូវបង្រៀន មេធាវីខ្មែរយើង ឲ្យកូនខ្មែរ យើងដើរតួរ កុំឲ្យទៅជាមេធាវី ប្រឈមមុខនឹង តុលាការ យើងឲ្យគាត់ក្លាយ ជាមេធាវីរកដំណោះស្រាយ ទៅ ឲ្យ អតិថិជន របស់ខ្លួនមុនវិវាទ កើតទៅទៀត ព្រោះនៅពេលវិវាទ កើតហើយ មនុស្សខាតទាំងអស់គ្នា អីចឹង ហើយបាន ជានៅក្នុង ពាណិជ្ជកម្ម អន្តរជាតិ ការដោះស្រាយវិវាទ ក្រៅប្រព័ន្ធតុលាការ ជាជម្រៅ ដ៏ល្អ បំផុត ទី១.ពុំមានអ្នកដឹងទេ មនុស្សទាស់គ្នាលើចំណុច១ នៅ ចំណុច៩០ ជាងទៀត ក្រុមហ៊ុននៅដំណើរការ ហើយ អត់មានអ្នកណាដឹងថា ក្រុមហ៊ុននេះទាស់គ្នា លើភាគហ៊ុនណា មួយនោះទេ ? អីចឹងរកស៊ីជា ធម្មតា មនុស្ស អត់ភ័យ ឧទាហរណ៍នៅក្នុង ធនាគារមួយឮថា ម្ចាស់ភាគហ៊ុន ឈ្លោះគ្នា ពេលបែកការអ្នកណាដឹងថា ម្ចាស់ភាគហ៊ុនឈ្លោះគ្នា រកលក់ មនុស្សនាំគ្នា ទៅដកលុយ ធនាគារនឹងរលំ ដែរតាមពិតទៅវាមិនត្រូវ រលំសោះ ។
ព័ត៌មានពាណិជ្ជកម្មវាជារឿងសំខាន់ តួនាទីមេធាវីត្រូវតែរក្សាការ សំងាត់ពាណិជ្ជកម្ម ហើយយើង ជាមេធាវី ដូច ជាប្រអប់ខ្មៅមួយ ងងឹតអីចឹង ព័ត៌មាន ចូលមក ចប់ត្រឹមនឹង បោះចូលធុង នឹងគឺជិតឈឹង ហើយរឿងនេះគឺ ទាមទារ ស្មារតីវិន័យ ខ្លំាងណាស់ ៕