Cambodia Morning News For April 12

ADB Forecasts Cambodia’s Economy to Grow 7% in 2018 and 2019
Asian Development Bank (ADB) predicted on Wednesday that Cambodia’s economy is expected to grow 7 percent in 2018 and 2019, bolstered by solid global economic growth, according to Asian Development Outlook (ADO) 2018, released today.
— Fresh News

Solar Surge Threatens Hydro Future on Mekong
Thousands of megawatts of wind and solar energy contracts in the Mekong region of Southeast Asia have been signed, seriously challenging the financial viability of major hydropower projects on the river, an energy expert told a water conference last week.
— VOA Cambodia

Demand for Cambodian cashews on the rise
Demand for Cambodian cashew nuts remains robust in 2018, with the price of the commodity in the global market having experienced moderate growth in recent months, according to an official from the Ministry of Agriculture.
— Khmer Times

U.S Embassy: Security Alerts on Khmer New Year
The U.S Embassy in Phnom Penh released a statement “Possible Explosive Device During Khmer New Year 2018” for security purposes, according to Embassy Phnom Penh’s Facebook on April 11, 2018.
— Fresh News

Cambodia deports 89 ‘nude photo online scammers’ to China
Cambodia on Wednesday deported nearly 100 Chinese citizens accused of defrauding people in China in an internet scam, a senior Cambodian Interior Ministry official said.
— Bangkok Post

Cambodia is eligible to receive Global Fund aid
Cambodia has met a co-financing requirement to be eligible for millions of dollars from the Global Fund for HIV and TB, following through on a new “incentive” requiring it to increase its own contribution in order to continue receiving funds.
— The Phnom Penh Post

Cambodian PM launches new foundation to support kingdom’s largest pediatric hospitals
Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen on Wednesday launched the Cambodia Kantha Bopha Foundation to raise funds for the country’s Kantha Bopha Hospitals.
— Xinhua

Electoral Watchdogs Hit Back at Accusations of Undermining Cambodia Ballot
Two independent electoral watchdogs have hit back at accusations that they are seeking to disrupt an upcoming general ballot in Cambodia after expressing concerns over political tensions in the country and the lack of a viable opponent to Prime Minister Hun Sen’s ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP).
— Radio Free Asia

Expats say Australian woman on drug charges in Cambodia criticised Hun Sen
An Australian woman detained by Cambodian police on allegations of drug possession may have angered the government by publicly criticising the prime minister, expats in the city of Siem Reap have said.
— The Guardian

Former Opposition Leader in Japan to Lobby for Open Election
Cambodia’s former opposition leader, Sam Rainsy, arrived in Tokyo, Japan this week to lobby the government to press for a free and fair election in July.
— VOA Cambodia

Poipet SEZ signs first lease to Japan firm
Japanese firm Sumitronics signed a lease to become the first tenant at the Poipet Special Economic Zone, which was established as a subsidiary of the publicly listed Phnom Penh Special Economic Zone (PPSEZ) in 2014.
— The Phnom Penh Post

Mobile operators reproved
The Telecommunication Regulator of Cambodia urged mobile network operators to prioritise service quality over profit maximization, and asked companies to do more to expand network coverage in the kingdom.
— Khmer Times

Interior Ministry releases dossier of evidence outlining alleged KNLF bombing ‘plot’
The Ministry of Interior released a 14-page dossier of purported evidence against self-exiled political dissident Sam Serey on Wednesday, and government mouthpiece Fresh News leaked audio recordings of alleged associates seeking to buttress Prime Minister Hun Sen’s accusation that Serey was plotting a Khmer New Year terrorist attack.
— The Phnom Penh Post

Smuggler of assault rifles halted near Cambodia border
A pick-up truck with military stickers was found carrying illegal firearms at a checkpoint in the eastern province bordering Cambodia late Tuesday night.
— Bangkok Post

Occupancy rates soar as national holiday draws closer
Occupancy rates in the hospitality industry will skyrocket in upcoming days, with hotels fully or nearly fully booked in Siem Reap province and in the coast as visitors travel during Khmer New Year, according to hotel representatives across the country.
— Khmer Times

“Made in Cambodia” explores the human cost of cheap clothes
Be warned: watch “Made in Cambodia” on Salon Premium and you may never look at the clothes in your closet the same way again. But that’s a good thing.
— Salon

New trade expo to showcase products from China’s Sichuan
China’s southwestern province of Sichuan will be the focus of a trade exhibition to be held in Phnom Penh later this year, an event aimed at promoting bilateral trade and investment between the Chinese province and the kingdom.
— Khmer Times

Cambodia to establish a new wildlife sanctuary
A new wildlife sanctuary in Oddar Meanchey, a Northwestern province of Cambodia is going to be established as The Royal Government of Cambodia has recently issued the statement.
— Devdiscourse

Feature photo Enrico Strocchi

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Cambodia morning news by AEC News Today is your one stop source for Cambodia news on matters of governance and policies affecting Asean business communities. It is published M-F by AEC News Today: Governance, not government; policies not politics.