Cambodia will raise at least three climate issues at an international conference later this year in Denmark, officials said Wednesday, as they closed a three-day forum on climate change in Phnom Penh.
Cambodia will seek technology transfers for poorer countries, financial aid without conditions and adherence to Kyoto Protocol principles.
“Cambodia needs legal assurances and support in dealing with, mitigation of and adaptation to climate change,” Environment Minister Mok Maret told reporters.
UN-sponsored talks will take place among 192 members of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in Copenhagen in December.
Cambodia would continue to implement existing mechanisms and follow the protocol under the framework, Mok Maret said.
Under the agreement, Cambodia is not obligated to cut greenhouse gas emissions, but it nevertheless has incentives to do so, through a “Clean Development Mechanism” and with the chance to sell carbon credits to industrial nations and international markets.
Cambodia is implementing six clean development projects, including the Angkor Bio Cogen Rice Husk Power Project, in Kandal province, and TTY Cambodia Biogas, in Kampong Cham province.
Nop Polin, a national climate change officer for Oxfam America, said Cambodia is right to demand that rich countries give more financial assistance to cope with climate change, but he said the country can earn more money from donors by cutting greenhouse-gas emissions.
“I think it is an opportunity for developing countries like Cambodia to get more funding in the forms of credits when they have more and attractive [CDM] projects,” he said. “But so far there are so few projects and it’s so complicated in implementing them.”
Jo Scheuer, UNDP country director, said Cambodia, though poor, could become a model country, which could have minimal emissions if energy efficiency could be integrated into business policies and investment plans.
He suggested a “Green City,” starting with Siem Reap.
“We can develop an integrated city plan combining both climate change mitigation and adaptation measures with the promotion of energy efficiency in hotels and restaurants,” he said on Wednesday, addressing the first forum on climate change. “We can equip every hospital, school and pagoda with solar panels and solar water heaters and promote the use of improved cook stoves and water filters in the city and suburbs.”
Mok Maret said Cambodia was “on the way to a low carbon or even a carbon-free economy.”
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
US Export Import Bank Open to Cambodia
The Export Import Bank of the United States is now open to provide financing for purchases of US exports by private-sector buyers in Cambodia.
The opening follows Cambodia’s removal from a US trade blacklist in June by President Barack Obama, “which has allowed the bank to do a study in order to determine, along with other US agencies, that we should be open to financing import into Cambodia from the United States on repayment terms up to seven years,” Phil Cogan, spokesman for the Ex-Im Bank, told VOA Khmer.
“So what that means is buyers in Cambodia who wish to purchase US high-quality goods and services can do so with potential financing from the United States Export Import Bank that will make their purchases available for financing,” he said.
US export to Cambodia remains small, about $154 million in 2008, compared to $2.4 billion in import from Cambodia. The US products available in Cambodia are vehicles, heavy machinery, electronics equipment, and health and sanitation.
Many local businessmen said they were glad to hear the news.
Cogan said interest rates for Cambodia are at favorable levels, and that even small deals could be made.
The so-called Ex-Im Bank is the official export credit agency of the United States. The federal agency, now in its 75th year, helps to create and maintain US jobs by financing the sales of exports, primarily to emerging markets throughout the world.
The opening follows Cambodia’s removal from a US trade blacklist in June by President Barack Obama, “which has allowed the bank to do a study in order to determine, along with other US agencies, that we should be open to financing import into Cambodia from the United States on repayment terms up to seven years,” Phil Cogan, spokesman for the Ex-Im Bank, told VOA Khmer.
“So what that means is buyers in Cambodia who wish to purchase US high-quality goods and services can do so with potential financing from the United States Export Import Bank that will make their purchases available for financing,” he said.
US export to Cambodia remains small, about $154 million in 2008, compared to $2.4 billion in import from Cambodia. The US products available in Cambodia are vehicles, heavy machinery, electronics equipment, and health and sanitation.
Many local businessmen said they were glad to hear the news.
Cogan said interest rates for Cambodia are at favorable levels, and that even small deals could be made.
The so-called Ex-Im Bank is the official export credit agency of the United States. The federal agency, now in its 75th year, helps to create and maintain US jobs by financing the sales of exports, primarily to emerging markets throughout the world.
Thaksin Most Welcome: Government Official
Were ousted Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra to come to Cambodia, the country would not extradite him, a government statement said Friday.
Prime Minister Hun Sen said earlier this week he would welcome the former premier to Cambodia, which prompted a rebuke from Bangkok.
“Cambodia will not extradite in following of any eventual request by Thai government, in case the former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra decides to stay in Cambodia,” according to a government statement.
Thaksin, who was ousted in 2006 by a military coup, lives in exile in Dubai. He faces a two-year jail term for corruption in Thailand.
The extradition treaty between Cambodia and Thailand allows either party to deny extradition in cases of “political offenses,” among others, the Cambodian statement said.
“The Cambodian government has the right to interpret these two points [on whether] the case of Thaksin Shinawatra is a political case or not,” it said.
Hun Sen told reporters Wednesday after a meeting with Thaksin supporter Chavalit Yongchaiyudh, a member of the opposition Puea Thai Party, Thaksin was “a political victim.”
“I respect and like him more now than when he was a prime minister,” Hun Sen said. “I have prepared a house where Thaksin can stay at any time.”
Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva responded, saying if Thaksin entered Cambodia, “the extradition process will begin.”
“If Cambodia failed to comply with the treaty on the extradition, that would be another story,” he said.
The Cambodian statement said Hun Sen’s invitation was one of long friendship and should not be interpreted as “interference of Thailand’s internal affairs.”
Hun Sen left Friday for Hua Hin, Thailand, where Asean leaders are holding a summit. He is expected to hold talks with Abhisit there.
Prime Minister Hun Sen said earlier this week he would welcome the former premier to Cambodia, which prompted a rebuke from Bangkok.
“Cambodia will not extradite in following of any eventual request by Thai government, in case the former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra decides to stay in Cambodia,” according to a government statement.
Thaksin, who was ousted in 2006 by a military coup, lives in exile in Dubai. He faces a two-year jail term for corruption in Thailand.
The extradition treaty between Cambodia and Thailand allows either party to deny extradition in cases of “political offenses,” among others, the Cambodian statement said.
“The Cambodian government has the right to interpret these two points [on whether] the case of Thaksin Shinawatra is a political case or not,” it said.
Hun Sen told reporters Wednesday after a meeting with Thaksin supporter Chavalit Yongchaiyudh, a member of the opposition Puea Thai Party, Thaksin was “a political victim.”
“I respect and like him more now than when he was a prime minister,” Hun Sen said. “I have prepared a house where Thaksin can stay at any time.”
Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva responded, saying if Thaksin entered Cambodia, “the extradition process will begin.”
“If Cambodia failed to comply with the treaty on the extradition, that would be another story,” he said.
The Cambodian statement said Hun Sen’s invitation was one of long friendship and should not be interpreted as “interference of Thailand’s internal affairs.”
Hun Sen left Friday for Hua Hin, Thailand, where Asean leaders are holding a summit. He is expected to hold talks with Abhisit there.
Telecoms Ordered to Allow Cross-Network Calls
The prime minister has ordered telecom companies to reopen cross-network communication, in a bid to ensure fair competition in the communications industry.
In an Oct. 21 letter, Prime Minister Hun Sen ordered all telecom companies to stop the practice of barring connections from one company to another or risk losing their licenses.
The denial of cross-network service was leading to chaos in the telecom market, he said.
Last month, Russian-owned mobile firm Beeline accused the high-profile MobiTel of blocking calls from its network to MobiTel customers. MobiTel in turn accused Beeline of price dumping by charging below cost for calls made by its customers to other networks.
Minister of Post and Telecommunications So Khun could not be reached for comment, and other officials at the ministry declined to comment Wednesday.
MobiTel owner Kith Meng declined to comment, and Beeline officials could not be reached for comment.
Smart Mobile spokesman Um Rattana said his firm had already received an order by the government, adding that it has respected the order.
Cambodia has more than 4 million mobile phone users, who get their service from nine different companies.
In an Oct. 21 letter, Prime Minister Hun Sen ordered all telecom companies to stop the practice of barring connections from one company to another or risk losing their licenses.
The denial of cross-network service was leading to chaos in the telecom market, he said.
Last month, Russian-owned mobile firm Beeline accused the high-profile MobiTel of blocking calls from its network to MobiTel customers. MobiTel in turn accused Beeline of price dumping by charging below cost for calls made by its customers to other networks.
Minister of Post and Telecommunications So Khun could not be reached for comment, and other officials at the ministry declined to comment Wednesday.
MobiTel owner Kith Meng declined to comment, and Beeline officials could not be reached for comment.
Smart Mobile spokesman Um Rattana said his firm had already received an order by the government, adding that it has respected the order.
Cambodia has more than 4 million mobile phone users, who get their service from nine different companies.
Government Considers Reducing Military, Police
Cambodia is preparing to put 3,000 soldiers to retirement this year, in a bid to continue the reform of its security forces, a senior official said Thursday.
“There has been some preparation, and there is the possibility we will do it this year,” Defense Minister Tea Banh told VOA Khmer.
Cambodia hopes to eventually reduce its forces from 200,000 to 80,000.
About 100,000 soldiers are ready to retire, Tea Banh said, but the government lacks the budget to fund their retirement.
Rank, title and other details for the retirees have not been publicly released.
An infantry officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, said about 1,600 infantry personnel due to be retired, from either disability or age. About 20 military advisers are due to be retired soon, the official said.
The latest defense White Paper, published on the Ministry of Defense’s Web site, says the government has largely completely the demobilization of army personnel.
“Although 15,000 personnel, the number intended for demobilization in phase two, remain to be demobilized, the current figure represents a significant reduction compared to the approximately 165,000 personnel serving before1999,” according to the White Paper.
The five-year plan of the government calls for the demobilization of 30,000 soldiers, starting in May 2000, with a budget from donors of $45 million, but the plan was delayed until mid-2003.
Tea Banh said this year’s retirement is not budgeted through donor assistance.
The infantry officer said many soldiers want to retire, in exchange with an offer of land and money from the government.
In years past, Cambodia spent up to 30 percent of its budget for defense and national security. In 2009, defense was budgeted for $160 million of a total $1.8 billion.
“There has been some preparation, and there is the possibility we will do it this year,” Defense Minister Tea Banh told VOA Khmer.
Cambodia hopes to eventually reduce its forces from 200,000 to 80,000.
About 100,000 soldiers are ready to retire, Tea Banh said, but the government lacks the budget to fund their retirement.
Rank, title and other details for the retirees have not been publicly released.
An infantry officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, said about 1,600 infantry personnel due to be retired, from either disability or age. About 20 military advisers are due to be retired soon, the official said.
The latest defense White Paper, published on the Ministry of Defense’s Web site, says the government has largely completely the demobilization of army personnel.
“Although 15,000 personnel, the number intended for demobilization in phase two, remain to be demobilized, the current figure represents a significant reduction compared to the approximately 165,000 personnel serving before1999,” according to the White Paper.
The five-year plan of the government calls for the demobilization of 30,000 soldiers, starting in May 2000, with a budget from donors of $45 million, but the plan was delayed until mid-2003.
Tea Banh said this year’s retirement is not budgeted through donor assistance.
The infantry officer said many soldiers want to retire, in exchange with an offer of land and money from the government.
In years past, Cambodia spent up to 30 percent of its budget for defense and national security. In 2009, defense was budgeted for $160 million of a total $1.8 billion.
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