DAP: The breaking news in Cambodia: “Cambodia's trade with U.S. reaches 1.39 bln USD in H1, up 4.5%” plus 6 more

PHNOM PENH, Aug. 22 (Xinhua) -- Bilateral trade volume between Cambodia and the United States had jumped to 1.39 billion U.S. dollars in the first six months of this year, a 4.5 percent rise compared with 1.33 billion U.S. dollars at the same period last year, according to the statistics of the U.S. Department of Commerce obtained on Wednesday.

From January to June this year, Cambodia's exports to the U.S. were 1.27 billion U.S. dollars, up 1.6 percent if compared with the same period last year, while the country's imports from the U. S. were 120 million U.S. dollars, up 47.6 percent.

Cambodia has mostly exported garments, textile and footwear to the United States. In exchange, it has bought vehicles, machinery, and medical equipment and supplies.

According to the report, last year, the two countries' trade volume was 2.9 billion U.S. dollars, up 18 percent from 2.45 billion U.S. dollars in a year earlier.

PHNOM PENH, Aug. 22 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia on Wednesday rejected Thai allegations that some Cambodian Muslims have joined violent insurgent networks in Thailand's far South, saying the allegations are groundless and unacceptable.

"The allegations are absolutely groundless and unacceptable," Koy Kuong, spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said on Wednesday. "They are innocent people. Thai competent authorities should find out the fact and real evidence before making such baseless allegations."

The spokesman's reaction was made after the Bangkok Post online quoted Thai army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha as saying on Tuesday that some Cambodian Muslims have joined violent insurgent networks in Thailand in the far South.

It is estimated that around 1,000 Cambodian Muslims entered Thailand for jobs via border checkpoints in eastern provinces each month.

"The main reason [they leave Cambodia] is poverty. They have no jobs in their homeland, so they must work elsewhere," Prayuth said. "Most of them do not aim to get involved in terrorism ... but they may give indirect financial support."

Koy Kuong said it is the freedom of choice in seeking jobs overseas. In Cambodia, many foreign nationals are working and performing their businesses, including Thai people.

"Cambodian people go abroad, including Thailand, for some reasons like tourists, businessmen, job seekers or visiting their relatives," he said, adding that at present, a lot of jobs have been created mostly at various private sectors in Cambodia.

PHNOM PENH, Aug. 22 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia's Tourism Ministry and World Vision-Cambodia on Wednesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to forge partnership in combating sexual exploitation of children in tourism.

The MoU was signed between Hor Sarun, undersecretary of state at the Tourism Ministry, and Jason Evans, national director of World Vision-Cambodia, under the witness of the Minister of Tourism Thong Khon.

Under the deal, the ministry and the World Vision will work together with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and Interpol to address the serious issue of sexual exploitation of children in tourism in a dual prevention and protection approach, according to a joint press release.

It said that the World Vision will work with the government of Cambodia and the tourism sector to become more aware of vulnerabilities of at-risk children and support responsible tourism practices that prioritize child protection.

In addition, it is also working in communities with girls and boys, parents and community leaders to build resilience against abuse.

The press release added that the UNODC, in partnership with Interpol, is working with law enforcement agencies to protect children through strengthening law enforcement responses, identifying and countering child sexual exploitation in tourism.

The project is sponsored by the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) Initiative for 4 years with the fund of 7.5 million U.S. dollars for four countries in Mekong sub- region including Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand and Laos.

HANOI, Aug. 21 (Xinhua) -- Few Vietnamese banks have formal policies, procedures or systems to manage environmental and social risks faced by their clients, according to a survey released by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV) in Vietnamese capital Hanoi on Tuesday.

The survey, conducted in June and examined 54 Vietnam-based financial institutions, found that one of the key obstacles hindering the banks is the lack of specific guidance of banking sector on identifying and managing environmental and social risks in project financing activities.

Simon Andrews, IFC Regional Manager for Vietnam, Cambodia, Lao PDR and Thailand said that banks in Vietnam should apply the standards of environmental and social risks assessment in financing activities.

Addressing environmental and social sustainability issues also opens a new business opportunities for banks, including energy efficiency and renewable energy financing, Andrews added.

Cat Quang Duong, deputy head of Credit Department under SBV said that the SBV is willing to work with IFC to strengthen environmental and social standards in the banking sector.

Cooperating with the State Bank of Vietnam on improving environmental and social risk management is part of IFC's advisory program to promote sustainable growth in Vietnam.

PHNOM PENH, Aug. 21 (Xinhua) -- Dr. Noeleen Heyzer, Under- Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) , on Tuesday appreciated Cambodia for its rapidly social and economic development in recent years.

Her appreciation was made during a one-hour meeting with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen at the Peace Palace.

She also hailed the country for its efforts to mainstream gender equality, promote education, health and narrow gaps between the rich and the poor. She said these factors are very vital to boost development and reduce poverty in Cambodia.

Meanwhile, Hun Sen attributed the country's rapid development to the government's strategies in gradually reforming in all sectors with the supports from development partners and friendly countries.

He said that for education, the country has enough schools and teachers, but it still challenges with the quality of education.

On the development gaps between the rich and the poor, the premier said the country has been actively developing rural areas through building physical infrastructures such as roads, bridges and irrigation systems.

Heyzer made her first visit to Cambodia from Aug. 21-24 to further enhance ties between the UN and Cambodia.

During the visit, she will also meet with Cambodia's senior minister Ly Thuch, Chairman of the National Committee for the Economic and Social Commission of Asia and the Pacific (NC-ESCAP) to discuss issues regarding to sustainable development, regional integration, and Cambodia's achievements and challenges towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals by 2015.

In addition, she is scheduled to meet with the Minister of Women Affairs Ing Kanthaphavi to discuss women status in the country.

Heyzer is the ninth Executive Secretary of the UN-ESCAP, she was appointed by the United Nations Secretary-General to the position in August 2007 and is the first woman to occupy this position since its founding in 1947.