ADB Provides US$30 Million in Loan to Boost Quality, Access to Technical Training in Cambodia

29 September 2014

ADB is extending a US$30 million loan for a nationwide program to raise the quality of technical and vocational education and training (TVET) in Cambodia leading to more job opportunities for women and the poor.

According to the press release, specific measures include support for the establishment of a competency-based assessment and certification system, including the development of flexible pathways between different qualification levels and types of training. The program will also introduce a quality assurance system for TVET institutes and establish an instructor apprenticeship program for public TVET teachers to gain industry experience. Sector skills councils, made up of industry associations and large employers in four priority sectors – construction, auto mechanics, electrical works and manufacturing – will be established to help develop centers of excellence.

The Government of Cambodia will provide cash and in-kind contributions totaling US$2.6 million, for a total investment of US$32.6 million with an estimated completion date of December 2019.

Source:

http://www.akp.gov.kh/?p=51488

Slight increase in Cambodia’s tourism

18 September 2014

Cambodia’s tourist arrivals registered a slight increase of 0.4% in July.The country attracted 340,091 visits compared to 338,761 during the same month last year.

According to the Ministry of Tourism, Vietnam, China, and South Korea remained the largest source markets. There was a steady increase in Chinese tourists, year on year, due to more direct flights between the two countries. Cambodia expects to receive 500,000 Chinese visitors this year and possibly 1.5 million by 2020.

Source:

http://www.ttrweekly.com/site/2014/09/slight-increase-in-cambodias-tourism/

EU gives $3.9 million to attract investment

18 September 2014

The European Union will spend €3 million ($3.9 million) on a program to encourage small and medium enterprises to invest in Cambodia.

EU Ambassador to Cambodia said the five-year grant to be managed by EuroCham would be used to market Cambodia as an investment destination for European businesses and to strengthen advocacy to create a favourable business environment in the Kingdom. “I think that 24% of total FDI in ASEAN countries are coming from European Union investors. If we look at Cambodia it is only 2 per cent coming from European Union investors.”

EuroCham chairman Emmanuel Menanteau said Europe’s proximity to Southeast Asia and lack of knowledge of Cambodia’s business climate meant European businesses had a much smaller presence here than countries like China, Japan and South Korea.

Source:

http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/eu-gives-39-million-attract-investment

Cambodian telecom firm cooperates with China's Huawei to build 4G network in Cambodia

18 September 2014

Cambodian telecommunications company EMAXX signed a contract with China's Huawei, a global ICT solutions provider, on Wednesday in order to develop EMAXX's 4G network in Cambodia.

Under the contract, Huawei will build 4G base stations in eight Cambodian cities. The whole project is estimated to take two years to be accomplished. "The project is aimed to build a national communication and information network in Cambodia, consisting of the construction of Internet Data Center (IDC) with multiple international gateways and national fiber telecom backbone network with 400 Gb/s," said the statement. "While accomplished, the whole network will serve 90 percent population of the eight Cambodian cities."

Chairman of Shenzhen KeyBridge Communications which is the parent company of EMAXX, said EMAXX will officially launch 4G commercial network firstly in Phnom Penh in early 2015, providing 4G voice service, mobile broadband internet service, and fixed high-speed broadband internet service.

Source:

http://thecambodiaherald.com/cambodia/detail/1?page=13&token=YjAyYzdjNmY3ZjE

Ministry of Tourism Sign MoU with Two Australian Universities

18 September 2014 

Cambodia’s Minister of Tourism signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with two leading Australian universities to promote and develop the country’s tourism sector. 

Under the MoU, both universities will continue to help Cambodia develop a strategic document for the ecotourism in the Tonle Sap Great Lake and the community-based tourism. The University of the Sunshine Coast and the Griffith University have assisted the Ministry of Tourism since 2011 in drawing up strategic plan and policy for the sustainable development of Cambodia’s coastal areas, in human resource training for Cambodian tourism officials, and so on.

Source:

http://www.akp.gov.kh/?p=51187