The Seminar on the Statistical Results of Cambodia Socio-Economic Survey 2009

Senior Minister H.E. Chhay Than, Minister of Planning delivers a speech in Phnom Penh on Wednesday while he was presiding over the Seminar On the Statistical Results of Cambodia Socio-Economic Survey 2009.

The Workshop On Draft of Disaster Management Law

Senior Minister H.E. Nhim Vanda (middle), First Vice President of the National Committee for Disaster Management, addresses the opening Consultation Workshop On Draft of Disaster Management Law jointly organized by the National Committee for the Disaster Management and other relevant institutions.

Information Minister hands over donations to 253 retirees

Information Minister H.E. Khieu Kanharith and his wife hand over donations to 253 retirees at the ministry’s cabinet this morning.

The donations are including rice, household utensils and money.

The 3rd Sub-Regional Symposium for Parliamentarians

Senior Lawmaker H.E. Cheam Yeap, Chairman of the Economy, Finance, Banking and Audit Commission of the National Assembly of the Kingdom of Cambodia, presides over here today the 3rd Sub-Regional Symposium for Parliamentarians on Child Health and Sustainable Immunization Financing.

Samdech Heng Samrin pays an official visit to China

Cambodian National Assembly President Samdech Akka Moha Ponhear Chakrei Heng Samrin shakes hands with National Assembly First Vice President H.E. Nguon Nhel and other lawmakers at Phnom Penh International Airport this morning, prior to his departure to China.

Samdech Heng Samrin, who is accompanied by his wife and other lawmakers, will pay an official visit to the People’s Republic of China from October 20 to 26.

Workshop on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions

Cambodia’s Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts in collaboration with the UNESCO’s Office in Phnom Penh open a Workshop here on Tuesday to disseminate the Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, which Cambodia ratified in 2007.

Workshop on ASEAN Regional Guidelines on Competition Policy

Cambodia’s Ministry of Commerce in collaboration with the German Federal Foreign Office open here today the ASEAN Experts Group On Competition (AEGC) 2nd Socialization Workshop on “ASEAN Regional Guidelines on Competition Policy” under the presidency of H.E. Mao Thora, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Commerce with the participation of trade representatives from the ASEAN countries.

The 32nd Meeting of the ASEAN Ministers of Agriculture and Forestry

Undersecretary of State at the Cambodia’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, chairs at Phnom Penh’s Intercontinental Hotel today the Preparatory Senior Officials Meeting of the 32nd Meeting of the ASEAN Ministers of Agriculture and Forestry.

The inauguration ceremony of the New Cabinet Building of Prime Minister

His Majesty Preah Bath Preah Boromneath Norodom Sihamoni, King of Cambodia cuts red ribbon this morning to inaugurate the New Cabinet Building of Prime Minister and International Conference Center “Peace Building” and the Cabinet Building of the Council of Ministers “Friendship Building” on Phnom Penh’s Russian Federation Boulevard.

The graduation ceremony of 834 students from IIC

Prime Minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen presides over here yesterday the graduation ceremony of 834 students from International Institute of Cambodia.

In his keynote remarks, Premier Techo Hun Sen said the country’s development requires the combination of education at home and abroad.

The Consultation Workshop on the Draft of Disaster Management Law

Senior Minister H.E. Nhim Vanda, First Vice President of the National Committee for Disaster Management opens here on Monday the Consultation Workshop on the Draft of Disaster Management Law.

A Signing Ceremony of Memorandum of Understanding on the implementation of Commercial Bank Service

Deputy Prime Minister H.E. Keat Chhon, Minister of Economy and Finance presides over here on October 15 a Signing Ceremony of Memorandum of Understanding on the implementation of Commercial Bank Service between the Ministry of Economy and Finance with ACLEDA PLC Bank and Canadia Bank. The MOU were signed by H.E. Oun Ponmonirath, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Economy and Finance with Mr. In Chany, Executive Director of ACLEDA Bank and Okhna Pong Khieu Se, Director General of Canadia Bank.

H.E. Nhim Vanda visits flooded area

Senor Minister H.E. Nhim Vanda, First Vice President of National Committee for the Disaster Management accompanied by local authority officials inspect the floodwaters caused by the recent heavy rains in Bantaey Meanchey province on Oct. 14.

Senor Minister H.E. Nhim Vanda, First Vice President of National Committee for the Disaster Management on October 17 distributes relief to some 100 families suffered by floods in Pursat Province.

Joining Effort for Sustainability of Tonle Sap Lake-An Historic Responsibility

Tonle Sap Lake is natural endowment of unfathomable value for the Cambodian people. Therefore, every Cambodian of generations to come has got an obligation to protect the Tonle Sap Lake so that it is there for long, in the present as well as in the future, and free from destructive threats, while continuing to provide immeasurably sustainable interest for the sake of Cambodian socio-economic development.

Tonle Sap is a natural lake of fresh water that is the biggest in Southeast Asian region. The lake is covering a size of 250,000 ha at the depth of between one and two meters in the dry season, while in the rainy season, its coverage extends to 1.35 million ha at the depth of about ten meters. The Cambodian people compare the lake to a small freshwater sea because of its immensity in size and its capacity as a natural water reservoir that is the best shelter for fish of various species.

The lake provides some 60% of freshwater fish from nationwide freshwater fish catch and is the world fourth biggest lake in terms of fish population. The lake provides for the livelihood for the Cambodian people, especially some four million Cambodians who are living in six provinces around the lake itself – Kompong Chhnang, Kompong Thom, Siem Reap, Banteay Meanjei, Battambang and Pursath.

Aside from fish, the lake and the surrounding areas have provided natural resources such as enormous biodiversity, inundated forest, various species of birds, meadow, wetland and mineral resources, which are providing food, energy and transport access for our people centuries already. Fisheries resources answer not only to local consumption but also to export demand.

Tonle Sap Lake is sure to have great potential whereby fish of all kinds is source of protein for human nutrition and livelihood. In terms of hydrology, Tonle Sap Lake provides freshwater for irrigation for farms that are in effect contributing to raising high agricultural productivity and people’s wellbeing. On the front of tourism, Tonle Sap Lake has the potential to attract tourists to come enjoy seeing and/or studying it. Furthermore, Tonle Sap Lake is a transport line that is important for agricultural, touristic and rural developments.

Therefore, our people will be facing with greatly disastrous risk if the lake is to be destroyed by actions of some self-centered people. A while ago, some self-centered persons infiltrated and claimed the lake’s inundated land, while fishing by illegal fishing tools and building reservoirs to catch and store water in the flood season for cultivation of rice in dry season had been noted.

These actions have caused siltation on the lake system in general, while polluted matters are also being washed down into the Lake and fish breeding grounds have been disturbed severely. From 2005 through to early 2010, the country has had a loss of some 48,170 hectares of inundated forest, while, if action is not taken in a timely manner, the rest is facing with complete destruction. It is in this note that decision has been made to protect 640,000 hectares of inundated forest. Many floating houses that are being constructed in the Lake of Tonle Sap could eventually cause negative impacts on environment.

Meanwhile, effect of climate change has brought about a state of less water in the system, especially in the time of fish breeding, whereby the fish population is getting smaller. Faced with these risks, the Royal Government of Cambodia has taken drastic measures to protect by means of conserving and also developing the lake and its vicinity as is defined in its Phase II Rectangular Strategy.

The Royal Government of Cambodia sets its objective to protect the Lake of Tonle Sap, while guaranteeing sustainability of natural environment and the Lake’s and concerned region’s biodiversity by implementing dynamic measures in removing reservoirs and constructions in Zone III of the zone defined for protection of Tonle Sap, while taking a close inspection on Zone II and Zone I, so as to guarantee essentiality of the lake geography, water current, fisheries, ecological system, and especially, livelihood of human, animals and plants.

Up to June 2010, as results of concrete actions taken by the Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology, and concerned local authorities, 35 reservoirs in Zone I have been disassembled, ten reservoirs in Zone II have been restructured, a total of 20.45 km length canal has been filled up, a total of 120.45 km embankment has been dismantled, some 47.40 km2 small reservoirs have been reshaped, some 167 zone markers (at national level) and 121 zone markers (at provincial level) have been mounted, while an end has been put on clearance of inundated forest to claim land.

In order to achieve sustainable protection of the Lake of Tonle Sap and maintenance of richness of natural resources that are one of important sources for economic growth and poverty alleviation for the Cambodian people, the Royal Government under the leadership of Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen sets out a plan of actions that is obliging local authority at all levels to vehemently inspect and disassemble in a timely manner, improve network of all reservoirs, mount markers in protection of the zone of inundated forest, organize monitoring routine and take urgent measures against wrongdoing where it takes place.

On August 12, 2010, in closing a meeting on “Measures for Protection of the Tonle Sap Lake Region,” SamdechAkka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen said: “We must cooperate for effective protection of Tonle Sap Lake and its surrounding areas in the present as well as in the future.” Tonle Sap Lake is the nation’s pride and one of our national identities. To join effort in safeguarding and sustaining Tonle Sap Lake is a historic responsibility in the present and in the future for us all and for generations to come.

A weekly cabinet plenary session

A weekly cabinet plenary session opens here today under the presidency of Prime Minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen to discuss the draft 2011 national budget and 2009 government expenditure laws.

A Dissemination Workshop on Five-Year Strategic Plan on Gender Mainstreaming

A Dissemination Workshop on “Five-Year Strategic Plan on Gender Mainstreaming” was jointly organized in Phnom Penh yesterday by the Partnership for Gender Equity Project (PGE) and the Ministry of Women Affairs and supported by UNDP, under the presidency of Deputy Prime Minister H.E. Keat Chhon, Minister of Economy and Finance and Her Excellency Mrs. Eung Kanthaphavy, Minister of Women Affairs.

A Signing Ceremony on Technical Cooperation Project

A Signing Ceremony on Technical Cooperation Project on Enhancing Investment Related-Services of the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC) was signed in Phnom Penh yesterday by H.E. Sok Chinda, Secretary General of the Council for the Development of Cambodia and Mr. Suzuki Yasujino, Representative of JICA to Cambodia.

The graduation ceremony of 1,059 students from Western University

Prime Minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen hands over the certificate to a graduated student as a symbol here yesterday while he was presiding over the graduation ceremony of 1,059 students from Western University.

Addressing the ceremony, Premier Techo Hun Senappealed to all educational institutions to help provide scholarships to the poor students in order to help contribute to the human resource development.

Cambodia’s Senate First Vice President meets with a delegation of Japanese businessmen

Cambodia’s Senate First Vice President Prince Sisowath Chivon Monirak meets here on Oct. 12 with a delegation of Japanese businessmen led by Mr. Takei Nobuyili.

During the meeting, the Japanese businessmen sought more understanding on the investment potential in Cambodian agricultural filed and the establishment a factory for marble production in Preah Sihanouk province.

Board of Engineers of Cambodia opens a workshop

Board of Engineers of Cambodia opens a workshop in Phnom Penh today under the auspices of Phnom Penh Municipal Governor H.E. Kep Chutema to disseminate the registration of Board of Engineers of Cambodia.

According to the report, 1,317 engineers have registered including 376 professional engineers and 185 ASEAN engineers.

PM Hun Sen meets with Cambodian Youth Delegation

Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen, Prime Minister of Cambodia received here on Oct. 12 a Cambodian youth delegation who is scheduled to attend the 37th ASEAN Youth Ship program.

On the occasion, Samdech Hun Sen recommended Cambodian youth delegation to keep their dignity, spread out the Cambodia’s development, great culture and tradition to the youths of other countries, and bring back experiences and knowledge to help develop the country.

A 29-member-youth-delegation will participate in a 52-day-ASEAN Youth Ship Program to be started from Oct. 25 to Dec. 15, which will dock in Japan, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, Vietnam and fly to Laos, Samdech Techo Hun Sen’s assistant Eang Sophalleth said.

ASEAN Youth Ship Program was set up since 1974 in order to emerge ideas and strengthen the ties of friendship among ASEAN member youths with Japanese youth.

Samdech Heng Samrin meets with outgoing French Ambassador to Cambodia

Outgoing French Ambassador to Cambodia Mr. Jean Francecoir Desmazieres bids farewell in Phnom Penh today to Cambodia’s National Assembly President Samdech Akka Moha Ponhear Chakrei Heng Samrin, upon he completed his diplomatic mission to Cambodia.

Samdech Heng Samrin receives Ambassador of Thailand to Cambodia

Cambodia’s National Assembly President Samdech Akka Moha Ponhear Chakrei Heng Samrin receives here today Mr. Prasas Prasasvinichai, Ambassador of Thailand to Cambodia.

During the meeting, Samdech Heng Samrin expressed hope that through the ambassador’s diplomatic mission in Cambodia, the relationship and cooperation between Cambodia and Thailand will be improved and strengthened.

The Day of German Unity Celebration

Information Minister H.E. Khieu Kanharith attends the Day of German Unity Celebration organized by the Embassy of Germany in Phnom Penh on Oct. 12.