Latest news with #Cambodia
Malay Mail
8 hours ago
- Business
- Malay Mail
Cambodian women turn tide in seafood trade, now other nations want in
PHNOM PENH, May 31 — Cambodian women are stepping up in the fishery products sector, transforming their roles from traditional producers to key players in the global market. Enterprising women entrepreneurs, dominating at least 60 per cent of the micro and small informal enterprises, are now upgrading their post-harvest processing skills in the fishery sector to penetrate high-end markets. The United Nations Industrial Development Organisation's (UNIDO) CAPFISH-Capture – a post-harvest fisheries development project – is helping Cambodian women to upskill, shifting from their archaic fish processing techniques to world-recognised standards. 'We supported over 51 fishery enterprises and their value chain actors in upgrading their businesses. Thirty-five of these enterprises are led by women and three persons with disabilities. 'We are now linking them with global buyers from the EU (European Union). Some of the enterprises have already started exporting to China, South Korea and Australia,' UNIDO's CAPFISH-Capture Chief Technical Advisor Dr Shetty Seetharama Thombathu told Bernama. CAPFISH-Capture is a five-year project, co-funded by the European Union and implemented by UNIDO in coordination with the Cambodia Fisheries Administration. Fishing is a vital economic lifeline for Cambodia. About six million people are employed both directly and indirectly in the domestic fisheries sector. The post-harvest fishery activities alone employ an estimated 33,000 workers, the majority of them are women. Fish remains a staple diet for Cambodians and their per capita consumption of fish is 54 kilogrammes, considered higher among its Asean peers. Cambodian Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Ministry revealed that total fisheries and aquaculture production reached 926,936 metric tonnes last year. Locally-made fishery products – fish sauce, fermented fish, fish balls, and smoked fish – are widely produced but seldom exported due to a lack of value addition and food safety compliance. According to UNIDO, Cambodia's low competitiveness in terms of value addition makes it tough to compete in the domestic market flooded with imported fishery products and, at the same time, unable to enter regional or global markets. The CAPFISH-Capture project has stepped in to revitalise this untapped lucrative sector to compete with high-quality international exporters by equipping local producers with modern techniques. 'The ultimate goal is to boost the competitiveness of the fishery products to promote trade, both domestic and export, and to protect public health by ensuring safe and high-quality fishery products for consumers. 'We work on various issues and elements of the value chain such as governance, food safety, capacity building and skills development, marketing and branding, access to finance, research and development, gender empowerment, environment and climate resilience,' said Shetty. Cambodia's new success story is going beyond its borders. Neighbouring Indonesia and the Philippines, where the fishing industry plays a critical role in their economy, are recognising the CAPFISH-Capture project. Meanwhile, Egypt, Chile and Kyrgyzstan have expressed their willingness to replicate UNIDO's training model. 'Listing Cambodia as an eligible country to export to the EU is our main goal. We have already established all the requirements to meet EU food safety requirements and are ready for an audit by DG SANTE (European Commission's Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety),' said Shetty. Cambodian women are now shining in the often-neglected and shunned occupation by many due to its laborious work and paltry income. But the fortunes could now favour them. — Bernama
Travel Weekly
14 hours ago
- Business
- Travel Weekly
Butterfield & Robinson is celebrating 60 years with a 60-day world tour
Luxury travel specialist Butterfield & Robinson is doing a 60-day adventure around the world to celebrate the company's 60th anniversary. The operator is billing the one-time departure as a once-in-a-lifetime journey that will take travelers to six destinations across four continents. The two-month trip costs $85,000 per person, but travelers are able to book individual legs of the itinerary. Travelers will visit Mexico, Cambodia, Vietnam, India, Morocco, Turkiye and France. Travelers will begin their journey in March by spending seven days in Oaxaca, where they will indulge in the Mexico region's cuisine, hike through Zapotec mountain villages and explore the ruins of Monte Alban. From there, travelers will fly to Phnom Penh in Cambodia for a seven-day cycling tour of Cambodia and Vietnam, which includes a Mekong River cruise on the Aqua Mekong. Highlights of this segment of the trip include exploring silk-weaving villages, enjoying street food and exploring the country by river. Butterfield & Robinson's 60-day world tour includes Cambodia. Photo Credit: Butterfield & Robinson Passengers will then head to India, where they will spend nine days exploring the state of Rajasthan. Adventure is at the heart of this part of the trip, where passengers will zipline over the Blue City, embark on a leopard safari and hike through the desert. The next leg of the trip is Morocco. Guests will start with a hike through the Ouirgane Valley. Over the course of eight days, travelers will explore mountain villages; journey through the Plateau du Kik to the High Atlas Mountains; and watch the sun rise over the Sahara dunes. Eleven days in Turkiye is up next, where travelers will arrive in Istanbul. The capital's culinary scene is the focus of the first day in the country. Travelers will tour Turkiye, including its coast. Highlights include watching the sunrise from a hot air balloon in Cappadocia; visiting the Kaymakli Underground City; and swimming alongside the ruins of Cleopatra's Bath. To end the trip, guests will head to Burgundy, France, where Butterfield & Robinson began. The operator promises that it will "pull out all the stops" to end the 60-day world adventure. The last leg of the trip begins with a bike ride through Burgundy's countryside and ends with a special celebration for the brand's anniversary.
Washington Post
a day ago
- General
- Washington Post
Kari Lake won awards for overseas reporting. Now she has the job of cutting it.
In 2007, long before she was a rising star in the Republican Party, Kari Lake flew to Cambodia. This wasn't a typical assignment for a television anchor in Phoenix, but she had a local angle. Cindy McCain, the wife of then-Sen. John McCain and a first lady aspirant, was traveling to the Southeast Asian country to raise awareness for land mine removal efforts.
NHK
a day ago
- General
- NHK
Thai, Cambodian militaries agree to ease border tensions
Thailand and Cambodia have agreed to withdraw their troops from the site on their disputed border where the two sides exchanged fire on Wednesday. One Cambodian soldier was killed in the incident. The army chiefs of both countries met on Thursday and expressed condolences over the death. They also agreed to seek a peaceful resolution to the issue. Thai defense officials say all troops on both sides have already left the area where the incident occurred. The clash took place along the border between Thailand's northeastern province and Cambodia's northern province. Cambodian troops say they were conducting a patrol when they came under fire. Thai officials, however, claim they tried to talk before the Cambodians started shooting. The territorial dispute between the two nations spiked after a temple in the border area was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008. Tensions have eased in recent years and officials stress Wednesday's clash was accidental.
WIRED
a day ago
- Health
- WIRED
The Best Sweatpants for Comfort and Style
When I hop into sweatpants, I want to feel like I'm on cloud nine, and both of these sweatpants from Canada-based Roots deliver exactly that sensation (mind you, the pants are made in Cambodia). The reason for that is the brushed fleece on the inside, which is super soft against the skin. The Roots Athletics Sweatpant (64 percent organic cotton, 36 percent recycled polyester fleece) is the more traditional design, with a classic fit that extends down close to my ankles on my 6'4" frame. But I like the Cloud Straight Leg even more. No skin-tight pants here! These are airy, whimsical, and tremendously soft. Made from 80 percent organic cotton and 20 percent recycled polyester fleece, the pants are smooth but plush. They do get a bit warm for the shoulder seasons and summer, but out of the many sweatpants I've tested, I'm happiest with these. — Julian Chokkattu Available Sizes XS to XXL Available Colors Athletics Sweatpant: 2. Cloud Straight Leg: 3 Fabric Details Athletics Sweatpant: 64% organic cotton, 36% recycled polyester fleece. Cloud Straight Leg: 80% organic cotton, 20% recycled polyester fleece Photograph: Louryn Strampe Photograph: Louryn Strampe If millennials are known for skinny jeans, Gen Z is known for the exact opposite of that. Think big, interesting silhouettes, varying waist heights, and different colors and washes. These trendy Lululemon cargos were a bit out of my early-thirties comfort zone. But they're awesome. They've got a mid-rise fit that shows off just the right amount of tummy if you pair them with a crop top, and they're roomy throughout the hips and thighs. The two-way stretch fabric is water-repellent and slightly ribbed, with a lightweight feel that's perfect for summer (or sweating in a dance studio, presumably.) There are pockets galore, including hand pockets with a hidden card sleeve, back pockets, and cargo pockets. All of these pockets are useful, and my phone has yet to fall out of any of them. The waist has a drawstring, and the hems are cinchable to let you adjust how tight they are—a feature I appreciate as a shortie, since I can cinch them up if I don't want them to drag on the ground. These pants run just a little big, and my only complaint is that the hand pockets tend to stick out a bit. (My younger sisters assure me that they look all right, but it still bugs me just a little.) Ultimately, though, I feel super cool when I wear these pants, both temperature- and style-wise. — Louryn Strampe Available Sizes XXXS to XL Available Colors 7 Fabric Details Waistband: 88% nylon, 12% Lycra elastane. Pocket: 86% recycled polyester, 14% elastane. Body: 94% nylon, 6% elastane
