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The Star
10 hours ago
- Business
- The Star
Cambodia's total public debt reaches US$12.18bil as of Q1
An aerial view of the capital's central business district. - Photo: The Phnom Penh Post file PHNOM PENH: The Cambodian government had a total public debt stock of US$12.18 billion at the end of the first quarter of 2025, up 1.24 per cent from US$12.03 billion at the end of 2024, according to the Cambodia Public Debt Statistical Bulletin on Friday (May 30). Published by the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the bulletin showed that 99 per cent, or $12.06 billion, was public external debt and 1 per cent, or $118.33 million, was public domestic debt. The composition of the public debt stock comprised 48 per cent in USD, 18 per cent in Special Drawing Rights (SDR), 11 per cent in JPY, 10 per cent in CNY, 8 per cent in EUR and 5 per cent in local and other currencies, the bulletin said. During the January-March period this year, the government signed new concessional loans with development partners in a total amount of $78.81 million, which accounted for 3 per cent of the ceiling permitted by law, it said. "Overall, all the loans are highly concessional with an average grant element of around 50 per cent," the bulletin said. The bulletin said the Southeast Asian country had paid debt services to development partners in the amount of $237.8 million in Q1 of 2025. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance Aun Pornmoniroth said all the loans had been used to finance public investment projects in the priority sectors that support long-term sustainable economic growth and increase economic productivity. Cambodia's public debt situation is currently at a controllable level and continues to remain "sustainable" and "low risk" of debt distress, he said in the bulletin. The kingdom's total public debt is at 18.4 per cent of the gross domestic product (GDP), which is far lower than the threshold of 40 per cent, according to the bulletin. - Xinhua
The Star
3 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Cambodia's Preah Sihanouk investment incentive programme continues to grow
Many building projects in Sihanoukville have remained abandoned since the Covid-19 outbreak. - Photo: The Phnom Penh Post/ANN PHNOM PENH: An additional 10 investment projects with a total capital of US$154 million will receive special incentives from the Royal Government under the 'Special Investment Promotion Programme in Preah Sihanouk Province'. This brings the total number of projects benefiting from the programme to 297. The latest projects were approved during the 16th meeting of the programme's working group, held at the Ministry of Economy and Finance headquarters on Thursday (May 29). The meeting was chaired by ministry secretary of state Hean Sahib, head of the group. During the meeting, he briefed attendees on the current state of global trade policy and the protection of domestic industries, which have led to a rise in trade barriers and are impacting the Kingdom's exports, as well as industrial development and investment. He explained that despite these challenges, the government remains committed to improving the business environment to attract and boost investment in Preah Sihanouk through a strategy of 'retaining existing investors and attracting new ones', as well as resolving issues through the One Window Service Office system. 'This situation has created momentum for Cambodia to continue economic diversification and attract investment from other countries by doubling efforts to improve the business environment and draw in investors,' he said. Projects approved to join the programme will receive a number of incentives, privileges and procedural facilitation within the framework of the programme, which will continue to be implemented until the end of 2025. According to the meeting, four of the ten newly approved projects are related to stalled building construction, while four are entirely new. One is for the expansion of a previous operation, while one is an existing project. With a total investment of $154 million, the ten projects have the potential to create around 1,200 jobs. The projects include factories, commercial buildings, general education institutions, floating ports, hotels and residential buildings. According to the working group, since the programme began in 2024, 297 investment projects have been approved. They have a total estimated capital of $7.029 billion and will create approximately 53,000 jobs. In June, the working group plans to inspect around 30 proposed projects. The group is continuing to encourage businesspeople and investors to apply for special benefits, such as tax incentives, administrative facilitation and procedural easing related to investment. Im Senghour, head of Century 21 Zillion Holding's Sihanoukville branch, told The Post on May 29 that after a sharp downturn during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, the construction, real estate, tourism and overall economy of Preah Sihanouk began to show signs of recovery in 2024. He added that government policies aimed at revitalising the economy in the province are starting to yield positive results, particularly by reviving previously stalled activities. 'The 'Special Investment Promotion Programme in Preah Sihanouk Province' is gradually bringing progress, although its impact is not yet strong, as all of this still depends on the global economic situation,' he acknowledged. - The Phnom Penh Post/ANN
The Star
24-05-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Cambodian media urged to prioritise safeguarding of children in reporting
PHNOM PENH: Journalists and editors from leading Cambodian media outlets gathered Friday (May 23) for a landmark training session on the ethical and responsible portrayal of children and youth in media coverage. The one-day workshop, held in Phnom Penh, focused on child safeguarding in journalism — a critical issue increasingly recognised across Cambodia, the region and the globe. Tep Asnarith, spokesperson for the Ministry of Information, opened the 'Safeguarding Guidelines for Journalists and Editors Training' workshop. He stressed the importance of protecting children, youth and vulnerable groups in media narratives. 'Today's seminar is in recognition of the growing need to ensure the safety of our children,' he said. 'Children face rising risks, from exploitation and exposure to inappropriate content, to cyberbullying and online fraud, that can even escalate to human trafficking,' he added. Drawing on insights from Asean experts, the he cited concerns over regulatory gaps and law enforcement challenges, including limited coordination, financial constraints and insufficient skills. He emphasised the media's powerful role in influencing public understanding and attitudes. 'Journalists must consider how their stories affect children as if they were their own siblings, sons or nieces,' he said. Journalists and editors from leading Cambodian media outlets gathered today for the landmark training session on the ethical and responsible portrayal of children and youth in media coverage. - Photo: The Phnom Penh Post/ANN Highlighting the moral and professional duty of the media, Asnarith called for stronger adherence to ethical standards that honour the dignity and rights of children and youth. 'Responsible journalists play a vital part in protecting the future of society's youngest members,' he added. Representing a coalition of five major child-focused organizations — Plan International Cambodia, Save the Children, World Vision, CARE, and UNICEF — Yi Kimthan, interim country director of Plan International Cambodia and a Communications Network Representative, reinforced the workshop's shared objective: building a culture of ethical journalism that centres children's well-being. 'We gather with a shared purpose: to strengthen our collective ability to report ethically and responsibly on issues involving children and young people, especially girls and young women,' Kimthan said. 'Their best interest must not just be a consideration, but the guiding principle of every narrative,' he added. Kimthan noted that although Cambodia's National Charter for Professional Journalism (Prakas No.085) and international standards exist, many journalists remain unfamiliar with safeguarding principles, especially when reporting on trauma or sensitive issues. This gap, he warned, could lead to unintentional harm or lasting psychological impacts on young subjects. Importantly, the event also marked the foundation of a proposed 'media-safeguarding network' — a collaborative initiative to foster ongoing cooperation between the press and child-focused NGOs in promoting child-sensitive and gender-inclusive journalism. 'This training is about more than just policy,' Kimthan continued. 'It's about building a culture of ethical journalism that champions the safety and rights of every child,' he concluded. The training delivered practical guidance, through dos and don'ts guidelines, which emphasised the importance of portraying children with dignity, securing informed consent and avoiding practices like sensationalism or publishing without adequate safeguards. Key topics included defining vulnerable children, reinforcing principles such as respect, non-discrimination and doing no harm. Hun Sinun, technical advisor at CARE, delivered an in-depth presentation on gender and inclusion. Hong Raksmey Participants were guided through practical 'Dos' like protecting identities, seeking informed consent, using dignified imagery and respecting children's voices. The training also highlighted the importance of corroborating stories, using empowering language and ensuring follow-up care. Equally stressed were the 'Don'ts' — avoiding exposure of identities, sensationalism, unsafe interview spaces, inappropriate imagery and publishing without safeguards. The guidelines advise against leading questions, forced participation and physical contact without consent. Further advancing the discussion, Hun Sinun, technical advisor at CARE, delivered an in-depth presentation on gender and inclusion, posing the essential question: 'Why does gender matter in your profession?' She articulated the necessity of inclusive storytelling and gender-balanced reporting as ethical imperatives and essential to audience trust. 'Gender shapes how stories are told, who gets to tell them and who is represented,' she said. 'From framing content to creating safe and equal workplaces, gender influences every layer of our professional environment,' she added. She explored the distinctions between gender and sex, emphasised the importance of addressing unconscious bias, and encouraged media leaders to cultivate inclusive leadership and representation in their newsrooms. 'Inclusion is about more than just presence,' she noted. 'It's about belonging, fairness and respect for diversity. Everyone deserves to feel seen, heard and valued,' she added. - The Phnom Penh Post/ANN
The Star
19-05-2025
- Sport
- The Star
Cambodian PM congratulates jet ski racer on medal haul at Osaka Waterjet Championships
Saly Filin in a file photo after his win at the WGP1 Water Jet World Series 2024 in the US where he won two gold and a silver. - The Phnom Penh Post PHNOM PENH: Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet on Sunday (May 18) congratulated the country's jet ski racers for winning four gold and two silver medals at the WGP1 Waterjet Championships 2025 Round 1 in Osaka, Japan. In a post on his official social media platforms, the prime minister said that during the competition, held from May 15-18 at Nishikinohama Beach, Cambodian jet skier Saly Filin earned two gold medals in the Amateur Runabout 1100 Stock and Pro Sport GP events, and one silver in the Pro-Am Runabout 1100 Open. National jet rider Min Osman claimed one gold in the Novice Ski Stock event and one silver in the Amateur Ski 4 Stroke Lites category, while competitor Kay Vansiden secured a gold medal in the Amateur Ski 4 Stroke Lites event. The Cambodian jet ski team collected a total of six medals at this year's event, surpassing last year's record of five medals, which included three golds, one silver and one bronze. According to the organiser's press release, the competition attracted more than 200 elite riders from 21 countries and regions, featuring 21 event classes. - Xinhua
The Star
13-05-2025
- General
- The Star
Cambodian Mine Action Centre destroys 120 cluster bomblets in Ratanakiri controlled explosion
The Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC) destroyed more than 100 cluster munitions in Ratanakiri province on May 12. - Photo: CMAC PHNOM PENH: A total of 120 cluster munitions, remnants from previous wars in the Kingdom, were destroyed in a controlled explosion by experts from the Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC) in Ratanakiri province's O'Chum district on Monday (May 12). The 'bomblets' were destroyed in a cashew plantation in Kamen Thom village, in Samakki commune. According to CMAC, the cluster munitions were from a CBU-25/A air-dropped bomb, typically containing 132 bomblets. During Monday's operation, 120 of them were determined to remain capable of exploding. CMAC reported that a farmer discovered the munitions buried approximately one metre deep on his farm, and informed the centre immediately. 'Due to the unsafe condition of the bomblets, which could not be safely defused or transported, the only option was to destroy them on-site. This on-site destruction caused some damage to a number of cashew trees, but the plantation owner can now enjoy peace and safety, free from the ongoing threat of these munitions,' said CMAC, in a social media post. The 120 cluster munitions were likely all from a single CBU-25/A bomb, dropped from a US aircraft. - Photo: CMAC The demining unit expressed gratitude to the owner of the cashew plantation for their full cooperation. Between the early 1960s and the mid-1970s, Cambodia was subjected to heavy bombing, with more tonnage dropped by the US than by the allies' combined efforts in World War Two. According to CMAC director-general Heng Ratana, it is estimated that during this period, some three million tonnes of bombs, including approximately 30 million cluster munitions, were dropped on more than 10,000 targets across the Kingdom. - The Phnom Penh Post/ANN
