STUNNING CAMBODIA

As the Government of Cambodia continues to build on strong growth and address emerging challenges, this publication examines the opportunities and the challenges, and offers recommendations for long-term socioeconomic strategy. During the last 2 decades, Cambodia achieved remarkable economic growth and development—its gross domestic product (GDP) has expanded at an average 7.6% a year since 1995. The country seized growth opportunities from its rich natural resources and the evolving dynamics of the regional and global economy. It effectively leveraged its land and water resources to steadily boost agricultural production, particularly rice, making Cambodia the world’s eighth-largest rice producer. Cambodia is also Asia’s 10th largest garment exporter, a position it was able to reach by taking advantage of a global quota regime and the search by garment producers for new low-cost production sites. In addition, Cambodia’s unique cultural heritage has helped it make its mark as a...

Pursat is the fourth biggest province of Cambodia. The province is located in the western part of the country and borders clockwise from the north with Battambang, the Tonle Sap Lake, Kompong Chhnang, Kompong Speu, Koh Kong, and Thailand. Pursat offers a perfect access to both the Tonle Sap (just 35km far) and the Cardamom Mountains (right to the West). The name of Pursat refers to a type of tree. Although the province is not home to many ancient temples, the highlight of this province concerns the history of the war between Siamese and the Khmers that took place just before the French Colonial era in Cambodia. An popular historical site is that of the Tomb of Oknha Klang Meung, the Cambodian hero who led the war against Siamese and defeated them in 1482. While in Pursat, visit the floating town of Kampong Luang, and take in the natural beauty of the Ouda. These are unspoiled attractions that this charming province boasts. This is also a town known for its top-quality...

When you are traveling in Cambodia many will for sure ask you about your plans to ride the Bamboo Train!  A train without a particular destination…..just a bumpy ride up and down a 12km track passing beautiful and lush green Cambodian sceneries. One of the funniest things to do in the area of Battambang? Or just a show for tourists? This train (although it is nothing more than a bamboo platform on two steel axles with wheels) is a surviving part of the former Cambodian railway network. No trains are running in Cambodia anymore and most tracks are left to be overgrown with weeds. In the rural city of Battambang , they are still using a short track of around 12kms. They indeed use it mainly for tourists although some locals also ride the track. The trains are actually just flat bamboo beds. It feels like a flying carpet on wheels, although it is not as silent as a flying carpet. How fast? Well, around 30km/h. This close to the ground you will for sure feel e...

Experience the heart of ultimate luxury and bask in the splendor of elegance at Angkor Palace Resort & Spa, the perfect base to explore the legendary Angkor Temples and undiscovered treasures in Cambodia. The only international 5-star resort designed and built by a Cambodian architect, its décor and furnishing reflect the finest in Cambodian architecture, befitting royalty and dignitaries. Nestled invitingly within a spacious 11-hectare estate, the lush resort offers you the serenity of a secluded retreat whilst ensuring you are provided with every possible convenience. Address: No 555, Phum Kruos, Sangkat Svay Dangkum, Siem Reap, Kingdom of Cambodia Hotline Reservations: +855 92 777 902 | Tel +855 63 760 511 | Fax +855 63 760 512 Homepage: http://www.angkorpalaceresort.com  

While Cambodia has more than halved the number of people living below the national poverty line in just 5 years, the bulk of its labor force is still employed in the informal economy or in vulnerable employment and 71% of the population lives on less than $3 a day. “ Most of the country’s labor force is young but often not equipped with skills that match business needs, so the challenge for policymakers is to address this gap and mismatch ,” said ADB Chief Economist Shang-Jin Wei. “ Developing a more educated, employable, and productive workforce is essential for Cambodia to broaden its economy beyond the current four mainstays of garment manufacturing, tourism, construction and agriculture and to sustain high growth .” Tackling the skills gap and mismatch requires action on many fronts including increasing access to quality education and mid–level skills vocational training; upgrading competencies of underqualified teachers; promoting input on skills training from the privat...

Cambodia’s growth in exports and tourism slowed down in the first half of 2015, though domestic demand is holding up supported by an expansion of credit to the private sector. Shipments of garments and footwear produced in Cambodia rose by 11.0% year on year, decelerating from 14.5% in the first half of 2014. Growth in total merchandise exports moderated to 14.0% from 18.3%. As for tourist arrivals, the rate of increase slowed to 4.6% in the first half from 5.2% a year earlier. Agriculture is suffering from an extended period of low rainfall. However, data indicate that domestic demand is holding up, based on 33.3% year on year expansion of credit to the private sector in May and indications of high growth in imports. While the expansion of garment manufacturing, construction, and services—in particular tourism, finance, and real estate services— continues to drive growth in Gross Domestic Product (GDP), the pace in the garment and tourism industries seems to have moderated....

Over the last ten years, Cambodia has benefitted from tremendous economic growth, mainly from its agriculture, garment, construction, and tourism sectors. As an economy develops, technology often becomes a catalyst to this growth, which goes to the heart of a recent question from a reader who asked, “How can technology benefit a small, developing country like Cambodia?”  As one of the fastest growing sectors in Cambodia, technology is already benefitting the nation. One out of every six businesses launched in 2011 were part of the information and communications technology (ICT) industry. Mobile phone and Internet use have led this surge. Today, the number of mobile subscriptions in Cambodia exceeds the population. In 2012, Internet usage increased by almost 60 percent, jumping from 1.7 million users to 2.7 million users. The increase of mobile and Internet users in Cambodia means there is enormous potential for business growth and employment opportunities in the technology...

Homestay is organized by ICC Non-profit Association and is ideal for volunteers and tourists seeking to experience life in a Cambodian village. The homestay is a great opportunity to offer sustainable income to a family in the village. It is therefore also a sustainable financial support for us. It also ensures that the family contribute towards the help they received, and it helps to avoid feelings of favoritism for one family within the village. Our homestay is not far from Angkor Wat temple, it is located from the northwest of Homestay Chreav. Our homestay is only 6km or a 15 minute bike ride from the city centre. By staying in the home stay you don’t only support the family but also have a positive economic impact on the whole village.  Location 1  It is located only 200 m from ICC Association and Chreav Police Post and as such is only 6km or a 15 minute bike ride from the city centre. Location 2  Sala Lodge road, it is about 1 Km southeast o...

Bou Savy Guesthouse is one of the highest quality budget guesthouses in Siem Reap Angkor Cambodia. The guesthouse is managed and run by a Khmer family. We warmly invite you to holiday in our Cambodian, family run guesthouse, with pleasant and courteous staff, to ensure your stay is a memorable one.  The guest house offer modern comfort, with great value for money accommodation, for travelers on a budget or volunteers staying a little longer. Conveniently nestled 2 minutes off the main road, our competitively priced rooms are located in a quiet tropical garden setting.  Just 5 minutes from the bustling heart of town and a 5 minute drive from the alluring Temples of Angkor. Services And Facilities Free pick up service Free daily bottle of water in room Included daily breakfast Free 24-hr high-speed Wi-Fi & Internet access Free map of temple & town 64 international satellite TV channels Emergency medical assistance service Travel and tour info...

The convicted businessman’s firm, Sok Bun Group, was a 51 per cent partner in Teho Cambodia, which, according to the filing, will now be transferred to Yim Chhay Line, who is the daughter of Deputy Prime Minister Yim Chhay Ly and was appointed board director after Bun’s resignation last July. “The joint venture agreement shall be terminated with mutual consent and each party is released from its obligations under the agreement,” the filing read. “Sok Bun agrees to transfer 510 ordinary shares representing 51 per cent of the total issued share capital of the joint venture to Mrs Yim Chhay Line.” Kevin Goos, CEO of Century 21 Cambodia, said the termination of the joint venture agreement will help Teho jumpstart its efforts to rebrand and increase sales in Cambodia, adding that the Sok Bun episode hurt their image in the country. Read more...

Koh Rong is the biggest island off the coast of Sihanoukville within the Gulf of Thailand that stretches from southeast to north-west, roughly elongate form and it encompasses an area of 78 square km. The parcel of land is preponderantly craggy with a large mountain (316 meters) at the island’s north-west. The hills offer water for incalculable creeks and estuaries. The island’s interior is somewhat fully forested, concealing variety of waterfalls. Koh Rong has about 43 kilometers of beaches. There are no less than twenty-three beaches of varied length and coloration – from (predominantly) white to beige to rosy sands - on most of the outline. Bays, sticking out capes and spectacular erinaceous rock formations give a beautiful island’s scenic panorama. The southern coastline - exposed to the weather and open sea, is especially spectacular, whereas the eastern coast that faces towards the land is characterised by a sequence of sleek hills, gently sloping towards the vari...

Cambodia is the land of the Khmer, the dominant ethnos within the area stretching from the present deep into prehistoric culture. The Angkorian era Khmer Empire focused close to Siem Reap dominated the region from the 9th-13th century AD, at its peak the Empire stretched across most of mainland Southeast Asia. But by the fifteenth century the Empire was in a decline both politics and territories and under encounter from the rising Thai kingdom of Ayutthaya in today’s Kingdom of Thailand. By the fourteenth century Ayutthaya was staging regular incursions, culminating with the sack of Angkor in 1431-32. Shortly thenceforth the Khmer court of King Pohea Yat left the Angkorian capital and established a replacement capital at Phnom Penh. With an awfully temporary exception, the capital would never come back to Angkor. The choice to maneuver the capital to Phnom Penh at the confluence of the Mekong River was most likely not only a strategic response to Ayutthaya’s aggression but may h...

First recorded a century once it's aforesaid to have taken place, the legend of the creation of Phnom Penh tells of a local lady, married woman Penh (Duan Penh,) living at the Chaktomuk, the future Phnom Penh. It absolutely was the late fourteenth century and also the Khmer capital was still at Angkor close to Siem Reap 350km to the west. Gathering firewood along the banks of the river, woman Penh spied a floating Koki tree within the river and fished it from the water. Daun Penh Hill Inside the tree, there were four Buddha statues and one amongst Vishnu (the numbers vary on completely different telling.) the finding was reflected as a heaven blessing, and to some a symbol that the Khmer capital was to be delivered to Phnom Penh from Angkor. To accommodate the new found sacred objects, woman Penh raised a tiny low hill on the West Bank of the Tonle Sap River and topped it with a shrine, currently referred to as Wat Phnom at the north end of central Phnom Penh. 'P...