Author: Makoto Ichikawa

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French businesses help boost Kingdom’s economy

As Cambodia gears up for the second France-Cambodia Business Forum next week, the Kingdom is awash with French-owned business success stories. Prominent French names in the business sector highlighted the infinite potential of Cambodia’s economy. The upcoming event follows the inaugural Cambodia Branding Forum on March 28, 2024.

Organised by the France-Cambodia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCIFC) together with the Cambodia Committee of French Foreign Trade Advisors (CCEF) and the Cambodia Chamber of Commerce (CCC), the event also has the support of the French Embassy in Cambodia, MEDEF International, and the Cambodian Oknha Association. Scheduled for July 8-10, the event will be staged under the presidency of Prime Minister Hun Manet.

Last year trade between the two countries soared to €1,363 million, making France the second biggest European trading partner, just behind Germany. French exports shot up 31 percent over the previous year. Exports mainly comprised agri-food, pharmaceuticals, metallurgical and metal products. In the same year, French imports from Cambodia notched €1,192 million, mainly in textiles, agri-food and bicycles.

There has also been a significant hike in French investments with stock escalating to approximately €560 million. This has mainly been in the sectors of construction, agro-industry and services.

French firms have been involved in critical infrastructure projects, including airports, transportation, telecommunications and energy, said Charles Julliard, Executive Director, French Chamber of Commerce in Cambodia (CCIFC) to Khmer Times on Tuesday. These projects have not only improved the country’s infrastructure but also facilitated smoother business operations and connectivity, which are crucial for economic growth.

Investments in airports made by French group VINCI (almost $1 billion invested since 1995) have fostered tourism development and, more generally, economic development of the country.

Today, as French investment in terms of FDI in Cambodia, is behind the US, Canada or the UK, there is a huge potential for improvement, said Tea Thierry, VP, Overseas Cambodian Investment Corporation. French businesses have been actively part of the Cambodian business ecosystem. He mentioned the presence of names like Total, Accor or Bolloré contributing to developing local talents and international standards in key industries from energy and hospitality to logistics.

French contributions are characterised by quality, cultural integration, and sustainability in specific sectors, said Jeremie Clement, General Manager, Peninsula Phnom Penh. French businesses have primarily focused on hospitality, retail, banking, and infrastructure, with notable contributions from companies like Decathlon, BRED Bank and Vinci.

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MoT reports 2% fall of int’l tourists in May

The Ministry of Tourism (MoT) Tuesday reported that 524,390 international tourists visited Cambodia in May this year, a decrease of 2 percent compared to 533,932 in April but a rise of nearly 16 percent compared to the same month in 2023 which recorded only 442,114 foreigners.

The Tourism Statistics Department of MoT reported that the number of international tourists visiting the Kingdom over the past five months reached 2,640,999 people, accounting for about 48 percent of the total tourists travelling to Cambodia last year.

From January to May, foreign tourists travelled by land and waterways recorded 1,654,564 people while 986,435 passengers travelled by air transport through the three airports including the Siem Reap Angkor International Airport (SAI) received 281,370 tourists, the Phnom Penh International Airport (PNH) welcomed 699,007 tourists and 6,058 from the Sihanouk International Airport (KOS).

The PNH contributed up to 70.8 percent of the total air market in Cambodia in the first five months, followed by SAI which stands for 28.5 percent while the remaining travelled through the KOS.

The top 10 markets from January to May were tourists from Thailand, Vietnam China, Lao PDR, the United States, Korea, France Indonesia, the United Kingdom and Japan. The tourists from Thailand were the highest, reaching 770,371 people, followed by 528,252 Vietnamese and 326,003 Chinese.

As per the report, in May the international tourists who travelled by air recorded 161,478 passengers while 362,912 travelled by land and waterways, a sum of 524,390 tourists in the first month.

The number marked a tiny decrease of about 2 percent compared to the total international tourist in April which recorded 533,932 travellers nationwide but if compared to 442,114 tourists in the first five months of 2023, the report proved an increase of 15.6 percent instead.

Tripadvisor Inc – an American tour company – stated that four tourist destinations in Cambodia have been recognised as the top tourist attractions in Asia of which Angkor Wat ranked second on the list, followed by the Ta Prohm and Bayon temples standing at rank 19th & 20th and lastly is the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum in Phnom Penh.

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កម្ពុជា​ប្រកាស​ផ្លាស់ប្តូរ​ឆ្នាំ​គោល​គណនេយ្យ​ជាតិ​

រដ្ឋាភិបាល​កម្ពុជា​បាន​ផ្លាស់ប្តូរ​ឆ្នាំ​គោល​គណនេយ្យ​ជាតិ​ពី​ឆ្នាំ​២​០​០​០​ ​មក​ឆ្នាំ​២​០​១​៤​ ​ដើម្បី​ផ្តល់​ភាព​ត្រឹមត្រូវ​ជាង​មុន​សម្រាប់​រចនា​ស​ម្ព័ន្ធ​បច្ចុប្បន្ន​នៃ​សេដ្ឋកិច្ច​ ​នេះ​បើ​យោង​តាម​មជ្ឈមណ្ឌល​ជាតិ​ស្ថិតិ​របស់​​​ក្រសួងផែនការ​។​

​មជ្ឈមណ្ឌល​ជាតិ​ស្ថិតិ​បាន​អោយ​ដឹង​ថា​ពិធី​បើក​សិក្ខាសាលា​ផ្សព្វផ្សាយ​ស្តីពី​លទ្ធផល​នៃ​ការផ្លាស់ប្តូរ​ឆ្នាំ​គោល​គណនេយ្យ​ជាតិ​ឆ្នាំ​២​០​១​៤​ត្រូវ​បាន​ធ្វើឡើង​កាលពី​ថ្ងៃអង្គារ​នៅ​ ​សុខា​ភ្នំពេញ​ ​ក្រោម​វត្តមាន​របស់​លោក​ ប៊ិ​ន​ ​ត្រឈៃ​ ​រដ្ឋមន្ត្រី​ក្រសួងផែនការ​ ​លោក​ ​ផាន់​ ​ផល្លា​ ​រដ្ឋលេខាធិការ​ក្រសួងសេដ្ឋកិច្ច​ ​និង​ហិរញ្ញវត្ថុ​ ​និង​តំណាង​ក្រសួង​ ​ស្ថាប័ន​ពាក់ព័ន្ធ​ ​និង​ដៃគូ​អភិវឌ្ឍន៍​។​

រដ្ឋាភិបាល​នៃ​បណ្តា​ប្រទេស​ជាច្រើន​បាន​ធ្វើការ​ត្រួតពិនិត្យ​ឡើងវិញ​នូវ​វិធី​សា​ស្រ្ត​គណនា​ឆ្នាំ​គោល​ផលិតផល​ក្នុងស្រុក​សរុប​ (​G​D​P​) ​រៀងរាល់​ប្រាំ​ឆ្នាំ​ម្តង​ ​ឬ​យ៉ាងហោចណាស់​រៀងរាល់​ដប់​ឆ្នាំ​ម្តង​ ​ដើម្បី​ឆ្លុះបញ្ចាំង​ពី​ការផ្លាស់ប្តូរ​ទិន្នផល​ ​និង​ការប្រើប្រាស់​។​ ​

ដោយឡែក​ ​តាំងពី​ឆ្នាំ​២​០​០​០​មក​ ​កម្ពុជា​មិនបាន​ត្រួតពិនិត្យ​ឡើងវិញ​នូវ​វិធី​សា​ស្រ្ត​គណនា​ឆ្នាំ​គោល​ផលិតផល​ក្នុងស្រុក​សរុប​ទេ​។​

​ប៉ុន្តែ​បច្ចុប្បន្ននេះ​ ​កម្ពុជា​បាន​ធ្វើ​កិច្ចការ​នេះ​ដោយអនុលោមតាម​ស្តង់​ដារ​អន្តរជាតិ​ដែល​កំណត់​ដោយ​ប្រព័ន្ធ​គណនេយ្យ​ជាតិ​របស់​នាយកដ្ឋាន​ស្ថិតិ​នៃ​អង្គការសហប្រជាជាតិ​ (SN​A​) ​ក្នុង​ឆ្នាំ​ ​២​០​០​៨​។​

​វិទ្យាស្ថាន​ជាតិ​ស្ថិតិ​បាន​បង្កើត​គំរូ​មួយ​ដោយ​សហការ​ជាមួយ​មូលនិធិរូបិយវត្ថុអន្តរជាតិ​ ​អង្គការ​ UN​E​S​CAP​ ​ធនាគារ​អភិវឌ្ឍន៍​អាស៊ី​ ​និង​ធនាគារ​ពិភពលោក​។​

​គំរូ​នេះ​បាន​ផ្តល់​នូវ​រូបភាព​លម្អិត​នៃ​រចនា​ស​ម្ព័ន្ធ​សេដ្ឋកិច្ច​ ​និង​ទំនាក់ទំនង​រវាង​ផលិតផល​ ​និង​ឧស្សាហកម្ម​នៅ​ក្នុង​ឆ្នាំ​ដែល​បាន​កំណត់​ ​ដោយ​ផ្តល់​នូវ​ធាតុ​នៃ​ដំណើរការ​ផលិតកម្ម​ ​ការប្រើប្រាស់​ទំនិញ​ ​និង​សេវាកម្ម​ ​និង​ប្រាក់ចំណូល​។​

​សេដ្ឋកិច្ច​កម្ពុជា​បាន​ឆ្លងកាត់​ការផ្លាស់ប្តូរ​រចនា​ស​ម្ព័ន្ធ​សំខាន់​ៗ​ចាប់តាំង​ពី​ឆ្នាំ​២​០​០​០​ ​ជាមួយនឹង​ការផ្លាស់ប្តូរ​ពី​វិ​ស​័​យ​កសិកម្ម​ឆ្ពោះទៅ​រក​សេវាកម្ម​ ​និង​ឧស្សាហកម្ម​។​

​លោក​ ប៊ិ​ន​ ​ត្រឈៃ​ ​រដ្ឋមន្ត្រី​ក្រសួងផែនការ​ ​បាន​លើកឡើង​ថា​ ​រចនា​ស​ម្ព័ន្ធ​ផលិតផល​ក្នុងស្រុក​សរុប​ ​បាន​ផ្លាស់ប្តូរ​ដោយ​ឆ្លុះបញ្ចាំង​ពី​ការ​កើន​ឡើង​នៃ​ចំណែក​វិ​ស​័​យ​ផលិតកម្ម​ ​សំណង់​ ​និង​សេវាកម្ម​។​ ​លោក​បាន​បន្ត​ថា​ ​ការពិនិត្យ​ឡើងវិញ​នេះ​គឺ​ដើម្បី​វាស់​ស្ទង់​ទំហំ​ ​និង​រចនា​ស​ម្ព័ន្ធ​ផលិតផល​ក្នុងស្រុក​សរុប​អោយ​កាន់តែ​ត្រឹមត្រូវ​ ​ដោយ​ចាប់​យក​ការពិត​នៃ​ទិដ្ឋភាព​សេដ្ឋកិច្ច​ដែល​កំពុង​ផ្លាស់ប្តូរ​យ៉ាង​ឆាប់រហ័ស​របស់​ប្រទេស​កម្ពុជា​ ​ស្របតាម​ប្រព័ន្ធ​គណនី​ជាតិ​ឆ្នាំ​២​០​០​៨​ ​និង​ចំណាត់ថ្នាក់​ចំណាត់ថ្នាក់​ឧស្សាហកម្ម​ទី​៤​ (​I​SIC​4.0)​។​

​លោក​បាន​លើកឡើង​នៅ​សុន្ទរកថា​បើក​ថា​៖​ ​«​ការពិនិត្យ​ឡើងវិញ​ ​និង​ការផ្លាស់ប្តូរ​ឆ្នាំ​គោល​គណនេយ្យ​ជាតិ​ ​គឺ​ចាំបាច់​សម្រាប់​ប្រទេស​កម្ពុជា​ដើម្បី​ធ្វើ​បច្ចុប្បន្នភាព​រចនា​ស​ម្ព័ន្ធ​សេដ្ឋកិច្ច​របស់​ខ្លួន​»​។​

​លោក​បាន​បញ្ជាក់​ថា​ ​ការ​គណនា​ ​G​D​P​ ​របស់​កម្ពុជា​ពីមុន​បាន​ប្រើ​ឆ្នាំ​២​០​០​០​ ​ជា​ឆ្នាំ​គោល​ ​ហើយ​វិធីសាស្ត្រ​ដែល​ប្រើ​នៅ​ពេល​នោះ​គឺ​ហួសសម័យ​ ​ដោយ​មិនបាន​ចាប់​យក​វិសាលភាព​ពេញលេញ​នៃ​សកម្មភាព​សេដ្ឋកិច្ច​។​

​លោក​បាន​មានប្រសាសន៍ថា​ ​ការផ្លាស់ប្តូរ​ឆ្នាំ​គោល​គណនេយ្យ​ជាតិ​នេះ​អនុញ្ញាត​ឱ្យ​មានការ​វាយ​តម្លៃ​ជាក់ស្តែង​បន្ថែម​ទៀត​នៃ​សកម្មភាព​សេដ្ឋកិច្ច​នៅ​ទូទាំង​វិ​ស​័​យ​ផ្សេងៗ​គ្នា​។​

​អគ្គនាយកដ្ឋាន​គោល​នយោបាយ​នៃ​ក្រសួងសេដ្ឋកិច្ច​ ​និង​ហិរញ្ញវត្ថុ​បាន​និយាយ​ថា​ ​ទិន្នន័យ​ ​G​D​P​ ​ត្រឹមត្រូវ​គឺ​មាន​សារៈសំខាន់​សម្រាប់​ការរៀបចំ​គោល​នយោបាយ​ប្រកបដោយ​ប្រសិទ្ធ​ភាព​។​

​អគ្គនាយកដ្ឋាន​គោល​នយោបាយ​បាន​លើកឡើង​នៅ​ក្នុង​បទ​បង្ហាញ​របស់​ខ្លួន​ថា​ “​ការផ្លាស់ប្តូរ​ឆ្នាំ​គោល​គណនេយ្យ​ជាតិ​ផ្តល់​នូវ​មូលដ្ឋាន​គ្រឹះ​ដែល​អាច​ទុកចិត្ត​បានជា​ង​មុន​សម្រាប់​ការកំណត់​គោលដៅ​សេដ្ឋកិច្ច​ ​ការបែងចែក​ធនធាន​ ​និង​ការ​ត្រួតពិនិត្យ​វឌ្ឍនភាព​”​។​

​ផ្អែកលើ​ផលិតផល​ក្នុងស្រុក​សរុប​សម្រាប់​ឆ្នាំ​២​០​២​២​ ​សេដ្ឋកិច្ច​កម្ពុជា​មាន​ទំហំ​ ​១​៦​០​,​១​ ​ទ្រី​លាន​រៀល​ ​ស្មើនឹង​ ​៣​៩​,​៥​ ​ពាន់​លាន​ដុល្លារ​ ​កើន​ឡើង​ ​៥​,​១​ ​ភាគរយ​ ​និង​ប្រាក់ចំណូល​សម្រាប់​មនុស្សម្នាក់​មាន​ប្រមាណ​ ​២​៣​៤​៥​ ​ដុល្លារ​។

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Some 521,950 foreign tourists visit Angkor Park in the first semester

The famed Angkor Archaeological Park, Cambodia’s most attractive tourism landscape, received 521,950 foreign tourists in the first semester of 2024, a year-on-year increase of 35 percent.

The figures, shared by the Angkor Enterprise, revealed a substantial increase in revenue from the entrance pass sales, which rose by 36 percent to a significant $24.35 million.

The source pointed out that in June alone, the enterprise earned a total income of $2.15 million, up 18 percent from June 2023. 49,692 registered foreign tourists, a 20 percent year-on-year rise, the enterprise’s source said.

The entrance fee for a one-day visit to the park is $37, a three-day visit costs $62, and a week-long visit is $72.

Situated in Siem Reap northwest province, the 401-square-km Angkor Archaeological Park, a testament to the Khmer Empire’s rich history, is home to 91 ancient temples, which had been built from the 9th to the 13th centuries.

The park, inscribed on the World Heritage List of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) in 1992, is the most popular tourist destination in the Kingdom.

According to the same report, Koh Ker – the Khmer Empire’s sole capital from 928 to 944 CE and listed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List in September 2023, welcomed 10,828 foreign visitors during the first half of this year, generating $162,420 as income from entrance pass sales.

The Royal Government has formed the Cambodia Tourism Marketing and Promotion Board, composed of representatives from the public and private sectors, to promote Cambodia’s tourism to the international markets.

In 2023, more than 790,000 foreign tourists bought entrance passes to visit Angkor, generating $37 million as income, an increase of 222 percent compared to a year before.AKP

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FTIsland to Make Comeback on July 10

Band FTIsland will make a comeback with their seventh full-length album in July.

The group’s agency FNC Entertainment released the band’s promotion schedule for the album ‘Serious’ through its official social media channels on Tuesday. 

 FTIsland will first release one of the double title tracks ‘Burn It’ and its music video on Thursday, and unveil more content including the tracklist, posters, and highlight medleys leading up to the album’s release on July 10. The album will be released through music streaming sites at six p.m. on July 10. 

The album will be the band’s first full-length album in eight years since the release of ‘Where’s the truth?’ in 2016. The members took part in producing all of the songs in the album, including the double title tracks ‘Burn It’ and ‘Serious.’

On Saturday and Sunday, FTIsland will hold a standalone concert titled ‘2024 FTISLAND LIVE ‘PULSE” at the Blue Square Mastercard Hall in Seoul.

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Nayeon of TWICE makes comeback with 2nd solo EP

TWICE’s Nayeon has made a comeback with her 2nd solo EP.

“Na” is the singer’s first solo release in two years since the release of her debut solo album “Im Nayeon” in July 2022. The title is a play on Nayeon’s name and the Korean word for “me”. 

The EP, fronted by “ABCD”, includes seven tracks that channel the vibe of early 2000s pop divas with splashes of hip-hop and modern influences.

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Japan Begins Circulating New Banknotes; New Bills Contain Advanced Anti-counterfeiting Measures

The Bank of Japan began delivering newly designed banknotes to financial institutions on Wednesday, marking the first renewal in 20 years.

The new banknotes will be available at financial institution counters and ATMs once they are ready.

Shortly after 8 a.m. on Wednesday, one-meter-tall stacks of the newly designed bills were loaded into a security vehicle at the BOJ’s head office in Chuo Ward, Tokyo, as a BOJ official instructed the staffers to “begin issuing the new BOJ banknotes.”

BOJ Gov. Kazuo Ueda said, “I hope the new banknotes will be widely distributed to the public and help lubricate the wheel axles of the economy,”

The new ¥10,000 bill features Eiichi Shibusawa, known as “the father of Japanese capitalism,” and the new ¥5,000 bill bears a portrait of Umeko Tsuda, a pioneer of women’s higher education in Japan. Bacteriologist Shibasaburo Kitasato is the face of the new ¥1,000 bill.

Advanced anti-counterfeiting technologies have been introduced with the banknote renewal. They include a type of 3D hologram technology that makes the banknote portrait appear to rotate when viewed from different angles.

The National Printing Bureau is expected to deliver about 7.5 billion banknotes to the BOJ’s head office and branches by the end of March 2025.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida visited the head office on Wednesday morning to inspect the issuance of the banknotes.

Afterward, he attended a press conference with Ueda, saying: “The new banknotes are suitable for the new era. I hope the public will receive them well and vitalize the economy.”

Some financial institutions began handling the banknotes on Wednesday, but the three megabank groups — Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc., Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc. and Mizuho Financial Group, Inc. — said they will begin handling them at their branches on or after Thursday in principle.

A ceremony commemorating the change of the portrait on the ¥10,000 bill from Yukichi Fukuzawa to Shibusawa was held Wednesday morning at the Tokyo Stock Exchange.

The event was hosted by hometowns of Fukuzawa and Shibusawa, Nakatsu in Oita Prefecture and Fukaya in Saitama Prefecture, respectively.

The mayors mixed local sake from their cities into a kettle-like vessel, poured into two cups and drank together. and then recited the spirit of Fukuzawa and Shibusawa before ringing a bell to pray for the prosperity of the Japanese economy.

In Fukaya, a countdown event was held at the city center from Tuesday night, and more than 300 residents and other people gathered to celebrate the issuance of the new ¥10,000 bill. As the clock struck midnight, cheers and shouts congratulating the issuance of the new bills were heard, and a traditional decorative paper ball was split open.

Tsuda, whose portrait is on the new ¥5,000 bill, is the founder of Tsuda College, the predecessor of Tsuda University.

On Wednesday, the university held a commemorative talk event at Tokyo Gymnasium adjacent to the university’s Sendagaya Campus in Shibuya Ward. President Yuko Takahashi exchanged opinions with former Japanese women’s national soccer team member Mana Iwabuchi, 31, among others about women’s activities on the international stage.

Flags depicting the face of the new ¥1,000 bill were seen throughout tourist spots and along a national highway in Oguni, Kumamoto Prefecture, where Kitasato was born.

Trying to capitalize on this occasion, the town is selling related products, such as junmai sake with labels that resemble the new ¥1,000 bill and rice crackers branded with the new ¥1,000 bill.


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Japanese FM outlines agenda for maiden Cambodia visit

In her maiden visit to Cambodia, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Japan, Kamikawa Yoko, along with Cambodian leaders, will discuss a new approach for the Cambodia-Japan relationship and cooperation.

The Japanese Foreign Minister will also take this opportunity to enhance landmine-clearance cooperation in Southeast Asia, with the support of Japan.

Cambodia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said yesterday that Japan’s Foreign Minister Kamikawa Yoko will pay an official visit to Cambodia Friday and Saturday this week.

In its statement, a ministry spokesman said Kamikawa will be paying separate courtesy calls to Senate President Hun Sen and Prime Minister Hun Manet. She will also be holding a bilateral meeting with her Cambodian counterpart, Sok Chenda Sophea.

“The visit by Her Excellency Kamikawa Yoko will keep the momentum of frequent high-level exchanges and further deepen the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Cambodia and Japan,” the Cambodian Foreign Ministry said.

In a recent press conference, Kamikawa announced her plan to visit Cambodia and the Philippines this month.

“From the 5th to the 9th of July, if circumstances allow, I will visit Cambodia and the Philippines for the first time as Foreign Minister,” she said while addressing the press in Tokyo.

She added that the visit, marking the 50th anniversary of ASEAN-Japan friendship and cooperation, aims to deepen heartfelt relations and address current issues.

“We will confirm the progress of the concrete cooperation in Cambodia through meetings with key decision makers in the government, including Sok Chenda Sophea, the Foreign Minister,” she said. “We will enhance the relationship with the Hun Manet administration based on long-term cooperation and development in Cambodia. We will make the new approach of bilateral cooperation.”

Kamikawa said that one main issue that she will focus on during the visit to Cambodia and the Philippines will be to facilitate both Southeast Asian countries’ efforts and cooperation on mine clearance.

“Japan has been cooperating with the Cambodia Mine Action Centre for many years, and it has become a leading mine action centre, not only in Cambodia but also extending its support to third countries, including Ukraine,” she added. “Taking advantage of the opportunity my visit to Cambodia offers, we would like to indicate the possibility of mine action support in the Philippines as well.”

Kamikawa added that she will hold a “two-plus-two” security dialogue involving Japanese and Philippine defence and foreign ministers while in Manila, adding that Japan will boost its support for stateless residents of the Philippines who were born to Japanese nationals and were left there amid the turmoil following World War II.

While meeting Chenda Sophea in December last year in Japan, Kamikawa already stated that she welcomes advances in cooperation with Cambodia in the areas of demining and peacebuilding, and, in the area of landmines in particular, cooperation is already advanced for demining assistance in third countries, including in Ukraine, and the two ministers confirmed their continued collaboration.

She added that Japan intends to further advance cooperation in security, digital, and cybersecurity measures. Kamikawa also stated that Japan intends to revitalise intellectual, cultural, and people-to-people exchanges through the “Next-Generation Co-Creation Partnership: WA Project 2.0” and exchange programmes, including JENESYS (Japan East-Asia Exchange for Students and Youths).

Japan stands out as Cambodia’s top donor country, having provided $1.2 billion in official development assistance since 1992.

According to Heng Ratana, Director-General of CMAC, Japan has been playing an exceptional role in helping Cambodia obtain advanced modern technology for clearing landmines as well as training deminers. For instance, Japan last year approved a grant of over $1.39 million for the clearing of cluster munitions, landmine and unexploded ordnance (UXO) in the country.

“Japan will also provide nearly $14 million to build the world’s largest anti-personnel mine-shaped museum and a mine action training centre in Siem Reap and Kampong Chhnang provinces,” Ratana added.

“Thanks to Japan’s assistance, Cambodia has grown to become a country that is even able to help other countries solve their landmine issues.”

Yang Peou, Secretary-General of the Royal Academy of Cambodia, said the visit by the new Japanese Foreign Minister will open more doors for more positive cooperation between the countries and unconditional assistance from Japan.

“Japan, as a great friend of Cambodia, has helped the Kingdom in every sector,” he said. “Even regarding politics, especially elections, Japan has never expressed any doubt or concern over the democratic process in Cambodia.”

“We hope that through the visit, both countries will discover more paths for cooperation, either bilateral or multilateral,” Peou added.

A veteran politician with an impressive résumé, Kamikawa’s academic background includes the University of Tokyo and Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. She also served as a policy staff fellow for then-US Senator Max Baucus. In her political career, she was Japan’s Justice Minister three times and Minister of State for Gender Equality and Social Affairs.

In September 2023, Kamikawa became Japan’s first female Foreign Minister in 20 years. Since her appointment, she has demonstrated her diplomatic skills through several high-profile overseas visits, including to the Middle East, Ukraine, and a tour of Europe and North America. In January this year, Kamikawa launched a new “Women, Peace, and Security (WPS)” task force to address gender-inclusive security issues. While maintaining Japan’s long-term foreign policy stance as a proactive contributor to peace, her energetic diplomatic efforts have brought her significant international recognition.

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More rain, some sun, forecast for Cambodia

The Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology has issued a notification on weather conditions in the Kingdom of Cambodia for 4 to 6 July 2024.

Low pressure covers the Gulf of Thailand, the Kingdom of Cambodia, the central Mekong Basin and the South China Sea.

This situation will make: From 4 to 6 July 2024

1-Lowland area:
Minimum average temperature 23 ° C and maximum average temperature 33 ° C. Southwesterly and westerly winds average 2.50 meters per second. Banteay Meanchey, Battambang, Siem Reap, Pursat, Kampong Chhnang, Kampong Thom, Kampong Cham, Tbong Khmum, Prey Veng, Svay Rieng, Kandal, Takeo and Phnom Penh may experience rain with thunder and wind covering 36% of the land.

2-Highlands:
Minimum average temperature 23 ° C and maximum average temperature 32 ° C. Southwesterly and westerly winds average 2,000 meters per second. Kampong Speu, Pailin, Oddar Meanchey, Preah Vihear, Stung Treng, Kratie, Ratanakkiri, Mondulkiri, Cardamom and Dangrek mountain ranges may experience rain with thunder and wind covering 20% ​​of the area.

3-Coastal area:
Minimum average temperature 23 ° C and maximum average temperature 31 ° C. The wind was blowing from the southwest with an average speed of 2.5 meters per second. Koh Kong, Sihanoukville, Kampot, Kep and Bokor mountains are likely to receive rain with thunder, lightning and gust covering 15% of the area.
Wave height has a minimum average height of 0.50 meters and a maximum average height of 1.50 meters.