Category: Economy

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​។

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.


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.

ICT Exports Jump over 30% On-Yr. for 2nd Month in May

Exports in the information and communication technology (ICT) sector in May jumped by over 30 percent for the second consecutive month.

According to the ICT ministry on Sunday, ICT shipments totaled 19-point-05 U.S. dollars last month, up 31-point-eight percent from a year earlier.

The on-year growth, which rose to 33-point-eight percent in April, has stayed above 30 percent for the second straight month.

Exports of semiconductors increased 52-point-four percent on-year, while shipments of displays rose 15-point-three percent and mobile phones increased ten-point-eight percent.

By country, exports to China jumped 35-point-three percent on-year, while those to the United States and the European Union rose by 20-point-seven and 21-point-three percent, respectively.

ICT imports also increased two-point-four percent on-year to eleven-point-48 billion dollars, resulting in a trade surplus of seven-point-57 billion dollars.

Fuel Tax Cuts to be Reduced Starting Next Month

The government announced it will reduce fuel tax cuts from next month.

According to Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok on Monday, the fuel tax cut will be extended until August 31, but the tax rate will be slightly adjusted beginning on July 1.

The tax cut rate for gasoline will be adjusted from the current 25 percent to 20 percent, while the tax rate cut for diesel and liquefied petroleum gas(LPG) will be adjusted from the current 37 percent to 30 percent.

This means consumers will pay roughly 40 won, or around three U.S. cents more per liter of gasoline and diesel, while LPG users will pay 12 won or less than a cent more per liter.

Minister Choi said the government will decide whether to extend the fuel tax cuts by considering inflation and oil price trends after August 31.

Top German firm keen on opening tech factory in Kingdom

Robert Bosch GmbH, a parent company of Bosch Cambodia Co Ltd and a world-leading engineering and technology firm headquartered in Germany, agreed to send a regional envoy to examine the possibilities of opening its factory in the Kingdom.

The commitment was made on Thursday during the meeting between Sun Chanthol, Deputy Prime Minister and First Vice-Chairman of the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC) and Alexander Weichsel, Commercial Plant Manager of Bosch in Nuremberg, Germany.

The Deputy Prime Minister is on a mission trip to the European Union (EU), leading the delegation to attract foreign investments into the Kingdom’s priority sectors from June 9-18.

During the discussion, Chanthol told Weichsel that the Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC) encouraged the private sector to explore investment opportunities that emerged in the country including agriculture, agro-industry, automobiles, electronic, renewable energy and tourism industries.

Noting the company’s potential, he urged Weichsel to consider choosing Cambodia as a prime location to expand the production chain, supplying to other Southeast Asia countries.

The Bosch Manager gave a positive response, promising to send the company representative based in Singapore and Vietnam to examine in detail aimed at opening the new factory in the Kingdom.

Later in the day, the Deputy Prime Minister also met Christiane Riefler-Karpa, Managing Director of Memmert GmbH, a company developing and manufacturing laboratory equipment.

During the meeting, the Mememrt working group presented their business activities and the production sites in Southeast Asia countries, modernising the art of production facilities to manufacture the appliances economically and in an environmentally friendly manner

Later the Managing Director guided Chanthol and the delegation to inspect the factory and the production hall in which the technology used by the company did not harm the environment.

Memmert GmbH is also a leading company in the development and production of high-quality laboratory equipment with over 90 years of experience and currently exported to over 160 countries around the world.

The mission trip to Germany was accompanied by Suon Sophal, Deputy Secretary General of the Cambodian Investment Board (CIB) of CDC, Hun Lak, Secretary General of the Cambodian Oknha Association (COA), Kuon Thida, President of Orienda International Hospital and Peou Rithjayasedh, Deputy Secretary General of the Ministry of Economy and Finance.

Ly Khun Thai, Vice President of the Cambodia Chamber of Commerce (CCC) told Khmer Times, “Germans generally invest in projects that have a clear master plan such as a suitable location for the project implementation, the competitive market in the industry and research on future risks.”

He said Khmer businessmen who want to operate their business along with Germans should prepare a clear development plan so that foreigners have the confidence to cooperate and invest in those projects.

Unionized Workers at Samsung Electronics Take Collective Action amid Wage Negotiation Deadlock

Unionized workers at Samsung Electronics collectively used their annual leave to take the day off on Friday, after declaring their intention to take a joint leave of absence for the first time in the company's history.

The collective action is led by the tech giant's largest National Samsung Electronics Union(NSEU), which has a membership of over 28-thousand, amounting to 22 percent of the total workforce.

The union, meanwhile, has not revealed the exact number of members taking part in Friday's group action, as it said it wanted the members’ participation to be voluntary.

As labor and management had engaged in negotiations, including over wages, without progress since January, the union secured the right to take the collective action through a members’ vote, before announcing the planned strike on May 29.

Friday's group action, however, will not likely have an adverse impact on Samsung's production lines, as many workers were reportedly expected to take Friday off to enjoy a long weekend starting from Thursday's Memorial Day.

Education ministry, JICA keen on promoting STEM education

The importance of STEM education in Cambodia was underlined in a meeting between JICA and the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports last week in Phnom Penh.

Om Romny, Secretary of State for the Ministry received the JICA delegation led by Vice Chief Representative of JICA Agency in Cambodia Miura Yuriko on May 30.

The courtesy meeting dwelt upon the long-term cooperation between the two countries in the area of technical education. The two sides pledged to constantly strive to improve relations and cooperation through the implementation of a variety of technical cooperation projects in the Kingdom. In particular Information and Communication Technology (ICT) cooperation projects would be given high priority.

The Secretary addressed the meeting detailing the progress made in the sector of education. He said the progress development of the STEM Education Program in high schools, strengthening the abilities of the teachers of STEM, promotion of ICT education in high schools and continuation of strengthening of educational databases were impressive.

Developing a workforce skilled in STEM is essential for structural transformation and sustainable economic growth in Cambodia, said Daiju Aiba, JICA Expert, National Bank of Cambodia to Khmer Times.

The country needs to transition from light manufacturing to heavy manufacturing industries, which requires an increase in skilled workers in STEM fields. Moreover, STEM education equips students with the skills needed to compete in the global job market, making Cambodia more attractive for foreign investments.

Speaking about the ties between the two countries, Daiju said that Japan has provided significant technical and financial assistance to Cambodia, including constructing teacher education colleges to improve teacher quality and providing assistance to the Institute de Technologie du Cambodge to enhance higher education in STEM. Given Japan’s expertise in ICT education, there is potential for collaboration to introduce and expand ICT education in Cambodia.

The biggest challenges in the education sector are equity and quality. Introducing ICT could improve access to quality education regardless of location or socio-economic status. Additionally, like many other developing countries, Cambodia faces low overall quality in higher education and limited budget allocation for universities.

Further collaboration with Japan could help improve the quality and equity of education in Cambodia. ICT education is one area where Cambodia can significantly benefit from Japanese expertise.

However, from Daiju’s perspective, there is a need for more focused assistance on higher education. Enhanced support in this area could improve the quality of STEM education (including social science) and contribute to economic growth.

Macron is Hosting Biden for a State Visit as the Two Leaders Try to Move Past Trade Tensions

PARIS (AP) — President Joe Biden is being feted by French President Emmanuel Macron with a state visit Saturday, as the two allies aim to show off their partnership on global security issues and move past trade tensions.

Biden and Macron attended ceremonies marking the 80th anniversary of D-Day on Thursday. They met separately the following day with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Paris — engagements they both used to underscore the urgent need to support Kyiv’s fight against Russia’s invasion.

But Macron and Biden have often chafed at the pace of support for Ukraine, especially as the U.S. — by far the largest contributor to Kyiv’s defense — was forced to pause aid shipments for months while congressional Republicans held up an assistance package.

The state visit will begin with a welcome ceremony at the Arc de Triomphe and a military parade along the Champs-Élysées leading to the Élysée Palace, where the two will hold official meetings and deliver public statements. Later, Macron will host a state dinner at the palace for Biden and his wife, Jill.

Biden hosted Macron in December 2022 at the White House for the first state visit of his presidency — a glamorous affair that included business and political figures after the COVID-19 pandemic.

First lady Jill Biden will join her husband for the Saturday events, returning to France aboard a government plane after spending Friday in Delaware to support their son, Hunter Biden, who is standing trial on federal gun charges.

Biden’s trip to France also comes ahead of Sunday’s European Parliament election, in which the far right is likely to emerge as one of the biggest winners while Macron’s pro-EU movement is flagging.

A top French official said Macron and Biden have a friendly and warm relationship and stressed that the U.S. president is spending five days in France, reflecting the importance he attaches to the visit. The official spoke anonymously, in line with customary practices for Macron’s office.

The official said the U.S. presidential campaign was not a factor in the discussion.

Macron previously hosted then-President Donald Trump, the Republicans’ presumptive 2024 nominee, in France for Bastille Day in 2017, before being hosted himself by Trump in 2018 for a state visit, before the two leaders’ relationship soured.

Both U.S. and French officials said Ukraine would be at the top of Saturday’s agenda, but the centerpiece of the weekend event would be the strength of the alliance, proven at Normandy 80 years ago, but with roots far deeper.

“It’s probably a good thing for us to remember that we didn’t win our independence either without some foreign help or foreign assistance, specifically from France,” White House national security spokesman John Kirby said Friday.

Max Bergmann, a former U.S. State Department official who leads Europe research at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said the relationship between the two countries is strong despite occasional disagreements.

“There’s always tension in Franco-American relations, because the French try to do stuff,” he said. “They’re bold, they throw up proposals, and that leads to some friction when we push back.”

For example, he said, France proposed putting Western trainers on the ground in Ukraine, leading to questions of whether this is “really giving Ukraine a major, tangible benefit” or has the “potential to be escalatory and dangerous.”

Regarding Macron, Bergmann said, “he’s the one that pushes the boundaries and throws up ideas.”

Kirby said the two leaders would have an announcement Saturday on deepening maritime law enforcement cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region. They also are to discuss economic and climate challenges.

While praising the Biden administration’s commitment to supporting Ukraine, Macron said earlier this year that Europe must become “capable of defending its interests, with its allies by our side whenever they are willing, and alone if necessary,” arguing the continent should rely less on the U.S. for its own defense.

He also warned Western powers against showing any signs of weakness to Russia as he repeatedly said that sending Western troops into Ukraine to shore up its defense shouldn’t be ruled out.

The two leaders were also set to discuss their efforts to bring about a cease-fire to the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, as the U.S. and Israel await Hamas’ response to a Biden-promoted ceasefire proposal that would allow a surge of humanitarian assistance into Gaza.

“The president will update President Macron on all of that. And again, eagerly await his perspectives and his views as well on what’s going on in Gaza,” Kirby said.

Macron is expected to raise U.S. trade practices that he has often criticized, including the Inflation Reduction Act, which favors American-made climate technology, like electric vehicles. Macron said the U.S., like China, has “decided not to respect the rules of global trade” by shoring up protections and subsidies while Europe’s industry remains open and is stuck in overregulation.

The French top official said Europe has to defend European interests, after watching the U.S. do the same with its own, but said Macron hopes to find a mutually acceptable outcome.

Gary Hufbauer, nonresident senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, said trade with China is a sticking point between the U.S. and Europe, particularly France. The U.S. has been more eager to restrict trade, particularly regarding technology.

Biden is also moving toward tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles and batteries, which could affect European cars that include Chinese parts.

The fear is that “if you’ve got some component from China, we don’t want you in the U.S.”

“That’s a big worry in Europe.”

Overall, Hufbauer said, “Europe wants to maintain much more trade with China than the U.S. wants.”

WhatsApp boss in online spat with Elon Musk

WhatsApp boss Will Cathcart has hit back at claims from Elon Musk that the messaging app "exports your user data every night."

Posting on X, Mr Cathcart said the allegation was simply "not correct".

He pointed to the fact WhatsApp messages are end-to-end encrypted, meaning they cannot be read by the company at all.

Yann LeCun - artificial intelligence chief at parent company, Meta - has also weighed in, using more industrial language in his X post attacking Mr Musk's claims.

On another Meta platform, Threads, Mr LeCun also levelled further criticisms at Mr Musk, accusing him of making contradictory and unrealistic claims about artificial intelligence and "spewing conspiracy theories" on his own social media platform.

Mr Musk has a well-established reputation for getting himself into online rows, from submariners to sacked former employees.

In this case, Mr Cathcart is right to say only the sender and recipient of a WhatsApp message can read its contents.

In fact, the firm's commitment to encrypting messages is so significant that it previously said it would rather be blocked in the UK than weaken the encryption it uses.

Mr Musk's vague language - simply saying that "user data" was being uploaded - could however be interpreted to refer to metadata, the extra bits of information sent alongside the actual message.

"WhatsApp messages are end-to-end encrypted, but user data is not only about messages," said security researcher Tommy Mysk in a post on X.

"That also includes the metadata such as user location, which contacts the user is communicating with, the patterns of when the user is online, etc."

It is known that WhatsApp does share some metadata with other platforms Meta owns - but this does not include messages.

"One area of particular concern has been WhatsApp sharing data with other Meta companies," said Dr Tristan Henderson, lecturer in computer science at the University of St Andrews.

"This does include sufficient metadata for these Meta companies to make suggestions and show personalised adverts, which in itself shows what metadata can reveal."

The WhatsApp Privacy Policy specifically states that the firm will use some user data for "showing relevant offers and ads across the Meta Company Products".

The BBC has approached Meta for comment.