Wednesday, 5 March 2008

Cambodia Seeks Japanese Investors

By Chiep Mony, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
04 March 2008

Khmer audio aired March 4 ( 1.20 MB) - Listen (MP3)

Foreign Minister Hor Namhong met with a Japanese business delegation Tuesday in an effort to encourage more investment from the Asian neighbor, an official said.

Hor Namhong met with Seiroku Takizawa, a representative of Sapporo city's Industry and Chamber of Commerce Council, and others, said Sin Bunthoeun, chief of the ministry's information department.

Hor Namhong remained hopeful that more Japanese investors would come to Cambodia, Sin Bunthoeun said.

"They will try to urge for more Japanese investors to come here," he said.

Hang Chuonnarong, secretary-general of the Ministry of Finance, estimated the Japanese investment in Cambodia at around $500 million.

"The government policy now is to attract more Japanese investors by creating a special zone near Phnom Penh, managed by a Japanese company, so we hope that we will attract more Japanese investors," he said.

Most Japanese companies in Cambodia are here for road, bridge and other infrastructure construction, he said.

Sam Rainsy Party lawmaker Son Chhay warned that the government's push for more investment won't work until the it solves issues of corruption and transparency.

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