The government has agreed to investment projects on two islands off the coast of Cambodia's southeastern resort town of Sihanoukville, according to a statement released yesterday by the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC).
A foreign firm has been given permission to develop both Koh Rong and Koh Russei into private resorts, said the CDC statement, which did not specify the duration of the investment or the amount of money involved.
Sam Rainsy Party (SRP) lawmaker Son Chhay quickly criticized the idea, claiming it was yet another example of an island development which would never materialize.
"We [the SRP] also regret that the government has allowed the company to invest in [the islands] without any bidding; this is Cambodian territory which could be lost," added Son Chhay.
Sihanoukville Governor Say Hak said he was happy with the news as he hoped the island developments would help attract more tourists to Cambodia.
"We welcome the investment and we will encourage this development to move us forward," he said.
Say Hak explained the delays involved in the private development of islands.
"In the development [of each island], we have to study and organize [our] planning step by step," he said, adding that if the companies' plans fail to progress, the government will confiscate their deposit and reclaim the land.
In July 2007 the government agreed to lease five islands in the Gulf of Thailand for US$627 million to local and foreign investors who plan to build tourist resorts
Chun Sophal is a reporter for the Mekong Times
This article first appeared in The Mekong Times
The Mekong Times is a daily newspaper distributed in Cambodia.
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