Samdech Dekchor Hun Sen Encourages Cambodian Provinces to Cooperate with Korean Provinces

Samdech Dekchor Hun Sen Encourages Cambodian Provinces to Cooperate with Korean Provinces

The Mirror, Vol. 14, No. 649

“Phnom Penh: The Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, Samdech Akkak Moha Senapadei Dekchor Hun Sen, encouraged the provinces of Cambodia, especially those that have a potential for tourism, to investigate new possibilities and opportunities to cooperate with provinces of the Republic of Korea.

“The Phnom Penh – Daegu Gyeongsang Center for Culture, Tourism, and Commerce was inaugurated in the morning of 26 January 2010 – the building took 12 months to be finished, at a cost of US$8.7 million, directly financed by DKC&C Co. Ltd. and the GyeongsangBuk-Do province of Korea.

“Samdech Dekchor Hun Sen expressed his great support and encouragement towards such cooperation that will bring new achievements that boost and promote the development of the Cambodian society and economy. Samdech Hun Sen extended a warm welcome to the governor of GyeongsangBuk-Do, Mr. Kim Kwan-Yong, and his fellow officials and the Ambassador of the Republic of Korea, Mr. Lee Kyung-Soo, who always pay much attention to support, facilitate, and encourage cooperation in all sectors between the two countries; he particularly thanked the government of the Republic of Korea that contributes to the development of Cambodia. Moreover, the previous official visit by the Korean President, Mr. Lee Myung-Bak, to Cambodia, encourages Korean investors to come to Cambodia, which shows clearly the strong and close friendship between Korea and Cambodia.

“Samdech Hun Sen considered this center to be a result of the Angkor-Gyeongju World Exhibition in 2006, where Cambodia and the GyeongsangBuk-Do province of the Republic of Korea cooperated to organize a world cultural exhibition in Siem Reap which was held successfully. Based on this experience, Samdech Hun Sen encouraged the provinces of Cambodia, especially those with a potential for tourism, to investigate new opportunities to cooperate with provinces of the Republic of Korea.

“Samdech Dekchor Hun Sen said that this joint cultural center of Cambodia and Korea will display artifacts of the old and rich cultures of both countries. Samdech hopes that tourists who visit Phnom Penh will learn a lot about the cultures and traditions of Cambodia and Korea as well, as they can obtain information about various touristic sites through the many publication of this center. This center will become a place to display cultural products, sculptures, artistic objects, handcrafts, paintings, and showing the tourism potential of four priority sites: the cultural and historical sites in Phnom Penh, the seashore regions, northeast Cambodian eco-tourism sites, and Siem Reap and Angkor Wat.

“Samdech Dekchor Hun Sen added that tourism becomes a priority sector of the economic policy of Cambodia, and it is an energetic force for the development of the Cambodian society and economy. The progress in this sector actively helps to create jobs for citizens, boosts economic growth, and balances the commercial scale, and it is an important source of cash incomes. Practically, in 2008, tourist arrivals were more than 2 million, increased by 5% compared to 2007. Within 11 months of 2009, there were more than 1.9 million tourists, increased by almost 2% compared to 2008. The income from tourism increased significantly from US$578 million in 2004, to US$1,595 in 2008, employing 300,000 people and contributing 12.5% of the GDP. Samdech Dekchor Hun Sen highly assessed Korean tourists and investors, who visit and decide to invest in Cambodia in many sectors, assisting Cambodian economic development. Samdech Hun Sen highly assessed also the good cooperation between Cambodia and Korea, especially between Phnom Penh and the KyungsangBuk-Do province, which has led to proud achievements. Samdech Dekchor Hun Sen continued to say that this cultural center is a model center and an important doorway in Cambodia, which openly offers information and orientation for tourists, investors, and Korean businesses, and to the world beyond, promoting cultural relations, tourism, and commerce, between Cambodia and Korea, and other countries.” Rasmei Kampuchea, Vol.18, #5110, 27.1.2010

This article was first published by The Mirror, [3] Vol. 14, No. 649 - Wednesday, 27.1.2010
Have a look at the last editorial - you can access it directly from the main page of The Mirror. [3]

Norbert Klein is the Editor of The Mirror [4] – The Mirror is a daily comprehensive summary and translation of the major Khmer language press - More about The Mirror [5]