Holidays slash Cambodia’s agriculture exports: Minister
Various holidays in the last two months prompted a decline in Cambodia’s exports of agricultural produce within the last two months, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Veng Sakhon has said.
Cambodian rice being prepared for export (Source: www.khmertimeskh.com)
Phnom Penh (VNA) –💛 Variousholidays in the last two months prompted a decline in Cambodia’s exports ofagricultural produce within the last two months, Minister of Agriculture,Forestry and Fisheries Veng Sakhon has said.
He made the remark while speaking to about100 farmers and exporters during a recent contract-farming signing ceremony inPhnom Penh. Rice exports for August and September fellnearly 30 percent each month, he said, explaining that Cambodian ports andcustoms are closed during holidays while other countries do not close theirsand imports and exports carry on as normal. In August, Cambodia had a one-week holiday,a substitute for the postponed Khmer New Year break in April, which thegovernment cancelled in an attempt to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The country had another three days ofholiday for its traditional Pchum Ben ceremony in September. Later this month, Cambodiawill celebrate four more days of holiday for the annual water festival and thememorial day of the late King Norodom Sihanouk. The Cambodian government reduced the numberof public holidays to 22 days starting from 2020 from 28 days last year. Public holidays in Vietnam for 2020 standat 12 while there are 18 in Thailand. Meanwhile, Indonesia has 20, Malaysia has20, Myanmar has 26, the Philippines has 18, and Singapore has 11./.
The European General Court has rejected the European Commission’s (EC) request to reject a complaint submitted by Cambodia and the Cambodian Rice Federation (CRF) regarding the EU’s reintroduction of tariffs on Indica rice exports from Cambodia, according to the Phnom Penh Post.
Cambodia exported more than 235,000 tonnes of fresh yellow bananas in the first nine months of 2020, up 225 percent year on year, according to a report by the country's Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.
Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen has suggested that the deadline of 2030 to achieve the goals of sustainable development (SDGs) might need to be reset because the progress of the agenda has been affected by the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Cambodia earned 18.45 million USD in revenue from the sale of tickets at Angkor Archaeological Park in the first nine months of 2020, a 75 percent decrease year-on-year due to impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the Angkor Enterprise.
Malaysia, as ASEAN 2025 Chair, marked the bloc’s 58th founding anniversary on August 8 with a vibrant celebration in Cyberjaya, blending an official ceremony with a colorful cultural festival.
Vietnam plays an important role in Southeast Asia’s economic growth and is a key partner of her country in realising the shared vision of a peaceful, stable, and prosperous region, said Robyn Mudie, First Assistant Secretary of Office of Southeast Asia (OSA) – Southeast Asia Regional and Mainland Division at Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).
The 2025 ASEAN Business Community Development (ABCD) Forum, themed “Empowering ASEAN's Next Leap: Digital, Sustainable & Entrepreneurial Transformation” brought together ministers, CEOs, and top industry experts to discuss key regional economic priorities.
The DES Ministry will seek cooperation from social media platforms to prevent the spread of fake news and monitor accounts related to such activities, he told reporters after chairing a meeting of the newly established Anti-Fake News Centre (AFNC).
The Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking identified the US tariff reduction as a significant driver behind the improved economic outlook for Thailand.
Financial institutions and financial technology (fintech) players are intensifying their focus on expanding across the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), adopting tailored strategies to strengthen their presence in the region’s digital financial services landscape.
Featuring a permanent exhibition area, the ASEAN Hall will function both as a cultural showcase and as a dynamic venue for ASEAN-related events and programmes. Its inauguration on ASEAN Day added symbolic weight, marking a fresh milestone in ASEAN–RoK relations.
Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce and rice exporters are devising strategic plans to boost rice exports amid global market fluctuations, focusing on key markets and adjusting output.
The focus of the upcoming ASEAN Summit in October will be on strengthening economic relations through intra-regional trade and investment, as well as regional initiatives on energy networks and connectivity.
Indonesian Ambassador Rina P. Soemarno, who currently serves as Chair of the ASEAN Committee in Prague, emphasised the spirit of regional solidarity and cooperation, and the importance of enhancing ASEAN–Czech Republic relations.
The Indonesian Government is determined to seize opportunities to enhance the competitiveness of national agricultural products, an official has said, adding that it always strives to promote exports at the highest possible level, based on a mutually beneficial foundation.
Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira has outlined a six-point strategy to promote innovation, support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and push for Thailand's removal from the US Trade Representative (USTR)’s special 301 Watch List regarding intellectual property rights protection among trading partners.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Israel Ly Duc Trung emphasised ASEAN’s central role in regional mechanisms such as the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and the East Asia Summit (EAS), highlighting its significant contribution to promoting peace, stability, and prosperity in Southeast Asia.
The consumer index of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC), fell to 51.7 in July from 52.7 in the previous month. The sluggish economy and the trade war, as well as high living costs, continue to undermine confidence, the university said.
Deputy Speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly Istvan Jakab expressed his hope for further deepening Hungary’s ties with ASEAN countries and called for their support for Hungary’s accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia.
The 30-storey tower crumbled seconds after a 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit neighbouring Myanmar on March 28. The partially built high-rise, meant to house the State Audit Office (SAO), was the only building in Thailand to collapse, killing 89 people on the site, mostly construction workers.
Indonesia’s waste generation is projected to exceed 50 million tonnes in 2025. Of the total, more than 20 million tonnes could potentially enter the ocean through rivers, coastal areas, small islands, ports, and marine activities, and thereby, pose a risk to coastal ecosystems and marine biota.
Indonesia is accelerating plans to increase lithium imports, particularly from Australia, in a bid to fill gaps in the electric vehicle (EV) battery supply chain and realise its ambition of becoming a global EV manufacturing hub.
Malaysia’s gross expenditure on R&D (GERD) reached 1.01% of gross domestic product in 2022, a notable increase, with more than 51% contributed by the industry sector. The country is targeting GERD to reach 2.5% by 2030, in line with the national goal of transforming into a high-technology nation.
Cambodian rice being prepared for export (Source: www.khmertimeskh.com) 
