Korean Vessel Expert Delegation Meets with Minister of Public Works and Transport

On 21 December, Minister of Public Works and Transport, H.E Mr. Tram Iv Tek met wit Korean vessel expert delegation led by Dr. Dong-Myung Kim of World Channel Sharing Foundation. Minister Iv Tek reported to the delegation about the program for training Cambodian sailors, supported by Korean government. Also, he portrayed the achievements and other projects related to infrastructure which have been implemented and requested to development partners especially Korean government. He also welcomed Korean delegation aiming to establish Cambodian navigation institute for training government officials and students especially Cambodian sailors in conformity with standard set by International Maritime Organization (IMO), and this will be the basis for the ministry to be capable of technically managing maritime navigation with effectiveness. (Rasmei Kam.)

The Korean Food Festival

1. On December 12, the Korean Food Festival organized by the Embassy of the Republic of Korea was successfully held at Intercontinental Hotel in the presence of around 500 guests.

   ㅇ H.E. Nhim Vanda, Senior Minister and First Vice President of National Committee for Disaster Management who is also the Chairman of Cambodia-Korea Friendship Association and H.E. Chang Hojin, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea made congratulatory remarks.

   ㅇ The Festival was attended by distinguished guests from the Cambodian Government, Parliament, Armed Forces, National Police, business circle and diplomatic corps including  more than twenty high-ranking officials at Ministerial and Deputy Ministerial level.

2. The Festival provided thirty four kinds of rich Korean dishes comprising appetizer, main dishes and dessert such as Bulgogi, Galbijjim, Bossam, Japchae, Bibimbap, Janchikuksu(noodle soup), Kimchi, Tteok(rice cake) as well as Korean traditional alcoholic beverages Soju and Makgeoli.

3. A special corner 'Learn How to Make KIMCHI' where participants were able to make and take their own Kimchiwas very popular among the guests as well.

   ㅇ Souvenirs such as Guide Book for Korean restaurants in Phnom Penh, Taste of Korea(recipe book), Korean traditional silk apron and a set of chopstick and fine K-POP table calendar were presented in popularity.

4. The Festival was attended by a large number of foreigners in Phnom Penh as well as Cambodians and was covered by media such as TVK, TV5, CTN and Phnom Penh Post. /End/

South Korea Pledges to Assist Cambodia’s Administration Reform and IT Sector

Mr. Kim Nam Seok, Vice Minister of Public Administration and Security of the Republic of Korea told Cambodian DPM Sok An that the main purposes of his visit are: 1) assisting Cambodia in public administration reform and 2) Korea will continue to help NIDA in setting public administration system. During the meeting, DPM Sok An and Vice Minister Kim Nam Seok held a discussion by focusing on public reform and integrating IT into public administration management. South Korea will help Cambodia to develop IT sectors and send experts to train NIDA officials in order to upgrade their working capacity, Vice Minister said. In response, DPM Sok An warmly welcomed the cooperation to help Cambodia on IT sector and requested Korean government to continue to let officials in charge at NIDA be trained in Korea for the sake of building their work capacity. Additionally, DPM Sok An asked Korean government to assist in other sectors such as culture, temple maintenance and preservation in Siem Reap. (Rasmei Kam.)

Samdech Techo Hun Sen Presides over DBST Rural Roads Upgrading Ceremony of over 505 kilometers

PM Hun Sen yesterday presided over the groundbreaking ceremony for improving an 80 km-long asphalted rural road in Pursat province which is a part of the upgrading project of 505 km rural roads in 7 provinces: Kampong Speu, Kampong Chnang, Pursat, Battambang, Siem Reap, Kampong Thom and Kampong Cham. According to H.E Chea Sophara, Minister of Rural Development, 19 rural roads will be covered with asphalt under the loans of ADB, Republic of Korea and grant from Nordic Development Fund amounting $35 million, $21 million and $5.40 million respectively plus a budget of $7.25 million from Cambodian government. The construction project will be completed in 30 months (till May 2014). (Kampuchea Thmey.)

Cambodian Red Cross Receives Relief from Disaster Reduction Fund, Republic of Korea

            The Disaster Reduction Fund of Republic of Korea granted reliefs to Cambodian Red Cross for the flood-hit victims. The relief handover was held on 29 November under the presidency of Kong Samol, Minister of Royal Palace, Head of Cambodian Red Cross, Bun Rany Hun Sen and Mr. Sung La Cho, Head of Disaster Reduction Fund of Korea. The reliefs include 500 sets of water filters, of which 250 are from the Disaster Reduction Fund while another 250 are of Keun Yong Park, the second daughter of the former Korean Ambassador, Park Jungheui and 300 new shirts of Mr. Sung Hayun. (Kampuchea Thmey.)

Korea-Cambodia Policy Consultation Meeting for the Country Partnership Strategy

Korea-Cambodia Policy Consultation Meeting
for the Country Partnership Strategy

1. On November 15, the 1st Korea-Cambodia Policy Consultation Meeting for the Country Partnership Strategy was co-chaired by H.E. Keat Chon, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance and H.E. Chang Hojin, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea and at the Council for the Development of Cambodia.

   ㅇ Cambodian side showed its appreciable attention to this meeting with distinguished participants including high-ranking figures on minister and deputy minister level of related Ministries.

   ㅇ This meeting was also attended by Korean government joint delegation consisting of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, KOICA, Korea Eximbank, Supreme Prosecutor's Office, Korea Foundation for International Healthcare

2. In this meeting, the Korean side made a presentation on Korea's ODA policy and a draft of CPS for Cambodia, which was followed by discussion and exchange of views on the draft.

    ㅇ Two sides agreed to improve the draft of CPS in consideration of the result of this meeting.

3. H.E. Deputy Prime Minister Keat Chon paid serious attention with great interest in this meeting and express his particular appreciation for Korea's assistance for socio-economic development of Cambodia as well as this consultation. /End/

Busan Provides 8 Firefighter Cars to Phnom Penh

            Busan provided 8 firefighter and emergency rescue cars through H.E. Mr. Kep Chutema, Phnom Penh Municipal Governor during his 4-day visit there from 17 to 20^th November. In addition, he also held discussion with Busan municipal governor about the boosting the effective implementation of MOU on establishing the sister cities affiliation between the municipality of Phnom Penh and the Busan Metropolitan city signed in June 2009. Mr. Kep Chutema decorated 3 medals for some dignitaries in Busan including Busan Governor, Mr. Hur Nam-Sik, who was awarded Commander Royal Order Sahametrei. Busan is known to have sent its volunteer physicians and medicines to provide free medical treatment for Cambodian people in August 2010 and granted scholarships for Phnom Penh officials to attend short courses in Busan related to public administration management, port management system and cultural exchange and so forth. (Rasmei Kam, 22 November 2011.)