TAI SENG Special Economic Zone

11/18/2016

Source: Reuters
WORLD NEWS | Thu Nov 17, 2016 | 12:18am EST

Vietnam PM backs off from U.S-led TPP, emphasizes independent foreign policy

By Ho Binh Minh | HANOI

Vietnam will shelve ratification of a U.S.-led Pacific trade accord due to political changes ahead in the United States, but wants to maintain good relations with Washington as much as it does all other countries, its prime minister said on Thursday.

Vietnam's legislature was almost certain to ratify the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreed last year but had deferred it until after the U.S. presidential election won by Republican Donald Trump, whose protectionist agenda on the campaign trail has unnerved Asian economies.

The TPP, the signature economic policy of President Barack Obama's Asia-Pacific rebalance, looks increasingly uncertain with a Republican Congress and an incoming president who had called the agreement a "disaster".

The TPP would be a big boon for Vietnam's exports and manufacturing economy, which is receiving record foreign investment due to its numerous trade accords, cheap labor and relative stability.

"The United States has announced it suspends the submission of TPP to the parliament so there are not sufficient conditions for Vietnam to submit its proposal for ratification," Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc told the National Assembly.

Post-U.S. election responses by the Asian countries on the TPP varied, from suggestions by Malaysia that it would focus efforts on wrapping up a multi-nation trade pact led by China, and Japan trying to stick with the TPP and push ratification.

According to TPP's statutes, it can only be adopted if the United States is part of it, given its economy represents about two thirds of the combined GDP of the original 12 members.

The TPP was a major factor in the rapid strengthening of ties between former war enemies Vietnam and the United States. The relationship has gained momentum over the past two years, coinciding with fissures between Hanoi and neighbor Beijing over troubles in the disputed South China Sea

But that has complicated the balancing act that Vietnam's Communist Party has for years carefully managed as it seeks to expand its economy and build alliances while not becoming too dependent on one country for security, trade or investment.

Phuc said that with or without the TPP, Vietnam was committed to further opening up its economy to the world. Earlier on Thursday he raised his forecast of Vietnam's annual export growth this year to 8 percent.

"We already have signed 12 free trade agreements, so joining the TPP is good, but without joining TPP we will still continue to further the economic integration under programmes we have joined," he said.

His comments echoed those last week by the country's trade minister, who said the textiles, seafood and footwear sectors would still stay competitive on global markets without the TPP.

Phuc said relations with the U.S. administration would remain strong, but he emphasized how Vietnam was committed to sticking by its longstanding foreign policy.

"The party, the state are implementing a policy aimed at diversification and multilateral ties, considering all countries as friends," he said.

"We are ready to cooperate with the United States for co-development on the principle of respecting independence, territorial sovereignty, causing no harms to each other. In that spirit, I believe the Vietnam-U.S. ties will be better in the coming time."

(Reporting by Ho Binh Minh; Editing by Martin Petty and Nick Macfie)

11/18/2016

Source: Reuters
WORLD NEWS | Thu Nov 17, 2016 | 12:18am EST

Vietnam PM backs off from U.S-led TPP, emphasizes independent foreign policy

By Ho Binh Minh | HANOI

Vietnam will shelve ratification of a U.S.-led Pacific trade accord due to political changes ahead in the United States, but wants to maintain good relations with Washington as much as it does all other countries, its prime minister said on Thursday.

Vietnam's legislature was almost certain to ratify the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreed last year but had deferred it until after the U.S. presidential election won by Republican Donald Trump, whose protectionist agenda on the campaign trail has unnerved Asian economies.

The TPP, the signature economic policy of President Barack Obama's Asia-Pacific rebalance, looks increasingly uncertain with a Republican Congress and an incoming president who had called the agreement a "disaster".

The TPP would be a big boon for Vietnam's exports and manufacturing economy, which is receiving record foreign investment due to its numerous trade accords, cheap labor and relative stability.

"The United States has announced it suspends the submission of TPP to the parliament so there are not sufficient conditions for Vietnam to submit its proposal for ratification," Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc told the National Assembly.

Post-U.S. election responses by the Asian countries on the TPP varied, from suggestions by Malaysia that it would focus efforts on wrapping up a multi-nation trade pact led by China, and Japan trying to stick with the TPP and push ratification.

According to TPP's statutes, it can only be adopted if the United States is part of it, given its economy represents about two thirds of the combined GDP of the original 12 members.

The TPP was a major factor in the rapid strengthening of ties between former war enemies Vietnam and the United States. The relationship has gained momentum over the past two years, coinciding with fissures between Hanoi and neighbor Beijing over troubles in the disputed South China Sea

But that has complicated the balancing act that Vietnam's Communist Party has for years carefully managed as it seeks to expand its economy and build alliances while not becoming too dependent on one country for security, trade or investment.

Phuc said that with or without the TPP, Vietnam was committed to further opening up its economy to the world. Earlier on Thursday he raised his forecast of Vietnam's annual export growth this year to 8 percent.

"We already have signed 12 free trade agreements, so joining the TPP is good, but without joining TPP we will still continue to further the economic integration under programmes we have joined," he said.

His comments echoed those last week by the country's trade minister, who said the textiles, seafood and footwear sectors would still stay competitive on global markets without the TPP.

Phuc said relations with the U.S. administration would remain strong, but he emphasized how Vietnam was committed to sticking by its longstanding foreign policy.

"The party, the state are implementing a policy aimed at diversification and multilateral ties, considering all countries as friends," he said.

"We are ready to cooperate with the United States for co-development on the principle of respecting independence, territorial sovereignty, causing no harms to each other. In that spirit, I believe the Vietnam-U.S. ties will be better in the coming time."

(Reporting by Ho Binh Minh; Editing by Martin Petty and Nick Macfie)

08/16/2016

Source: Phnom Penh Post
Tue, 16 August 2016

Central Bank projects 7.1% growth in 2H16
The National Bank of Cambodia held a seminar on the state of the economy in the first half of the fiscal year on Saturday, forecasting 7.1 per cent GDP growth for the rest of the year.

Speakers highlighted the strength of the Kingdom’s banking sector, which is a major boost to the economy.

Bank deposits and loans reached 67 and 80 per cent of GDP respectively for the first half of the year, while inflation remained low at 2.8 per cent over the period.

The local currency exchange rate stood at around 4,044 riel to the US dollar, they added.

07/08/2016

ប្រភពៈ ដោយ U.S. Embassy Phnom Penh | 6 ខែកក្កដា, 2016

ការទទួលបានការលើកលែងពន្ធលើទំនិញសំរាប់ការធ្វើដំណើរដែលផលិតនៅកម្ពុជា

នៅថ្ងៃទី៣០ ខែមិថុនា ការិយាល័យនៃតំណាងពាណិជ្ជកម្មសហរដ្ឋអាមេរិកបានប្រកាសការពង្រីកដ៏ធំមួយនៃការអនុគ្រោះផ្នែកពាណិជ្ជកម្ម ដែលនឹងនាំប្រយោជន៍ច្រើនដល់ប្រទេសកម្ពុជា។ ក្រោមកម្មវិធីប្រព័ន្ធអនុគ្រោះពន្ធទូទៅ (GSP) របស់សហរដ្ឋអាមេរិក ប្រទេសកម្ពុជានិងប្រទេសកំពុងអភិវឌ្ឍតិចតួច ដែលទទួលបានអត្ថប្រយោជន៍ (LDBDCs) ព្រមទាំងប្រទេសដែលមានកំណើនសេដ្ឋកិច្ចជាមួយកាលានុវត្តភាពនៃទ្វីបអាហ្រ្វិក (AGOA) ដែលផលិតរបស់សំរាប់ការធ្វើដំណើរ ដូចជាវ៉ាលី កាបូបស្ពាយ កាបូបដៃ និងកាបូបលុយដាក់ក្នុងហោប៉ៅ នឹងអាចនាំរបស់ទាំងនេះទៅកាន់សហរដ្ឋអាមេរិក ដោយមិនបាច់បង់ពន្ធ។ ការពង្រីកប្រព័ន្ធ GSP មិនត្រឹមតែផ្តល់អោយកម្ពុជានូវលទ្ធភាពចូលទៅក្នុងទីផ្សានាំចូលរបស់សំរាប់ការធ្វើដំណើរដែលមានតំលៃចំនួន១០ពាន់លានដុល្លាអាមេរិក នៅក្នុងសហរដ្ឋអាមេរិកតែប៉ុណ្ណោះទេ តែវាថែមទាំងលើកទឹកចិត្ត ដល់ការអភិវឌ្ឍថែមទៀតនៃឧស្សាហកម្មវាយនភណ្ឌរបស់កម្ពុជា ទៅក្នុងផ្នែកថ្មីៗនៃផលិតកម្មដែលផ្តល់ការចំណេញ។
លោកឯកអគ្គរដ្ឋទូតសហរដ្ឋអាមេរិក William Heidt បានមានប្រសាសន៍ថា “ការប្រកាសនេះរបស់ការិយាល័យនៃតំណាងពាណិជ្ជកម្មសហរដ្ឋអាមេរិកអាចបើកទីផ្សាមួយថ្មីទាំងស្រុងសំរាប់ក្រុមហ៊ុននាំចេញកម្ពុជា ហើយអាចបង្កើតអោយមានការងាររាប់ពាន់ សំរាប់ប្រជាជនកម្ពុជា។ យើងលើកទឹកចិត្តអោយផលិតករកម្ពុជាទាញយកប្រយោជន៍ពីឱកាសថ្មីនេះ ដែលនឹងជួយបង្កើនមុខវិស័យនៃមូលដ្ឋានសេដ្ឋកិច្ចរបស់កម្ពុជា ជួយជំរុញកំណើនលូតលាស់សេដ្ឋកិច្ច និងកាត់បន្ថយភាពក្រីក្រ”។

GSP គឺជាកម្មវិធីអនុគ្រោះពាណិជ្ជកម្មដែលមានចំណាស់ ៤០ ឆ្នាំមកហើយ ដោយនៅក្រោមកម្មវិធីនេះ គ្មានការយកពន្ធលើទំនិញនាំចូលជាច្រើន ពីប្រទេសកំពុងអភិវឌ្ឍ និងផលិតផលបន្ថែមទៀតពីប្រទេស LDBDCs ។ លោកតំណាងពាណិជ្ជកម្មសហរដ្ឋអាមេរិក Michael Froman បានមានប្រសាសន៍ថា “យើងបានប្រើកម្មវិធីនេះដើម្បីផ្តល់ដល់ប្រទេសក្រីក្រជាងគេខ្លះក្នុងពិភពលោក នូវជំនួយយ៉ាងសំខាន់ នៅក្នុងទំនាក់ទំនងជាមួយគូប្រជែងដែលមានកំរិតសមត្ថភាពខ្ពស់”។

ប្រវត្តិស្តីពីកម្មវិធី GSP

នៅក្រោមកម្មវិធី GSP ផលិតផលចំនួនប្រហែល ៥០០០ មុខមកពីប្រទេសកំពុងអភិវឌ្ឍ និងដែនដីជាអ្នកទទួលផល ដោយរួមមានប្រទេសដែលមានការអភិវឌ្ឍន៍តិចជាងគេចំនួន ៤៣ ប្រទេស អាចធ្វើការនាំចេញទៅកាន់សហរដ្ឋអាមេរិកដោយមិនបាច់បង់ពន្ធ។ មានតែប្រទេស LDBDCs ទេ ដែលមិនត្រូវបានតំរូវអោយបង់ពន្ធលើផលិតផលចំនួនជិត១៥០០ នៃផលិតផលទាំងនោះ។ នៅក្នុងឆ្នាំ ២០១៥ ទំនិញនាំចូលទៅក្នុងសហរដ្ឋអាមេរិកដោយគ្មានការបង់ពន្ធ នៅក្រោមកម្មវិធី GSP មានតំលៃសរុបចំនួន ១៧,៤ ពាន់លានដុល្លាអាមេរិក។

ច្បាប់ពន្យារការអនុគ្រោះផ្នែកពាណិជ្ជកម្ម (TPEA) នៃឆ្នាំ២០១៥ បានផ្តល់អោយលោកប្រធានាធិបតី Obama នូវអំណាចក្នុងការបន្ថែមទំនិញជាផលិតផលខ្លះសំរាប់ការធ្វើដំណើរ ទៅក្នុង GSP ដោយអាស្រ័យលើដំណើរការវាយតំលៃឡើងវិញទៀងទាត់ និងទៅតាមការស្នើសុំ។ ចំណុចតូចបន្ទាប់ចំនួន ២៧ នៅក្នុងកាលកំណត់នៃពន្ធលើទំនិញនាំចូលដែលមានលក្ខណៈសុខដុម (Harmonized Tariff Schedule ឬ HTS) ដែលមាននិយាយនៅក្នុង TPEA រួមមានវ៉ាលី កាបូបដៃ កាបូបស្ពាយ និងរបស់ដាក់ក្នុងហោប៉ៅ (ដូចជាកាបូបលុយ)។

ជាផ្នែកមួយនៃការពិនិត្យវាយតំលៃឆ្នាំ ២០១៥/២០១៦ លើ GSP គណកម្មាធិការអន្តរទីភ្នាក់ងារមួយ ដែលដឹកនាំដោយតំណាងពាណិជ្ជកម្មសហរដ្ឋអាមេរិក (អនុគណកម្មាធិការនៃគណកម្មាធិការបុគ្គលិកផ្នែកគោលនយោបាយពាណិជ្ជកម្ម) បានទទួលនិងពិចារណាសំណើ ដែលចង់៖

1- បន្ថែមឬដកចេញនូវផលិតផលពីបញ្ជីនៃផលិតផលដែលទទួលបានការលើកលែងពន្ធ នៅក្រោម GSP
2- លុបចោលការផាត់ចេញ ចំពោះប្រទេសខ្លះ ដោយផ្អែកតាមការតំរូវនៃលក្ខន្តិកៈទាក់ទងនឹងភាពប្រកួតប្រជែង (CNLs) និង
3- ដកចេញឬដាក់កំរិតព្រំដែនលើលក្ខណៈសម្បតិ្តសំរាប់ទទួលបានអត្ថប្រយោជន៍ពាណិជ្ជកម្មក្រោម GSP ដោយផ្អែកលើលក្ខណៈវិនិច្ឆ័យលើលក្ខណៈសម្បត្តិតាមលក្ខន្តិកៈ ដូចជាថាតើប្រទេសមួយកំពុងតែប្រកាន់តាមជំហានដើម្បីផ្តល់បទដ្ឋានដែលត្រូវបានទទួលស្គាល់ជាអន្តរជាតិលើសិទ្ធិរបស់កម្មករ ថាតើប្រទេសនោះផ្តល់អោយអ្នកវិនិយោគសំខាន់ៗ នូវការការពារ ដូចជាការពង្រឹងការអនុវត្តច្បាប់ទាក់ទងនឹងការកាត់ក្តីដោយអាជ្ញាកណ្តាល និងកំរិតដែលប្រទេសមួយការពារបានត្រឹមត្រូវនិងគ្រប់គ្រាន់ចំពោះកម្មសិទ្ធិបញ្ញា។

ចំពោះសេចក្តីស្នើសុំដែលត្រូវបានទទួលយកមកពិនិត្យវាយតំលៃ គណកម្មាធិការដឹកនាំដោយតំណាងពាណិជ្ជកម្មសហរដ្ឋអាមេរិកបើកកិច្ចសវនាការជាសាធារណ ដោយសុំមតិរបស់សាធារណជន ហើយនៅក្នុងករណីនៃសេចក្តីស្នើសុំទាក់ទងនឹងផលិតផល ធ្វើការពិនិត្យវាយតំលៃលើការវិភាគ ដែលធ្វើដោយគណកម្មាការពាណិជ្ជកម្មអន្តរជាតិរបស់សហរដ្ឋអាមេរិក ទៅលើផលប៉ះពាល់ផ្នែកសេដ្ឋកិច្ចនៃការសំរេចចិត្តលើលក្ខណៈអាចទទួលយកបាននៃផលិតផល ដែលមានទៅលើឧស្សាហកម្មក្នុងស្រុក និងអ្នកប្រើប្រាស់។ ការកែប្រែណាមួយទៅលើបញ្ជីនៃផលិតផល ឬប្រទេសដែលអាចទទួលបានអត្តប្រយោជន៍ពី GSP ទាមទារអោយមានការសំរេចពីប្រធានាធិបតី។

ចំពោះព័ត៌មានបន្ថែមស្តីពីកម្មវិធី GSP សូមចូលមើលគេទំព័ររបស់កម្មវិធី GSP ឬគេហទំព័ររបស់តំណាងពាណិជ្ជកម្មសហរដ្ឋអាមេរិក។

07/08/2016

Source:By U.S. Embassy Phnom Penh | 6 July, 2016

Duty Free Access for Travel Goods Made in Cambodia

On June 30, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) announced a major expansion of trade preferences that stands to bring significant benefits to Cambodia. Under the new changes to the U.S. Generalized System of Preferences (GSP), Cambodia and other Least Developed Beneficiary Developing Countries (LDBDCs) as well as African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) countries producing travel goods such as luggage, backpacks, handbags, and wallets will be able to export those products to the United States duty free. The GSP expansion will not only give Cambodia preferable access to the $10 billion U.S. import market in travel goods; it will also encourage further development of Cambodia’s textile industry into profitable new areas of production.
“This announcement by the USTR has the potential to open up an entirely new market for Cambodian exporters and to create thousands of jobs for Cambodians,” says U.S. Ambassador to Cambodia William Heidt. “We encourage Cambodian manufacturers to take advantage of this new opportunity, which would help to diversify Cambodia’s economic base, spur economic growth, and alleviate poverty.”

GSP is a 40-year-old trade preference program under which the United States provides duty-free treatment to many imports from beneficiary developing countries and additional products for LDBDCs. According to U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman, “We have used these programs to give some of the poorest countries in the world a vital leg up vis-à-vis more advanced competitors.”

Background on GSP Program

Under the GSP program, approximately 5,000 products from 122 beneficiary developing countries and territories, including 43 least-developed countries, are eligible for duty-free treatment when exported to the United States, Nearly 1,500 of these products are reserved for duty-free treatment for LDBDCs only. In 2015, the total value of imports that entered the United States duty-free under GSP was $17.4 billion.

The Trade Preference Extension Act (TPEA) of 2015 gave U.S. President Barack Obama the authority to add certain travel and luggage goods products to GSP, subject to the regular, petition-driven review process. The 27 Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) subheadings cited in the TPEA included luggage, handbags, backpacks, and pocket goods (such as wallets).

As part of the GSP 2015/2016 Annual Review, an interagency committee led by USTR (the GSP Subcommittee of the Trade Policy Staff Committee) received and considered requests seeking to:

1- add or remove products from the list of those eligible for duty-free treatment under GSP;

2- waive product exclusions for certain countries based on statutory requirements related to competitiveness (CNLs); and

3- withdraw or limit a country’s eligibility for GSP trade benefits based on statutory eligibility criteria, including whether a country is taking steps to afford internationally recognized standards for worker rights, whether it provides important investor protections including enforcement of arbitral awards, and the extent to which a country adequately and effectively protects intellectual property rights.

For those petitions accepted for review, the USTR-led committee holds public hearings, solicits public comments, and – in the case of product petitions – reviews analyses prepared by the U.S. International Trade Commission of the economic impact of product eligibility decisions on domestic industries and consumers. Any change to the lists of products or countries eligible for GSP benefits requires a presidential determination.

For more information on the GSP program, visit the GSP page on the USTR website.

07/08/2016

04/21/2016

04/21/2016

Enjoy to listen Khmer song althegether

04/05/2016

Bringing Japan FDI into focus
Phnom Penh Post. Mon, 4 April 2016, Cheng Sokhorng

Launched last week, the Cambodia-Japanese Business Investment (CJBI) group aims to facilitate a dialogue between the two countries to bolster investment, and to help guide Japanese businesspeople through Cambodia’s often murky investment climate. The Post’s Cheng Sokhorng sat down with Koem Oeurn, CJBI president, to discuss what the business association aims to accomplish against a backdrop of rising Japanese trade and investment.

There is already a business association for Japanese investors in Cambodia, so how does your association differ?

The existing Japanese Business Association of Cambodia (JBAC) is just a group for Japanese businesspeople to meet and discuss business in Cambodia and Japan. So everything that is discussed only comes from the perspective of Japanese businesspeople themselves, without a Cambodian counterpart.

We created the CJBI group in order for Japanese businesspeople to meet with Cambodians to solve issues and to find out more detailed information about the way of doing business here.

Who is eligible for CJBI membership, and how many members do you have?

The launch of the CJBI saw 200 participants attend. After the launch, around 20 participants registered as members, but we have yet to confirm them as official members because we need to do background checks on the companies and make sure they are in compliance with our board before they receive approval.

To be eligible for CJBI, businesses need to be operating in an honest environment because Japanese businesspeople are very cautious and any negative outcomes will cause Japanese investors to lose confidence in Cambodia’s business sector. So, we have to be very careful when we match Cambodian and Japanese businesses to discuss business issues and partnerships.

We encourage all legitimate businesses to have a clear financial report, and for Japanese CEOs or general managers to think about what kind of technology they can bring to Cambodia after expert consultations, because we know technology is currently lacking in Cambodia.

How many Japanese businesses are currently operating in the Kingdom and how big is the Japanese expat community?

Based on the data from the Japanese Embassy there are about 25,000 Japanese citizens here, and about 350 Japanese companies operating. Of that number, 222 companies are registered with the JBAC. Those companies are typically involved in manufacturing, banking and finance, commerce, construction, trade services and logistics.

Historically, Japanese investment has come to Cambodia in waves. What is driving the latest wave?

I think that there are a lot of factors behind the current wave of investment. One factor that is pushing investment here is that the cost of labour is increasing in countries where Japanese companies had previously invested in.

For example, the labour cost in China keeps increasing, so Japanese companies have to look for other opportunities for investment, especially for those companies that don’t want to be involved in China anymore.

As for pull factors, we see an increase in the capability of human resources in Cambodia and a lot of Cambodians have studied in Japan and have the skills to work with Japanese companies.

Also, Japan has supported and helped to establish the legal framework in Cambodia through cooperation with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

How has Japanese investment in Cambodia helped to develop infrastructure?

I think Japan has the philosophy that if it can improve infrastructure conditions in developing countries, private investment will follow. It is important to create a platform for Japanese companies to invest, while also playing an important role in connecting the region to help all businesses, especially with the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) increasing cross-border trade.

What are some of the critical issues Japanese investors have raised about operating businesses in Cambodia?

The most critical issue is that Japanese investors put a lot of value on business ethics and transparency. They do not like the indirect way of doing business, such as bribes or paying money under the table. Japanese want to invest in a moral and ethical environment.

How will CJBI work to resolve this issue?

Cambodia business people, as well as the government, should pay attention to Japanese investors and understand business ethics in order to attract more Japanese investors to Cambodia.

04/05/2016

Kingdom licenses first round of new factories
Tue, 5 April 2016, Phnom Penh Post

Forty new factories received permission to operate in Cambodia during the first three months of this year, while 54 factories have applied for licenses and 21 are currently undergoing renewal procedures, according to a report released yesterday by the Ministry of Industry and Handicraft.

The number of licensed factories climbed to 1,450 in 2015, up from 1,301 the previous year, according to a ministry official.

02/25/2016

Cambodia Door Policy is opened and challenged! Direct fly from Narita, Japan to Phnom Penh, Cambodia will be started on September 2016.