Angkor Museum built by a Thai company.PHNOM PENH, April 26 (AFP) - A controversial North Korean construction company is in talks to build an "e-museum" of Cambodia's famed Angkor temples, a senior official said Monday.
Mansudae Overseas Projects wants to build a museum close to the temple complex that will feature a computer-generated simulation of the ancient monuments, Cambodian Culture Ministry secretary of state Khem Sarith told AFP.
"They have plans to build an electronic museum detailing the history of Angkor Wat temples," he said, adding he supported the plans after discussions last week with a company delegation and North Korean ambassador Ri In Sok.
Previous work by the North Korean company building major monuments in African countries has been criticised for lack of transparency.
Its 49-metre (161-foot) bronze Monument for the African Renaissance has caused outrage in Senegal over the sale of government land to finance the project and the president's plan to keep 35 percent of any profit it generates.
Khem Sarith said the so-called e-museum would be "good for tourists to view the temples and then select the one that they want to see".
Studies and more discussion were still needed before construction could start on the digitally-rendered overview, Khem Sarith said.
He said he would meet again with officials from the company in June to discuss the project further.
The 12th century Angkor Wat temple complex is Cambodia's main tourist attraction.
It is located in the northwestern province of Siem Reap, where the ancient Khmer empire built some 1,000 temples spread over 160 square kilometres (60 square miles).
Tourism remains one of the few sources of foreign exchange for Cambodia, where millions live in poverty after decades of civil strife.
Mansudae Overseas Projects wants to build a museum close to the temple complex that will feature a computer-generated simulation of the ancient monuments, Cambodian Culture Ministry secretary of state Khem Sarith told AFP.
"They have plans to build an electronic museum detailing the history of Angkor Wat temples," he said, adding he supported the plans after discussions last week with a company delegation and North Korean ambassador Ri In Sok.
Previous work by the North Korean company building major monuments in African countries has been criticised for lack of transparency.
Its 49-metre (161-foot) bronze Monument for the African Renaissance has caused outrage in Senegal over the sale of government land to finance the project and the president's plan to keep 35 percent of any profit it generates.
Khem Sarith said the so-called e-museum would be "good for tourists to view the temples and then select the one that they want to see".
Studies and more discussion were still needed before construction could start on the digitally-rendered overview, Khem Sarith said.
He said he would meet again with officials from the company in June to discuss the project further.
The 12th century Angkor Wat temple complex is Cambodia's main tourist attraction.
It is located in the northwestern province of Siem Reap, where the ancient Khmer empire built some 1,000 temples spread over 160 square kilometres (60 square miles).
Tourism remains one of the few sources of foreign exchange for Cambodia, where millions live in poverty after decades of civil strife.
1 comment:
Well, when we have Father King who is so close with Pyungyang, I guess North Korean operated e-museum in Siem Reap wouldn't hurt, as along as those CG simulation is historically correct. Cambodia should welcome any nation whose has good intentions, even if that nation is considered to be a member of an axis-of-evils by the west and its allies.
Post a Comment