A Change of Guard

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Friday 23 December 2011

Pakistan Seeks to Invest in Cambodian Tourism and Improve Bilateral Cooperation


AKP Phnom Penh, December 23, 2011 —The Pakistani ambassador to the Kingdom of Cambodia told Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Sok An (pictured) on Thursday that Pakistan sees investment potentials in tourism and is now seeking to sign bilateral agreement on protection of investment and trade that will encourage Pakistani investors to Cambodia.

H.E. Dr. Sok An was assured by the ambassador that Pakistan wants to improve bilateral investment and trade with Cambodia, and an agreement on the protection of investment is needed to safeguard both areas, according to the Press and Quick Reaction Unit of the Council of Ministers.

Ambassador Dr. Fazal-ur-Rahman Kazi said in the meeting that the bilateral relations have been excellent because the two Asian nations have shared a common destiny. H.E. Dr. Kazi said that both countries should take more advantage from such cooperation and more investment is needed for mutual benefit.

“We should normalize our trade relations, and our delegation should come here. Pakistan has opened its economy and this has caused no more problems,” he said.

Dr. Kazi said that current two-way trade is worth US$25 millions, and there is much more room for improvement in various sectors.

Dr. Sok An, who is also Minister in Charge of the Office of the Council of Ministers, told Dr. Kazi that Cambodia fully supports these points.

Dr. Sok An said that the Kingdom of Wonder has high potential for investment, especially in tourism and agriculture.

Tourism arrivals in Siem Reap province, the home of Angkor, have recently increased 27 percent. Cambodia receives an estimated 3 million tourists a year.

Cambodia has commercial flights linking Siem Reap to Sihanoukville, where the Kingdom’s beaches have been recognised among the 32 Most Beautiful Bays in the World.

The Kingdom of Wonder has an estimated 1,000 historic temples, including 90 historic sites in Siem Reap province, said Dr. Sok An.

“Once our bilateral cooperation in tourism is in place, other sectors will follow suit,” Dr. Sok An told the diplomat.

The Deputy Prime Minister recalled that previously Japan led tourist arrivals in Cambodia, but it is now replaced by South Korea thanks to bilateral cooperation in tourism.

H.E. Dr. Sok An also encouraged Pakistani investors to look into investment in aviation to support an increasing tourism sector.

“Tourism cooperation is really a window for all sectors,” Dr. Sok An assured the diplomat.

Dr. Kazi also said, “The two countries should sign a bilateral agreement on the protection of trade and investment as soon as possible.”

Pakistan has good services in banking and railroads in addition to training in English, a commercial language, said the ambassador.

Pakistan also looks to help train Cambodians in the oil and gas sector, and Cambodian Buddhist monks would be invited to visit a holy site that has been existed for 5,000 years in Pakistan.

Pakistan congratulated Cambodia, which is now the rotating chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, will host the ASEAN Summit next year.

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