FRIDAY, MAY 7, 2021 Intelligent . In-depth . Independent Issue Number 3658 / 4000 RIEL PM: No provincial quarantine Mom Kunthear lockdown of Phnom Penh and adja- The prime minister advised that one who travels across your province. “If every province requires 14-day cent Takmao-town in Kandal province, only those suspected of having con- If you require this, it is like our people quarantine, it is no different from RIME Minister Hun Sen has some provincial governors had issued tracted the virus be placed in quaran- are living in cages,” he said. dividing Cambodia into 25 separate instructed provincial authori- directives mandating 14-day quaran- tine and ordered provincial governors The provinces that have already is- countries that require quarantines ties to refrain from imposing a tine for those entering their provinces. who had introduced this requirement sued such directives have to revise when going from one to the other,” mandatory 14-day quarantine “Doing this is tantamount to form- to revise it immediately as it could in- them immediately in order to ease he said, referring to the capital and 24 Pfor people entering their territories. The ing a state within a state. It’s like if I terrupt people’s movements. people’s ability to travel. He made it provinces across the country. “If you measure, he said, should only apply to went to Indonesia and I’d have to un- “Quarantine should be applied only clear that what he said did not imply require this, how can we survive?” those suspected of carrying Covid-19. dergo quarantine for 14 days. If we do to those who are suspected to be at that they should ease all of the preven- Quarantine requirement for In an audio message on May 6, he this, it’s like we are placing the whole high risk of being infected with Covid- tive measures, but just enable people said that after the government lifted the country under lockdown,” he said. 19. It should not be applied to every- to travel anywhere in the country. CONTINUED – pagE 2 Sino-Australia key economic dialogue put in cold storage CHINA on May 6 cut off a channel for dip- lomatic and trade talks with Australia. The China-Australia Strategic Eco- nomic Dialogue was pulled “based on the current attitude” of the Australian government, China’s National Devel- opment and Reform Commission said in a statement, blaming some officials of a “Cold War mindset” and “ideo- logical discrimination”. Beijing will “indefinitely suspend all activities under the framework” of the agreement, the statement said, without revealing what specific measures prompted the move. China – Australia’s biggest trading partner – has already imposed tariffs or disrupted more than a dozen key industries, including wine, barley and coal, decimating exports. Australia called the decision “disap- pointing”, with trade minister Dan Tehan saying the dialogue had pro- vided an important forum for the two countries – though he added that no such talks had taken place since 2017. It was not immediately clear if the Business not as usual row would impact on a free-trade Traffic starts to pick up in Meanchey district on Thursday, on the first day of the capital’s return from lockdown.HEAN RANGSEY agreement between the two that came into effect in 2015. Canberra has previously described the avenue for talks – designed to boost trade between both sides and introduce large Chinese investors – as one of the “premier bilateral eco- Amro: GDP to grow 4.0% in 2021 nomic meetings with China”. On the same day, China criticised May Kunmakara pandemic, as well as the need for scores the need for the government’s “The economy contracted by 3.1 per New Zealand over “groundless” alle- faster vaccination and more target- strong response to contain the pan- cent in 2020 because of the global gations about the ill treatment of SINGAPORE-BASED ASEAN+3 Macr- ed and flexible policy measures to demic and speed up the vaccination coronavirus disease – Covid-19 – Uighurs, underlining Wellington’s oeconomic Research Office (Amro) on support recovery,” it said. rollout to achieve herd immunity”. pandemic. The government has re- struggle to find a middle ground May 6 projected the Cambodian econ- The regional economic surveil- The economic watchdog’s growth sponded quickly to the recent spike between its largest trading partner omy to grow by 4.0 per cent in 2021, lance unit made its preliminary projection matches up to that in cases, and we expect the econo- and its traditional Western allies. led by a robust recovery in manufac- assessment after its virtual Annual made by the Asian Development my to return to growth in 2021. The Chinese embassy in Wellington turing and supported by continued Consultation with Cambodian au- Bank (ADB) on April 28, which also “This will help increase house- said in a statement that the New Zealand fiscal stimulus by the government. thorities from April 19 to May 4. predicted a 5.5 per cent growth in hold incomes, but not all sectors parliament was meddling in matters “The Cambodian economy is ex- Amro lead specialist Dr Seung gross domestic product (GDP) for and regions will benefit equally, so that concerned China’s sovereignty. pected to return to positive growth Hyun “Luke” Hong noted that the 2022, as economic recoveries in it will be essential to closely moni- “This move grossly interferes in in 2021 after a contraction last year. forecast was despite disruptions in major trading partners boosts de- tor household welfare and the need China’s internal affairs and runs The recent surge in community domestic activity due to the recent mand for the Kingdom’s exports. for additional support,” she said. counter to international law and cases and lockdown highlight the lockdown, stressing that “the recent ADB country director for Cam- basic norms governing international continuing challenges from the spike in community cases under- bodia Sunniya Durrani-Jamal said: CONTINUED – pagE 6 relations,” it said. AFP Don’t miss our Taking stock of economic losses, Special Report starting with the garment sector Inside page 8-9 2 THE PHNOM PENH POST MAY 7, 2021 WWW.phnompenhpost.COM National Budget cuts for most of gov’t bodies coming due to Covid-19 Long Kimmarita moniroth stated in the circu- lar that the cost-effective im- HE Ministry of Econ- plementation of the revised omy and Finance budget should be organised (MEF) has issued a to ensure the regular func- circular on the revi- tioning of state institutions Tsion and strengthening of the and maintaining stability in national budget expenditures people’s lives. in 2021 because the lockdown Pornmoniroth said the con- measures in some geographi- servation of financial resourc- cal areas are having a general es was also to divert funds to impact on the 2021 National meet the urgent needs of the budget framework. government in the fight against According to the ministry, Covid-19, especially with the this crisis requires the govern- implementation of lockdown ment to reconsider some of its measures in some areas. planned expenditures to save “To increase economic se- The Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) has instructed all other ministries, central administrative institutions, public administration institu- money in order to divert funds curity for all people, espe- tions, among others, to prepare for revisions to the 2021 budget. HONG MENEA to address its current priori- cially poor and vulnerable ties in combating the spread families, all ministries, insti- cent of the approved figures emptions for the current bud- the necessary requirements. that the reduction of expen- of Covid-19 and counteracting tutions, public institutions, and to reduce the national get of the ministries of Health, Cambodian Institute for ditures by these ministries the negative socio-economic relevant administrations budget capital expenditures by National Defence and Interior Democracy president Pa will affect the quality of life impact on Cambodia. and units under the ministry suspending about 11 per cent (public security sector). Chanroeun said the ministry’s and affordability of the ac- Along these lines, the minis- must implement this circular of the joint credit package. These exemptions are based refinement of the national tivities and services that they try has also instructed all oth- effectively from the date of However, this circular also on the fact that these institu- budget shows that the govern- provide to the people. Mean- er ministries, central admin- signing,” he said. exempts the budgets of sub- tions have been directly in- ment is facing serious finan- while the budget reductions istrative institutions, public According to the ministry’s national administrations and volved in activities to prevent cial challenges to prevent the will not only affect society as administration institutions, circular, some ministries and all specialised departments of the spread of Covid-19. These crisis, especially the cost of a whole due to the Covid-19 among others, to prepare for institutions are required to the municipality and provinces three institutions can also fully Covid-19 treatment and other crisis, but also make some revisions to the 2021 budget. reduce their national budget that are part of the fight against regulate internal credit through measures to combat the virus. ministries unable to function Finance minister Aun Porn- expenditures by at least 50 per Covid-19. It also provides ex- financial procedures to meet Chanroeun is concerned fully as planned, he said. S Korea donates medical supplies to fight Covid-19 Voun Dara South