TUESDAY, MAY 18, 2021 Intelligent . In-depth . Independent Issue Number 3665 / 4000 RIEL Cambodian exports to US soar 17% in Q1 May Kunmakara merchandise exports logged $1.679 billion to $1.969 billion, [accounted for] approximately and we are waiting for its re- in January-March 2020, ac- and the trade surplus widened 40 per cent of our exports.” newal. While garments and THE Kingdom’s total goods cording to the latest data from by over 16 per cent from $1.509 With the US yet to reau- shoes are not part of the US exports to the US, the world’s the US Census Bureau. billion to $1.757 billion. thorise its General System GSP scheme, travel goods ben- largest economy in nominal The Kingdom imported Garment Manufacturers As- of Preferences (GSP) trade- efit from the GSP scheme,” he terms, sharply increased in $106 million worth of goods sociation in Cambodia secre- benefits programme follow- said. “But since this applies to POLICE INQUIRE the first quarter of the year to from the US during the pe- tary-general Ken Loo acknowl- ing its December 31 lapse, all other countries, it has not attain nearly $1.863 billion, riod, booking a 25 per cent edged that the US is the main Loo pointed out import du- had a big impact.” INTO EIGHT RICE even amid production stop- increase over $85 million in buyer of Cambodian garments, ties have applied to all travel Speaking at the Cambodia pages and other Covid woes. the first quarter of 2020. textiles and travel goods. “Last goods shipments entering the Franchise Expo on May 5, US WINE POISONING This was 16.84 per cent high- Bilateral trade increased by year the US market was our US from Cambodia. DEATHS IN KANDAL er than the $1.594 billion in more than 17 per cent from biggest export market – which “The US GSP has expired CONTINUED – page 6 NATIONAL – page 4 Covid jabs stand up to India virus variant: UK BRITAIN is confident that exist- 80MW WIND FARM ing vaccines will provide protec- tion from a more transmissible IN KAMPOT STILL Indian coronavirus variant now spreading across the country, IN LIMBO AS EDC health secretary Matt Hancock said on May 16. PRICE TALKS STALL And hours later, he was able to announce that the country had BUSINESS – page 6 passed the milestone of 20 mil- lion adults vaccinated with two doses of the coronavirus jab. The news came just before England, Scotland and Wales were set to unlock parts of their economy on May 17. But further steps to open up the country again have been put in doubt by the Indian strain. Hancock told Sky News the government had a “high degree of confidence” that vaccines would stand up to the B.1.617.2 JAKARTA THE ‘MOST variant, following new prelimi- Billowing tensions nary data from Oxford University. ENVIRONMENTALLY Smoke billows from the the area around the port of Gaza City following Israeli bombardment from the sea on Monday. Israeli air strikes “That means that we can stay hammered the Gaza Strip after a week of violence that has killed more than 200 people, the large majority Palestinian, despite international on course with our strategy of calls for de-escalation. AFP VULNERABLE CITY’, using the vaccine to deal with the pandemic,” he said. NEW STUDY FINDS Britain, one of the worst-hit WORLD – PAGE 11 countries in the world with over 127,000 deaths, has also seen a rapid deployment of vaccines. According to government Covid cases fall back in data, the case numbers of the Indian variant have risen from 520 to 1,313 this week. Hancock warned that because of the high transmission of the In- capital, up in provinces dian variant it could “spread like wildfire amongst the unvaccinat- Mom Kunthear neighbouring Kandal prov- provincial governors have to cases found in Takeo prov- ed groups” and because of this the ince but apparently increased enforce the law on the con- ince has been increasing. government “need to get as many INISTER of in other parts of the country. trol of Covid-19 and other More than 100 people there people vaccinated as possible”. Health Mam “The lockdown imposed contagious diseases and work have now tested positive for The health secretary defended SICHUANESE-STYLE Bun Heng on on Phnom Penh and Kan- to raise awareness about pre- the virus, most of them gar- the government from criticism May 14 called dal province’s Takmao town ventive health measures with ment workers. On May 16 that it had been too slow to im- EATERY AIDS NEEDY Mon municipal and provincial has provided us with some their community members. alone, Takeo province re- pose travel restrictions on India governors to further strength- experience and taught us Over the last few days, the corded 51 new infections. in the face of the new variant. IN JOURNEY TO THE en their preventive health some lessons that could be community outbreak in the Takeo Provincial Hall’s ad- India was placed under the strict HEART OF KUNG FU measures as new Covid-19 applied to other provinces if capital and Kandal province ministration director Meas Uy travel restrictions in April before cases have decreased consid- necessary,” he said. has apparently begun to the variant was under investiga- LIFESTYLE – page 13 erably in Phnom Penh and Bun Heng added that all subside, but the number of CONTINUED – page 2 tion, he said. AFP THE PHNOM PENH POST Areas classified as red zones National in capital at household level Inside page 3 2 THE PHNOM PENH POST MAY 18, 2021 WWW.phnompenhpost.COM National Provincial MRC gets grant for Mekong projects authorities Lay Samean prepared to HE French govern- ment donated €1.5 stem Covid million ($1.82 mil- lion) to the Mekong Continued from page 1 TRiver Commission (MRC) to improve its river monitoring told The Post on May 17 that the network and better manage authorities were prepared to water infrastructure projects, impose a lockdown on any according to a press state- Covid-19 hotspots there. ment released on May 17. “Those who are infected are “We hope to strengthen our mostly are garment workers current systems, making them residing in areas adjacent to more efficient, reliable and ca- Phnom Penh. The hotspots pable of collecting and trans- include the districts of Bati, mitting real-time rainfall, water Prey Kabbas and Samrong,” level, and other environmental Uy said. data to aid responsible devel- The provincial authorities opment and management of have expanded the quaran- the river,” said MRC Secretariat tine centres for those who CEO An Pich Hatda. are suspected of contracting MRC said development and the virus and those who have climate change had intensi- been in contact with Covid- fied in the region which made 19 positive persons. Those forecasting difficult if there is who come from Phnom Penh insufficient data on water in- and Kandal province are re- frastructure and the way this quired to have their health infrastructure is operated. checked and enter quaran- MRC funding is provided by tine on arrival. the Agence Francaise de De- “We have put up heath veloppement (AFD) for four check sites on the main na- years from 2021 to 2025. It will AFD country director for Laos Juliet Gabet-Ouahioune. MEKONG RIVER COMMISSION tional roads leading to the also be used to improve MRC province. We require travellers and its member countries’ “The funding should al- monitoring system for better of €4 million from France for 11 additional stations from to have temperature checks ability to better understand low the MRC to advance the management of the river,” said the hydro-meteorological 2016–2022 to collect near real- and be sprayed with alcohol. changes to river communities knowledge of the hydrological Julie Gabet-Ouahioune, AFD network project. MRC has time data of water and rainfall What is more important is co- and the environment, espe- profile of the Mekong River country director for Laos. established a network of 49 levels. Since 2006, France has operation between residents cially water quality, sediment and its main tributaries and MRC said this funding is a hydro-meteorological sta- granted approximately $12 and the authorities,” Takeo and fisheries. thus create an integrated follow-up to two other grants tions from 2007 to 2012 and million to the MRC. provincial deputy governor Vao Sokha told The Post. Preah Sihanouk province has been detecting cases of Covid-19 every day, prompt- ing provincial governor Kuoch Thai reprimanded for farming disputed area Chamroeun to temporarily restrict people’s movements Khouth Sophak Chakrya already. Then I reported the case resolve the issue. in four locations in Siha- to my superiors,” he said. “We estimate that about 30 noukville on May 17. Those POLICE protecting Cambodia’s Thy added that the farmer had per cent of the 226ha of dis- entering the province are ex- border with Thailand said that ploughed 2ha of 226ha of land puted land has been ploughed. pected to quarantine as well. they stopped a Thai farmer who in a disputed zone which border We will continue to keep an The four restricted locations was ploughing land at border committees from the two eye on activities there. We will in Sihanoukville are Yuelai post 43 located in O’Beichoan nations had not resolved. His enforce Cambodian law if they Hotel, RUI LI Bank, Lan Tian commune’s Prey Chan village in forces did not detain the farmer continue to plough in the for- Go Ji Sang Chheng supermar- Banteay Meanchey province’s nor confiscated his tractor.