WEDNESDAY, JUNE 16, 2021 Intelligent . In-depth . Independent Issue Number 3686 / 4000 RIEL Jab drive heading to 5 provinces Mom Kunthear hanouk, Kampong Speu, Takeo, geted had a population of more than “We are preparing to administer necessary lessons,” Tea Banh said. Kampong Cham and Svay Rieng, ac- 1.2 million people between them. Of vaccinations in the target provinces As of June 15, Cambodia had inocu- HE government is set to vac- cording to Ith Sarath, Deputy Com- the number, he expects that roughly according to the Covid-19 vaccination lated more than three million people. cinate more than 1.2 million mander-in-Chief and Joint Chief of 839,294 people will be vaccinated by commission,” he said, adding that Hun Sen took note of the three- people in five provinces af- Staff of the Royal Cambodian Armed the army and another 400,727 by the RCAF had successfully inoculated a millionth person to be vaccinated ter finishing with Phnom Forces (RCAF) who heads the mili- health ministry. great many people in a short period in a Facebook post on the night TPenh and neighbouring Kandal in tary’s vaccination campaign. Defence minister Tea Banh also in the six districts in Phnom Penh. of June 14, identifying her as Sum an ongoing campaign administered Sarath said during a review meeting told reporters following the meeting “The fight against Covid-19 is a new Sam Oeun, a 48-year-old widow re- by the ministries of Health and Na- of the vaccination drive across the six that the next phase of the vaccination experience [for the military]. It takes siding in Chey Chumneas Hospital tional Defence. former red zone districts of Phnom campaign would kick off on June 21 place on a shapeless and shadeless The five provinces are Preah Si- Penh that the provinces being tar- in Preah Sihanouk province. battlefield that has taught us some CONTINUED – pAGE 2 Britain,Oz agree free trade deal post-Brexit BRITAIN has agreed its first major post-Brexit free trade deal with Aus- tralia, London announced on June 15, adding that they plan to “inten- sify cooperation on security, climate change and science and tech”. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the deal “marks a new dawn in the UK’s relationship with Australia, underpinned by … shared history and common values”. “This is global Britain at its best – look- ing outwards and striking deals that deepen our alliances and help ensure every part of the country builds back better from the pandemic,” he added. The UK government said in a state- ment that the deal eliminates tariffs on all British goods “in the first major trade deal negotiated from scratch” since the country left the EU. A final “agreement in principle” will be published in the coming days, it added. The UK-Australia trade relation- ship was worth £13.9 billion ($19.4 billion) last year and is set to grow under the deal, the statement said. The deal eliminates tariffs on imported Australian goods such as wine, swimwear and confectionery, it added. Belly up Going the other way, British prod- A 180kg Irrawaddy dolphin was found dead in Stung Treng province’s Borei O Svay Sen Chey district on Monday. INFORMATION MINISTRY STORY > 5 ucts including cars, Scotch whisky, biscuits and ceramics will be cheap- er to sell into Australia. It comes after the two nations addressed issues surrounding the farming sector. British farmers will be protected Japan firm may grow marijuana by a cap on tariff-free imports for 15 years, using tariff rate quotas and Thou Vireak Fisheries Veng Sakhon and Yamato “We will take things into consid- Development in Agriculture (Cedac) other safeguards. Green CEO Katsuhito Nabeshima eration first. We’ve requested the director Tong Chantheang told The Post “We are also supporting agricultural JAPANESE-OWNED Yamato Green on June 14 at the ministry. company to work with the relevant that Cambodian law does not allow the producers to increase their exports Co Ltd expressed interest in com- Yamato Green highlighted the ministries – especially the agricul- cultivation of Cannabis sativa. overseas, including to new markets in mercial marijuana cultivation in untapped potential of medical mari- ture ministry – to test the plant on a “I wonder – if the government were the Indo-Pacific,” the UK said. Cambodia to export cannabis prod- juana seeds, pointing out that many proper designated area in a station to consider this project, how would The deal with Australia – Britain’s ucts to the US and Japanese phar- other companies are also interested or agricultural research centre, as it stand, against Cambodian law? I former colony on the other side of maceutical industries. in cultivating Cannabis sativa, import- scientific evidence, before submit- think that it wouldn’t provide much the world – is seen as low hanging The notion was explored at an ing seeds from the US and bringing ting a proposal to the Royal Govern- benefit to the people or society since fruit ahead of more difficult free informal meeting between Minis- finished products to the US and Japan, ment for approval,” Sakhon said. trade talks with the US and major ter of Agriculture, Forestry and according to the minister. Cambodian Centre for Study and CONTINUED – pAGE 7 economic powers. AFP TVET DAY OBSERVED MOU TARGETS EASY AMID COVID SHIFTS ACCESS FOR WOMEN IN LABOUR MARKET TO CHEAPER FINANCE NATIONAL – pAGE 3 BUSINESS – pAGE 6 2 THE PHNOM PENH POST JUNE 16, 2021 WWW.phnompenhpost.COM National New NEC chairman to be announced this June Cambodia, Laos mark 65th Lay Samean days are allowed, but the party can decide prior to the THE National Assembly’s (NA) deadline. But it’s not more anniversary of mutual bonds Permanent Committee ap- than three days. The NA will proved two candidates for the then submit the result to the Ry Sochan position of National Election plenary session for a vote of Committee (NEC) chairman. confidence,” he said. RIME Minister Hun The new chairman should be He said that in this work, the Sen sent a con- announced this June. NA will announce the deci- gratulatory letter to NA President Heng Samrin sion concerning the new NEC Lao Prime Minister on June 15 chaired a video chairman later this month. PPhankham Viphavanh on the conference of the NA’s Perma- CPP spokesman Sok Eysan occasion of the 65th anniver- nent Committee to approve said the party had not yet sary of the establishment of the candidates and forwarded made a decision and is wait- diplomatic relations between their names to the Cambo- ing for the NA to send the the two countries. dian People’s Party (CPP) to candidates’ names. “On behalf of the govern- select one whose name will be Committee for Free and Fair ment and the people of the returned to the committee. Elections in Cambodia sur- Kingdom of Cambodia, I NA spokesman Leng Peng vey and advocacy coordina- would like to extend my Long told a press conference tor Korn Savang said the new heartfelt congratulations and that the two had stepped for- chairman must be neutral and best wishes to Your Excellen- ward for the position after the ensure fairness for voters. cy, the government, and the NA announced the selection of “Whether the NEC chair- friendly people of the Laos candidates from June 11-15. man is new or old, please look PDR on this momentous oc- “The two candidates – Prach at the general independence casion,” Hun Sen said in a let- Chan, currently chairman of the and think about what are the ter dated June 14. NA’s First Commission, and Kar principles that are useful for Hun Sen said he is delight- Lean are qualified to be candi- the electorate, and do not to ed to witness that over the dates,” he said without specify- think about the party’s policies, past 65 years, Cambodia and ing the background of the latter. even if they are from that party. Laos have enjoyed a strong “Therefore, the NA’s Perma- I hope that the new chairman bond of traditional friendship nent Committee decided to will be independent,” he said. and excellent cooperation, send the candidates’ names Prach Chan declined to com- built upon the spirit of good to the CPP, one of whom will ment on his decision to run for neighborliness, solidarity and Prime Minister Hun Sen and Lao Prime Minister Phankham Viphavanh. HONG MENEA AND LAO NEWS AGENCY be chosen to be the NEC office, while Kar Lean could not mutual understanding. chairman,” he added. be reached for comment. “I would like to take this op- and move steadily towards the relationship to a comprehen- the 14th century. Peng Long told The Post Former NEC chairman Sik portunity to assure Your Excel- realisation of the National So- sive and long-lasting strategic However, more to the point, that according to the law, the Bun Hok’s resignation was lency of my firm commitment cial Economic Development partnership in 2019,” he said. he said that the official rela- NA has three days to decide approved by the NA’s Perma- to continue working closely Plan for 2021-2025. He said that he firmly be- tions between the two mod- and elect a candidate, start- nent Committee on June 4, with you to further deepen Prime Minister Viphavanh lieved that with close cooper- ern post-colonial regimes of ing June 15. citing poor health as the rea- our comprehensive and long- also sent a congratulatory let- ation between the two coun- the two countries for the last “According to the law, three son for his departure.