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CAMBODIA

Bayer AG expands into Cambodia


erman chemical and pharmaceutical giant Bayer AG has announced its arrival in Cambodia with the opening of a branch office in central Phnom Penh. The new office will enable Bayer to expand its marketing activities in Cambodia and offer our innovative products to the people of the country, said Dominikus von Pescatore, senior Bayer representative for north Asean at the official opening.

Pedestrians beware: the removal of tables and plants from the pavement has cleared the way for cars and motos

Tourists come second, parking first


n an attempt to turn Phnom Penh into a walking city, the municipality banned businesses and cafes from setting up tables and chairs on pavements along Sisowath Quay in January. In a statement the city fathers said that the overspill of furniture forced walkers on to busy roads, which not only posed a safety hazard but also

BRIEFS
Luxury travel picks: Cambodia in top ten

caused traffic congestion. Five months later, though, business owners, residents and pedestrians are still waiting to reap the benefits of the ban. Cafe proprietors have complained that the ordinance has lost them customers and residents have said the ban is ineffective because cars, tuktuks and motos park on the recently cleared pavements.

Consequently, they find their way blocked. Those who tire of negotiating the makeshift obstacle course are forced to walk on the road which, as city hall rightly said, is a safety hazard and causes traffic congestion. Tourists are starting to complain that Sisowath Quay has become more not less pedestrian unfriendly.

wo hotels in Cambodia have been included in Asias top 10 luxury hotels, as chosen by Kipling and Clark (K&C), a US-based luxury travel firm. Raffles Grand Hotel DAngkor and Amansara, both in Siem Reap, were included in K&Cs first annual 2009 Top 10 Favourite Asia Hotels, compiled by the firms founder Randy Lynch. Increased interest in luxury travel in the region inspired K&C to produce the annual index. The quality of service at the Grand Hotel DAngkor made it a K&C top pick. The Amansara was described by the company as better suited to couples and highprofile travellers needing privacy. The Grand Hotels personality suites and Amansaras pool-suite rooms were highly recommended.

Making a Beeline for the phone market

nother telecom operator has edged its way into the Cambodian market. In May Vimpel-Communications (VimpelCom), the leading provider of telecom services in Russia, launched mobile services under its Beeline brand via its subsidiary Sotelco Ltd. During its first stage Beeline services will be available in the 11 largest provinces of Cambodia, accessing 37% of the p o p - ulation. By the end

of 2009, the company plans to provide coverage to more than two-thirds of the population. The operator expects to invest $200m over the next three years. Tariff plan Boom charges five cents per minute for online and offline services, a flat rate tariff unique in the Cambodian market.

Killer lightning strikes many times

ightning strikes have killed about 50 Cambodians in the first four months of 2009, according to a report from the Cambodian National Committee for Disaster Management. The majority of the victims have been provincial farmers. The number of deaths by lightning strike is predicted to be higher this year and climate change is being cited as a factor in the rise. The Cambodian rainy season has also arrived several weeks early.

16 SE GLOBE

Photos: Annie T (2), Ryan Plummer (2)/both for SE GLOBE; Creative Collection ritt

Red Cross birthday celebrations attract generous donors


uring the 146th anniversary of the World Red CrossRed Crescent Day on May 8, over $4m was raised for the Cambodian Red Cross (CRC). Our vision is wherever there is hardship, the Red Cross is there, said Bun Rany Hun Sen, president of the CRC, during the anniversary celebrations. The CRC carried out a series of programmes to mark the anniversary. The theme for the celebrations was For Our World and attracted donors from the international and Cambodian community. The CRC provides assistance in the fight against poverty and developing education and health care services. Thirtyfive percent of the Cambodian population are currently living below the poverty line. Their vulnerability is intensified

In the bank: donors pledged $4m during celebrations for the146th anniversary of the Red Cross

by flooding, drought, human trafficking and the spread of disease. The CRC provides development assistance to reduce their susceptibility to risk. Natural disasters have created a huge impact on peoples daily lives, which in turn become a heavy burden on the government, said Hun Sen, Cambodian president, at the anniversary event. At the same time, leaders of the government and myself always pay great attention to the misery of our people.

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