Cambodia, India Look to Improve Cooperation in Tourism, Vocational Training, Agro-industry

H.E. Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Sok An on Tuesday welcomed the Indian Ambassador’s comment that India is looking to expand cooperation in tourism and to assist Cambodia’s vocational training, and is interested in investing in agro-industrial crops in Cambodia, according to the Press and Quick Reaction Unit (PRU) of the Office of the Council of Ministers.

Newly-appointed Indian Ambassador H.E. Dinesh K. Patnaik told Dr. Sok An of his ambition to boost bilateral tourism with Cambodia by encouraging the Indian movie industry to produce a short movie that features Cambodia’s wonderful cultural heritage, which will intrigue Indian tourists, said PRU.

The ambassador recalled that Indian tourists flocked to Spain after they watched a movie about Spanish civilization, it added.

Ambassador Patnaik said that an estimated 500 million people, out of India’s 1.2 billion population, have access to movies, and that will have a tremendous positive impact on tourism.

“I am going to talk to Indian movie producers and encourage them to shoot Angkor Temple to attract more Indian tourists to Cambodia,” PRU quoted the ambassador as saying.

H.E. Dr. Sok An, who is also Minister in Charge of the Office of the Council of Ministers, welcomed this move and mentioned that a U.S. producer had produced a movie in Cambodia called Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, and there was a French tiger film Two Brothers.

The ambassador also said he has planned a dance ceremony at Angkor in which 70 Indian dancers will perform on Sept. 4, the day that the ASEAN-India car rally will stop over. The car rally will kick off in Indonesia and come to Delhi to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the ASEAN-India relationship in December.

“I want people in Siem Reap and tourists to come to see the performance,” said the ambassador.

H.E. Dr. Sok An supported the idea and said, “Cambodia wants a joint dance performance with India.”

India also plans to build a textile museum that will also attract more tourists to visit Angkor. “Once you have a museum, people will come to visit,” said Ambassador Patnaik.

Both sides also discussed Cambodia’s vocational training, said PRU, adding that the ambassador said that India expects to send its experts to assist Cambodia’s vocational training centre.

Dr. Sok An said that Cambodia has set up vocational training centres, especially in Takeo province, where young people are encouraged to learn a number of skills for their careers.

Sourced: AKP