Cambodian Prime Minister calls on Japan for more tourists, investors

Prime Minister Hun Sen of Cambodia has called upon Japanese counterpart Yoshihiko Noda for his support in encouraging more investments and tourism from Japan to help strengthen bilateral ties between the two Asian nations. The request was made at a meeting on Monday during the Asia-Europe Meeting Summit (ASEM), held in Vientiane, Laos. Kao Kim Hourn, with Cambodia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told reporters that Noda responded positively and said he would do his best to promote Cambodia within his own country.

Japan and Cambodia are known for having strong diplomatic ties, however relationships in trade, investments, and tourism are still minor. Another of Prime Minister Hun Sen’s requests was for Japan to consider starting direct flights to and from Cambodia. Prime Minister Noda confirmed that he would attend the next Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit, to be hosted in Cambodia from November 18-20th.

The Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) reports that bilateral trade between the two countries was worth $297 million for this first six months of this year, a 21% increase over the same period a year before. However, from 1994 to July of 2012, Cambodia has only received $259 million in Japanese investments. Tourism is also slightly going up, with 130,410 Japanese visitors in the first nine months of 2012, an 11% increase from the year before.

Sourced: japandailypress