Indian ambassador encourages investors to eye Koh Kong province

Indian ambassador encourages investors to eye Koh Kong province

India’s embassy to Cambodia will encourage Indian investors to eye opportunities in Cambodian coastal province, Koh Kong.

This remark was delivered by Indian Ambassador to Cambodia Devyani Khobragade during a visit with Koh Kong Governor Mithona Phouthong on Tuesday. The two discussed cooperation in a number of fields in the province.

The Indian ambassador also said the embassy wishes to make a sister-province relation between an Indian province and Koh Kong to strengthen cooperation in tourism and agriculture.

“India is looking at the economic, trade, geographical, provincial, special economic zones, ecotourism and Dara Sakor development areas as multi-sectoral areas for seeking understanding for investment,” she said.

She also acknowledged that Koh Kong province has deep-sea ports, airports and other potential areas, both developed and underdeveloped.

“India will review all the requests of the provincial authorities to establish friendly relations between the two countries and attract investors to Koh Kong province soon,” she said.

Additionally, the ambassador highlighted the longstanding relationship between the two countries, citing that India has assisted Cambodia in many sectors and that at the present time India continues to help Cambodia and values the close ties in cooperation the nations enjoy.

The governor welcomed the Indian ambassador’s remarks, saying that the presence of Indian investment and assistance will result in more development being made in the province.

“I urge India to look at the development potential of eco-tourism, the economy, trade and industry in the province,” Mithona Phouthong said in the meeting.

Figures from the Ministry of Commerce show that two-way trade between Cambodia and India reached $190 million in 2020, a year-on-year decrease of 25 percent.

Last month, representatives of the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA Cambodia) and the Indian ambassador met to discuss the boosting of tourism between the two nations. The meeting resulted in the proposing of the establishment of both direct flights and a travel bubble.

Devyani said that various topics were discussed in the meeting with Dr Thourn Sinan, chairman of PATA Cambodia, but focused primarily on how the association and the Indian Tourism Authority can boost bilateral tourism during COVID-19 and the post-pandemic era.

Devyani sees post-pandemic travel as likely to increase the number of Indians visiting Cambodia in order to experience the Angkor Wat temple as well as the Kingdom’s many other popular heritage and eco sites and nature areas.

Both parties acknowledge that establishing direct flights between the two countries would be the key step in strengthening connectivity between the two nations as it would save significantly on travel time.

Sinan said that PATA Cambodia suggested the development of a proposal for the establishment of a travel bubble. It also proposed the preparation of an Indian market insight paper so PATA Cambodia members with an interest in exploring that market can glean a better understanding of it. He added that globally, China and India are among the two most desirable tourism markets courtesy of their large populations. Khmer Times