A Vietnamese court issued jail sentences ranging from four to 12 years
on Monday to three bloggers who wrote about human rights abuses,
corruption and foreign policy, intensifying a crackdown on citizens'
use of the Internet to criticize the government.
The cases are particularly high-profile examples of the Communist
government's attempts to stifle challenges to its authority on the
Internet, which has emerged as a major avenue for dissent in the
country of 87 million people.
President Barack Obama has mentioned one of the defendants, and the
mother of another died after setting herself on fire to protest her
daughter's arrest.
The defendants, two men and one woman, are founding members of the
"Free Journalists' Club," a group of citizen journalists who posted
their work on the Internet.
They were found guilty of spreading "propaganda against the state."
Nguyen Van Hai, who has written under the pen name Dieu Cay or
"Tobacco Pipe," got 12 years, Ta Phong Tan received 10 years and Phan
Thanh Hai got four years, according to defense lawyer Ha Huy Son.
The trial in Ho Chi Minh City lasted less than six hours.
The country regularly convicts dissidents, but sentences have
generally been around five years.
The United States, which is seeking closer economic ties with Vietnam
but is also pressing it on human rights, quickly criticized the
sentences.
Obama mentioned Nguyen Van Hai's case in a May speech that called for
greater freedom for media around the world.
"The government's treatment of Dieu Cay appears to be inconsistent
with Vietnam's obligations under the International Covenant on Civil
and Political Rights, as well as the provisions of the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights relating to freedom of expression and due
process," it said in a statement.
Nguyen Van Hai criticized the government for its handling of tensions
with neighboring China over disputed islands in the South China Sea.
Tan, a former police officer, wrote a blog called "Justice and Truth"
that criticized police abuse of power. Her mother set herself on fire
in protest of the case in late July.
International rights groups have condemned the trial and called for
the release of the defendants.
"These harsh sentences against bloggers are absolutely outrageous, and
show the depth of the Vietnam government's intolerance of views that
oppose its own," said Phil Robertson from Human Rights Watch. "Today's
sentences show how deep-seated the Vietnam government crackdown on
basic human rights really is."
HANOI, Vietnam (AP)
By CHRIS BRUMMITT
24 Sept 2012
Monday, September 24, 2012
Sunday, September 16, 2012
Sunday, September 9, 2012
Cambodia Special Economic Zones
The Royal Government of Cambodia (RFC) recognises that Special
Economic Zones (SEZs) in Cambodia are an important part of the
country's economic development because they bring infrastructure,
jobs, skills, enhanced productivity and not least the prospect of
poverty reduction in rural areas.
Location of the SEZs are vitally important so that the benefits in
terms of increased employment and poverty reduction can be shared
throughout Cambodia.
It is the policy of the Royal Government to lay production foundations
in regions other than Phnom Penh in order to build economic linkages
between urban and rural areas.
Cambodia is not an urbanised society and so the SEZs will provide
employment for the country's labour force which is predominantly from
the provinces and mainly women.
Fulfilling issues of corporate social responsibility, SEZs will also
be able to provide accommodation, education and healthcare services
for the workforce, something not generally provided by stand-alone
factories.
A sub-decree on the Establishment and Management of Special Economic
Zones (to include export processing zones and free trade zones) was
adopted in December 2005.
The Royal Government has since approved a total of 21 Special Economic
Zones (SEZs) located along the border with Thailand and Vietnam (Koh
Kong, Poipet, Savet, Phnom Den), at Sihanoukville and Phnom Penh.
Of the 21, 6 have commenced operations.
Aiming to attract more investors, the SEZs offer a 'One-Stop Service'
for imports and exports, with government officials stationed on-site
providing administrative services.
Applications to establish factories within the SEZs are dealt with
on-site as well as all administrative clearances, permits,
authorisations, etc.
Businesses within the SEZs also benefit from a number of fiscal
incentives, including income tax, customs, and VAT benefits.
Cambodia's SEZs are located adjacent to new road networks and provide
state-of-the-art factory buildings, plentiful water supplies, water
treatment plants, vocational training, banking services, postal
services and telecommunications.
Because of Cambodia's high cost of electricity, SEZs located inland
have installed power plants to generate their own electricity, while
those at the border buy cheaper electricity from Thailand or Vietnam.
SEZs located at the border not only benefit from the cheaper cost of
electricity, but also attract investors from the other side of the
border.
Investors from Thailand and Vietnam operating within these SEZs are
able to manufacture in Cambodia at a lower price and export directly
to Thailand and Vietnam, or further afield within Asean and the rest
of the world.
Special Economic Zones were formally introduced in Cambodia in 2005,
and there are currently 22 approved SEZs.
1. Sihanoukville Special Economic Zone (SSEZ) Sihanoukville
2. Sihanoukville Port SEZ Sihanoukville
3. Neang Kok Koh Kong SEZ Koh Kong
4. Suoy Chheng SEZ Koh Kong
5. S. N. C. SEZ Sihanoukville
6. Stung Hav SEZ Sihanoukville
7. N. L. C. SEZ Svay Rieng
8. Manhattan (Svay Reing) SEZ Svay Rieng
9. Poipet O'Neang SEZ Banteay Meanchey
10. Doung Chhiv Phnom Den SEZ Takeo
11. Phnom Penh SEZ Phnom Penh
12. Kampot SEZ Kampot
13. Sihanoukville SEZ 1 Sihanoukville
14. Tai Seng Bavet SEZ Svay Rieng
15. Oknha Mong SEZ Koh Kong
16. Goldfame Pak Shun SEZ Kandal
17. Thary Kampong Cham SEZ Kampong Cham
18. Sihanoukville SEZ 2 Sihanoukville
19. D&M Bavet SEZ Svay Rieng
20. Kiri Sakor Koh Kong SEZ Koh Kong
21. Kampong Saom SEZ Sihanoukville
22. Pacific SEZ Svay Rieng
According to the Cambodian Government's SEZ website, businesses within
SEZs "benefit from a number of fiscal incentives, including income
tax, customs, and VAT benefits."
Cambodian SEZs are designed to offer a 'One-Stop Service' for imports
and exports, and have specially trained government officials stationed
on-site to provide administrative services.
Applications to establish businesses within SEZs are dealt with
on-site, as is company registration and investment licenses, work
permits and labour books for workers.
Investment approvals, customs inspections and import-export procedures
are also conducted onsite.
Other benefits listed on the SEZ website include tax holidays up to 9
years, 0% VAT, full import duty exemption for raw materials,
machinery, and equipment, no export tax, permanent visas for families
of investors and free repatriation of profits.
Economic Zones (SEZs) in Cambodia are an important part of the
country's economic development because they bring infrastructure,
jobs, skills, enhanced productivity and not least the prospect of
poverty reduction in rural areas.
Location of the SEZs are vitally important so that the benefits in
terms of increased employment and poverty reduction can be shared
throughout Cambodia.
It is the policy of the Royal Government to lay production foundations
in regions other than Phnom Penh in order to build economic linkages
between urban and rural areas.
Cambodia is not an urbanised society and so the SEZs will provide
employment for the country's labour force which is predominantly from
the provinces and mainly women.
Fulfilling issues of corporate social responsibility, SEZs will also
be able to provide accommodation, education and healthcare services
for the workforce, something not generally provided by stand-alone
factories.
A sub-decree on the Establishment and Management of Special Economic
Zones (to include export processing zones and free trade zones) was
adopted in December 2005.
The Royal Government has since approved a total of 21 Special Economic
Zones (SEZs) located along the border with Thailand and Vietnam (Koh
Kong, Poipet, Savet, Phnom Den), at Sihanoukville and Phnom Penh.
Of the 21, 6 have commenced operations.
Aiming to attract more investors, the SEZs offer a 'One-Stop Service'
for imports and exports, with government officials stationed on-site
providing administrative services.
Applications to establish factories within the SEZs are dealt with
on-site as well as all administrative clearances, permits,
authorisations, etc.
Businesses within the SEZs also benefit from a number of fiscal
incentives, including income tax, customs, and VAT benefits.
Cambodia's SEZs are located adjacent to new road networks and provide
state-of-the-art factory buildings, plentiful water supplies, water
treatment plants, vocational training, banking services, postal
services and telecommunications.
Because of Cambodia's high cost of electricity, SEZs located inland
have installed power plants to generate their own electricity, while
those at the border buy cheaper electricity from Thailand or Vietnam.
SEZs located at the border not only benefit from the cheaper cost of
electricity, but also attract investors from the other side of the
border.
Investors from Thailand and Vietnam operating within these SEZs are
able to manufacture in Cambodia at a lower price and export directly
to Thailand and Vietnam, or further afield within Asean and the rest
of the world.
Special Economic Zones were formally introduced in Cambodia in 2005,
and there are currently 22 approved SEZs.
1. Sihanoukville Special Economic Zone (SSEZ) Sihanoukville
2. Sihanoukville Port SEZ Sihanoukville
3. Neang Kok Koh Kong SEZ Koh Kong
4. Suoy Chheng SEZ Koh Kong
5. S. N. C. SEZ Sihanoukville
6. Stung Hav SEZ Sihanoukville
7. N. L. C. SEZ Svay Rieng
8. Manhattan (Svay Reing) SEZ Svay Rieng
9. Poipet O'Neang SEZ Banteay Meanchey
10. Doung Chhiv Phnom Den SEZ Takeo
11. Phnom Penh SEZ Phnom Penh
12. Kampot SEZ Kampot
13. Sihanoukville SEZ 1 Sihanoukville
14. Tai Seng Bavet SEZ Svay Rieng
15. Oknha Mong SEZ Koh Kong
16. Goldfame Pak Shun SEZ Kandal
17. Thary Kampong Cham SEZ Kampong Cham
18. Sihanoukville SEZ 2 Sihanoukville
19. D&M Bavet SEZ Svay Rieng
20. Kiri Sakor Koh Kong SEZ Koh Kong
21. Kampong Saom SEZ Sihanoukville
22. Pacific SEZ Svay Rieng
According to the Cambodian Government's SEZ website, businesses within
SEZs "benefit from a number of fiscal incentives, including income
tax, customs, and VAT benefits."
Cambodian SEZs are designed to offer a 'One-Stop Service' for imports
and exports, and have specially trained government officials stationed
on-site to provide administrative services.
Applications to establish businesses within SEZs are dealt with
on-site, as is company registration and investment licenses, work
permits and labour books for workers.
Investment approvals, customs inspections and import-export procedures
are also conducted onsite.
Other benefits listed on the SEZ website include tax holidays up to 9
years, 0% VAT, full import duty exemption for raw materials,
machinery, and equipment, no export tax, permanent visas for families
of investors and free repatriation of profits.
Interest in Cambodia investing growing
With GDP growth averaging around 9% for the past decade, Cambodia is
certainly attracting interest from potential investors.
It has possibly the most investor-friendly environment in Asean with
no exchange controls, no restrictions on repatriation of profit, and
no discrimination between foreign and local investors.
Moreover, corporate income tax is 20% and there are tax holidays of up
to nine years.
Foreigners can also take out leases on land for up to 99 years and
foreign companies can buy land.
--
For Thai investors, the interest so far has been in Cambodia's growing
footwear and garment industry.
This is Cambodia's biggest employer and key export earner and there
are over 300 garment or textile factories.
Low wages – about one-third the level of Thailand's – are a big
attraction for investors, even though the minimum wage for garment
workers in Cambodia rose from $61 a month to $66 earlier this year.
Cambodian garments and footwear also enjoy favourable tariff-free
access to markets in the United States and Europe.
Many American and European brands are already outsourcing their
production to Cambodia.
One of the benefits for these companies is the unionised workforce and
labour laws in Cambodia, as it is assumed that basic rights of workers
are protected.
This provides insurance for big-name brand companies concerned about
possible consumer boycotts over poorly treated workers.
There are challenges, however, for investors in Cambodia's textile and
garment industry.
For example, there are already signs of labour shortages – earlier
this year the Cambodian industry association said that many vacancies
had gone unfilled as more young people were being lured to work
overseas.
--
Another potential problem is strong competition from Myanmar as
economic sanctions fade and investors from developed economies begin
establishing businesses there.
A third problem facing all manufacturers is the electricity supply –
electricity in Cambodia is expensive and access is largely restricted
to urban centres, with only 20% of households nationwide connected to
the power grid.
However, these issues do not seem to be a major concern to Japanese
investors who last year more than doubled their investment in Cambodia
to around $75 million.
According to the Japan Times, Japanese investors are focusing on
Cambodia as labour costs are rising in Thailand, China and Vietnam.
Although Japanese investors are interested in the garment and textile
industry, they are also concentrating on food processing, agriculture
and tourism, retail, transport services and natural resources
development.
--
The Japanese government has also worked with the Cambodian government
to develop the Sihanoukville Special Economic Zone near Thailand's
eastern border.
This industrial zone adjoins the Sihanoukville Port, which is the only
deep-water port in Cambodia, and the infrastructure is being developed
by Japanese engineers and contractors.
Sihanoukville Port is being prepared for listing on the Cambodian
Stock Exchange later this year and is expected to attract great
interest, given the success of the Exchange's first listing, in April
this year, when the IPO of the Phnom Penh Water Supply Authority was
many times oversubscribed.
As one of the frontier economies of Southeast Asia, and a close
neighbour, Cambodia should certainly be of interest to Thai SMEs
considering expanding their production base.
Although Cambodia has been mainly limited up until now to small scale
enterprises dominated by tourism and the garment and textile industry,
the new developments taking place are a sign of things to come.
Cambodia opening its doors to investment
10 Sept 2012
http://www.bangkokpost.com/business/economics/311715/cambodia-opening-its-doors-to-investment
certainly attracting interest from potential investors.
It has possibly the most investor-friendly environment in Asean with
no exchange controls, no restrictions on repatriation of profit, and
no discrimination between foreign and local investors.
Moreover, corporate income tax is 20% and there are tax holidays of up
to nine years.
Foreigners can also take out leases on land for up to 99 years and
foreign companies can buy land.
--
For Thai investors, the interest so far has been in Cambodia's growing
footwear and garment industry.
This is Cambodia's biggest employer and key export earner and there
are over 300 garment or textile factories.
Low wages – about one-third the level of Thailand's – are a big
attraction for investors, even though the minimum wage for garment
workers in Cambodia rose from $61 a month to $66 earlier this year.
Cambodian garments and footwear also enjoy favourable tariff-free
access to markets in the United States and Europe.
Many American and European brands are already outsourcing their
production to Cambodia.
One of the benefits for these companies is the unionised workforce and
labour laws in Cambodia, as it is assumed that basic rights of workers
are protected.
This provides insurance for big-name brand companies concerned about
possible consumer boycotts over poorly treated workers.
There are challenges, however, for investors in Cambodia's textile and
garment industry.
For example, there are already signs of labour shortages – earlier
this year the Cambodian industry association said that many vacancies
had gone unfilled as more young people were being lured to work
overseas.
--
Another potential problem is strong competition from Myanmar as
economic sanctions fade and investors from developed economies begin
establishing businesses there.
A third problem facing all manufacturers is the electricity supply –
electricity in Cambodia is expensive and access is largely restricted
to urban centres, with only 20% of households nationwide connected to
the power grid.
However, these issues do not seem to be a major concern to Japanese
investors who last year more than doubled their investment in Cambodia
to around $75 million.
According to the Japan Times, Japanese investors are focusing on
Cambodia as labour costs are rising in Thailand, China and Vietnam.
Although Japanese investors are interested in the garment and textile
industry, they are also concentrating on food processing, agriculture
and tourism, retail, transport services and natural resources
development.
--
The Japanese government has also worked with the Cambodian government
to develop the Sihanoukville Special Economic Zone near Thailand's
eastern border.
This industrial zone adjoins the Sihanoukville Port, which is the only
deep-water port in Cambodia, and the infrastructure is being developed
by Japanese engineers and contractors.
Sihanoukville Port is being prepared for listing on the Cambodian
Stock Exchange later this year and is expected to attract great
interest, given the success of the Exchange's first listing, in April
this year, when the IPO of the Phnom Penh Water Supply Authority was
many times oversubscribed.
As one of the frontier economies of Southeast Asia, and a close
neighbour, Cambodia should certainly be of interest to Thai SMEs
considering expanding their production base.
Although Cambodia has been mainly limited up until now to small scale
enterprises dominated by tourism and the garment and textile industry,
the new developments taking place are a sign of things to come.
Cambodia opening its doors to investment
10 Sept 2012
http://www.bangkokpost.com/business/economics/311715/cambodia-opening-its-doors-to-investment
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