Asean News Gazette

The Federal Republic of Germany has pledged to provide approximately US$66 million to Cambodia to support the projects on socio-economic development.

The information was shared by H.E Andreas Pfeil, Head the Central Asia, East Asia of the Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development Germany (BMZ) in a meeting held in Germany on Oct. 18 with H.E. Chheang Yanara, Senior Minister in charge of Special Mission and Second Vice President of the Council for the Development of Cambodia.

According to a press release, the assistance includes both financial cooperation and technical cooperation for 2023-2024.

Besides, the German government has continued its cooperation with Cambodia in the development of a number of key areas, said the source.

The two sides have agreed to continue developing sustainable economic sector, health and social protection, as well as energy-climate and other sectors that are in line with the priorities of national development as set out in the Pentagonal Strategy-Phase I and Germany’s 2030 Agenda.

H.E. Chheang Yanara lauded the German Government’s assistance in contributing to Cambodia’s development efforts.

From January to September 2023, the trade volume between Cambodia and Germany reached US$778 million, a year-on-year decrease of 17.7 percent, shiw the trade statistics of the General Department of Customs and Excise.

Cambodia’s exports to Germany were recorded at about US$620 million and its imports from the country were valued at US$159 million.

Most of Cambodia’s exports to the German market are garments, footwear, travel goods, agricultural products, electrical parts and bicycles, while the main imports are vehicles, construction materials and furniture.

Germany is the seventh largest trading partner of Cambodia.

Source: Agence Kampuchea Presse

Cambodia exported 242,304 tonnes of dry rubber in the first nine months of 2023, earning US$320 million, according to a report from the General Directorate of Rubber.

The rubber export saw a slight increase of 3.5 percent while revenue from the export decreased by 9.8 percent, read the report.

“A tonne of dry rubber cost US$1,323 on average in the first three quarters of this year, about US$196 lower than that of the same period last year,” H.E. Him Oun, Director General of the General Directorate of Rubber, said in the report.

The main export markets for Cambodia’s rubber are Malaysia, Vietnam, Singapore and China.

The Kingdom planted rubber trees on a total area of 404,578 hectares, of which 315,332 or 78 percent, are old enough to be tapped, the report pointed out.

Source: Agence Kampuchea Presse

The ASEAN-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Summit will further foster the economic collaboration, according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA).

The ASEAN-GCC Summit will take place within the framework of the vision of the King Abdulaziz, King of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to increase the joint actions, as well as to promote the strategic partnership cooperation between the GCC and ASEAN countries, it pointed out.

The summit, the first ever meeting between the ASEAN and GCC leaders will reflect the effort of the Saudi Arabic king and princesses in building the strategic partnership relations with the international community, the source continued, underlining that ASEAN and the GCC will increase their cooperation level, especially the language relations and shared interest enhancement.

It is aimed to approve the joint cooperation framework for the next five years, 2024-2028.

According to the SPA, the ASEAN-GCC relations commenced in 1989.

In 2019, the ASEAN-GCC trade volume was US$93.9 billion, including US$60.9 billion recorded for exports and US$33.3 billion for imports, it added.

The ASEAN leaders, including Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia, and their GCC counterparts are gathering in Riyadh to attend the GCC-ASEAN Summit scheduled for Oct. 20.

Source: Agence Kampuchea Presse

Over 90 percent of the micro enterprises in Cebu province that underwent technical and advisory visits (TAV) are compliant with the labor laws, an official of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said Thursday. Vivencio Lagahid, provincial director of the DOLE-Cebu, said the agency conducted a third quarter TAV sessions for 805 micro businesses of local entrepreneurs in the northern towns of San Remigio, Madridejos, Bantayan, Tuburan and Danao City. Of the 805, 93.05 percent or 749 micro establishments were found to be labor-compliant. The remaining 56 micro establishments (MEs), which were found to have gaps in their labor standard policies, have sought assistance to rectify their deficiencies. ‘The 56 MEs willingly revealed that they paid their employees below the minimum wage. So in their action plan, they were advised either to apply the prescribed wages in the region, register under the Department of Trade and Industry’s Barangay Micro Business Enterprise (BMBE), or apply for a wage exemption before the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board Region or RTWPB-7,’ Lagahid said. In the south of Cebu, the DOLE-Cebu said 91.16 percent of the 328 micro establishments in the towns of Alegria, Ginatilan, Balamban and Dumanjug were compliant with labor laws while the remaining 29 have yet to comply with the labor standards. The TAV sessions provide micro businesses employing less than 10 workers or those family-owned businesses assisted by family members the idea on general labor standards under the Labor Code, occupational safety and health standards, productivity schemes, child and family welfare and other labor programs and social legislations. Under the newly-issued Department Order No. 238 series of 2023, the Rules on the Administration and Enforcement of Labor Standards pursuant to Article 128 of the Labor Code, as renumbered, and Republic Act No. 11058, DOLE administers and ensures the enforcement of the labor standards and other labor laws through TAV, labor inspection and investigation.

Source: Philippines News Agency

The La Union provincial government, in coordination with the National Food Authority (NFA) and the Department of Agriculture, is offering an additional procurement price of PHP5 per kilo to encourage farmers to sell their palay harvest to the NFA. In a phone interview with the Philippine News Agency, NFA-La Union statistician Maricel Baliton said PHP5 will be added to the PHP19 per kilo base buying price, bringing it to PHP24 a kilo. ‘We hope the farmers will prioritize selling their harvest to the NFA,’ she said, adding the new price will make it competitive against the buying price of private traders ranging from PHP20 to PHP25 per kilo. Baliton said they target to procure some 270,000 50-kilo bags of rice from farmers for this second semester, or from September to December this year. Aside from the top-up price that is under the Palay Marketing Assistance Program for Legislators and Local Government Units, the NFA is also offering up to PHP4 per kilo buffer stock incentive for clean and dry quality palay. Baliton said there are around 68,000 to 70,000 farmers in the province although not all are expected to sell their harvest since some are just planting for their families’ consumption. In a press statement, La Union Governor Raphaelle Ortega-David acknowledged the importance of supporting the farming community that plays an integral role in the province’s economic growth. ‘She believes that empowering and investing in farmers are key steps toward realizing La Union’s vision of becoming the Heart of Agri-Tourism in Northern Luzon by 2025,’ the La Union Provincial Information Office said. It said the province has secured a PHP20 million budget that will enable more farmers to benefit from the increased rice price premium.

Source: Philippines News Agency

The government will spare no effort to ensure the growth of the rice industry while safeguarding the welfare of farmers and consumers, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said on Monday. Addressing the 6th International Rice Congress at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City, President Marcos said the Philippines continues to strive for a comprehensive and holistic scientific approach in addressing rice issues. ‘We will do everything to pursue and punish those who are involved in smuggling and hoarding. We will make them pay for their wrongful actions and remedy the situation,’ President Marcos said in his speech. ‘We will remain steadfast in our efforts to modernize the agriculture sector through open dialogue and consultations with our farmers and agriculture experts.’ In the same speech, the President urged the public and private sectors to continue collaborating with the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and its partners as part of unified efforts for a robust rice industry in the Philippines. President Marcos said the government continues to address issues on the price and supply of rice, which stemmed from several factors such as natural calamities and the illegal activities of smugglers and hoarders. ‘With all these said, it is important to remember that not one of us alone can do everything that needs to be done. We have seen through the years what greater power we yield when we are united, just like how the first five installments of this Congress have brought about great progress in the international rice industry,’ President Marcos said. ‘So, I enjoin all of our government agencies and, of course, our partners in the private sector to continue collaborating with the IRRI and its partners in identifying creative solutions and mechanisms for a more robust rice industry,’ he added. Amid all the issues, the President emphasized that the government has provided support to Filipino farmers through the National Rice Program and the Rice Competitive Enhancement Fund, including the Rice Farmers Financial Assistance. The government is also working closely with the IRRI and foreign governments not only to ensure steady rice supply, but also to enhance the development and sharing of crucial technologies and strategies. ‘Your participation will surely inspire the rest of the society and the entire global community to fortify our efforts for food security across the region and the world. It goes without saying, but I think it bears repeating, that rice in our country means more than food,’ he added. President Marcos said he is looking forward to the transformation of the Philippine agricultural industry, particularly on rice production. This year’s theme for the Rice Congress is ‘Accelerating Transformation of Rice-Based Food Systems: From Gene to Globe.’ Its first edition was held in Beijing, China (2022); followed by New Delhi, India (2006); Hanoi, Vietnam (2010); Bangkok, Thailand (2014); and Singapore (2018).

Source: Philippines News Agency

The Department of Agriculture (DA) assured sufficient rice supply in the country early next year with abundant palay (unhusked rice) harvest this wet season, coupled with rice imports arranged for the third quarter this year. Explaining the palay production this October, which is the peak of the harvest this wet season, DA Assistant Secretary Arnel De Mesa said they are expecting 77 days of national rice stock inventory this month. Once the wet season harvest ends this November, he said they expect about 94 days of national stock inventory. ‘Bagama’t umaasa tayo ng additional imports ay very comfortable iyong ating national stock inventory – normally, tinitingnan natin (Although we expect additional imports, our national stock inventory is at a very comfortable level. Normally, we expect) between 60 to 90 days,’ De Mesa said in a news forum in Quezon City. By the end of the third quarter, the country has 2.4 million metric tons. Compliance on the price cap on rice under Executive Order 39 picked up during the the third and last weeks of September at 87 percent, de Mesa said. Retailers even sold rice lower than the mandated per kilo prices of PHP41 (regular milled) and PHP45 (well-milled). EO 39 was implemented from Sept. 5 to Oct. 4, lifted once prices stabilized. De Mesa likewise said there will be enough supplies of pork and egg in time for the Christmas season due to improved local production and scheduled meat importations. He said pork importations are continuing, especially in the fourth quarter, based on the schedule arranged by the Bureau of Animal Industry. To counter the effect of the African swine fever (ASF), De Mesa said that DA has been carrying out the ‘BABay ASF’ program, in addition to pest control, prevention, biosecurity and repopulation initiative by the department. This is to ensure that those areas hit by ASF could restart production, De Mesa said, stressing that another promising development is the development of ASF vaccine.

Source: Philippines News Agency

Local celebrities have been lending their fame to help promote local brands to million viewers via Shopee Malaysia’s (Shopee) daily celebrity livestream show, ‘Shopee Live Skuad Stylo’ since its inception last Sept 5.

Shopee in a statement said the programme which airs at 8 pm every night and features renowned celebrities such as Nabila Huda, Fara Nadiah, Sherry Alhadad and Datuk Seri Vida has also managed to drive two million views and nearly 850,000 ‘Add to Cart’.

During the show, the celebrities not only demonstrated the quality of local products but also gave real-time personal testimonials of how they use the products in their daily lives.

“Locally made products have beautiful designs and are made by skilful local talents,” Nabila was quoted as saying during her Sept 26 session with host Zaiton Khalid, where she showcased the comfort and quality of locally-designed headscarves by Heejab and Theselamah brands.

Fara, on the other hand, recognised that women sellers on Shopee uplift other women in their communities.

“Selling online is a convenient option for women, especially housewives, enabling them to manage their businesses while looking after their children. They are role models to other sellers,” she said.

Meanwhile, Shopee Malaysia head of marketing Kenneth Soh said the platform aims to continually deliver a seamless shopping experience that not only meets users’ shopping needs but also keeps them entertained and engaged through shopping-tainment programme that empowers local sellers to succeed and grow in the long term.

“We are thrilled to see celebrities like Nabila Huda and Fara Nadiah rally millions of fans on Shopee Live Skuad Stylo to champion local brands. We hope more Malaysians embrace the value of Buatan Malaysia products,” he said in the statement.

Shopee has a track record of empowering content creators to achieve outstanding results through live selling on its platform.

Top-performing Shopee livestream sellers in each state in Malaysia generated sales of RM4.6 million in the last 12 months.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency