PHNOM PENH, Dec. 22, 2011 (PRU) – The Pakistani ambassador
to the Kingdom of Cambodia told Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Sok An on Thursday
that Pakistan sees investment potentials in tourism and is now seeking to sign
bilateral agreement on protection of investment and trade that will encourage
Pakistani investors to Cambodia.
H.E. Dr. Sok An was assured by the Ambassador that
Pakistan wants to improve bilateral investment and trade with Cambodia, and an
agreement on the protection of investment is needed to safeguard both areas.
Ambassador Dr. Fazal-ur-Rahman Kazi said in the
meeting that the bilateral relations have been excellent because the two Asian
nations have shared a common destiny. H.E. Dr. Kazi said that both countries should
take more advantage from such cooperation and more investment is needed for
mutual benefit.
“We should normalise our trade relations, and our
delegation should come here. Pakistan has opened its economy and this has
caused no more problems”, the Ambassador assured the Deputy Prime Minister.
Dr. Kazi said that current two-way trade is worth $25
millions, and there is much more room for improvement in various sectors.
Dr. Sok An, who is also Minister in Charge of the
Office of the Council of Ministers, told Dr. Kazi that Cambodia fully supports
these points.
Dr. Sok An said that the Kingdom of Wonder has high
potential for investment, especially in tourism and agriculture.
Tourism arrivals in Siemreap province, the home of
Angkor, have recently increased 27 percent. Cambodia receives an estimated 3
million tourists a year.
Cambodia has commercial flights linking Siem Reap to
Sihanoukville, where the Kingdom’s beaches have been recognised among the 32
Most Beautiful Bays in the World.
The Kingdom of Wonder has an estimated 1000 historic
temples, including 90 historic sites in Siemreap province, said Dr. Sok An.
“Once our bilateral cooperation in tourism is in place,
other sectors will follow suit”, Dr. Sok An told the diplomat.
The Deputy Prime Minister recalled that previously Japan
led tourist arrivals in Cambodia, but it is now replaced by South Korea thanks to
bilateral cooperation in tourism.
H.E. Dr. Sok An also encouraged Pakistani investors to
look into investment in aviation to support an increasing tourism sector.
“Tourism cooperation is really a window for all
sectors”, Dr. Sok An assured the diplomat.
Dr. Kazi also said, “The two countries should sign a bilateral
agreement on the protection of trade and investment as soon as possible”.
Pakistan has good services in banking and railroads in
addition to training in English, a commercial language, said the Ambassador.
Pakistan also looks to help train Cambodians in the
oil and gas sector, and Cambodian Buddhist monks would be invited to visit a
holy site that has been existed for 5,000 years in Pakistan.
Pakistan congratulated Cambodia, which is now the
rotating chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, will host the ASEAN
summit next year.


