Vietnam’s rubber projects in Cambodia praised for positive contribution to host nation

The Royal Government of Cambodia acknowledges and thanks the Vietnam Rubber Group (VRG) and Vietnamese companies implementing rubber plantation projects in Cambodia, contributing positively to the country’s socio-economic development.

Cambodian Deputy PM Yim Chhayly expresses his thanks to contributions of Vietnamese rubber plantation projects to local socio-economic development. (Photo: NDO)
Cambodian Deputy PM Yim Chhayly expresses his thanks to contributions of Vietnamese rubber plantation projects to local socio-economic development. (Photo: NDO)

The statement was made by Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Council for Agriculture and Rural Development Yim Chhayly at a conference held in Phnom Penh on February 28 to review the results of rubber projects run by VRG and several Vietnamese companies in Cambodia.

Speaking at the event, Yim Chhayly expressed his sincere thanks to VRG and Vietnamese enterprises running their rubber projects in the host country, saying that they have helped boost the country’s economic development to achieve stable and sustainable growth of 7% per year.

In addition to that, VRG also provides professional training for local workers and strictly implements Cambodia's Labour Law, he said, asking Cambodia's concerned agencies to promptly remove obstacles for Vietnamese rubber companies operating in Cambodia.

Reports at the conference showed that in the past 12 years the member units of VRG have effectively implemented their projects in Cambodia. Since 2007, the group has invested 19 projects in Cambodia in the field of planting, caring, exploiting and processing rubber latex, with total value by the end of 2018 at about US$750 million. Currently, they have planted nearly 90,000 ha of rubber, equivalent to 90% of the set plan of 100,000 ha in an agreement with the Government of Cambodia.

Individuals from the Vietnam Rubber Group honoured with noble medals from the Royal Government of Cambodia for their great contribution to local socio-economic development. (Photo: NDO)

VRG's projects in seven provinces of Cambodia, namely Kampong Thom, Kratie, Rattanakiri, Odor Meanchey, Preah Vihea, Siem Reap and Mondolkiri, have created jobs for over 15,000 local workers and families, with average incomes of about US$230/person/month.

During the project implementation, VRG is also helping to develop local infrastructure, including building and upgrading 1,000 km of inter-village and inter-commune roads, as well as investing in electricity, schools, medical stations, religious work and housing projects worth tens of millions of dollars for local workers.

According to Chairman of the Board of Directors of VRG Tran Ngoc Thuan, along with economic efficiency, rubber projects in Cambodia also reflect a special traditional relation and sentiment between Vietnam and Cambodia. Through the projects, Vietnamese workers have left good impressions on Cambodian people, helping each other to increase income and tie relations, there are even many marriages between Vietnamese and Cambodian local residents. The projects also receive great support from local governments, confirming the efficiency of Vietnamese enterprises’ rubber projects.

On the occasion, representatives from VRG with significant achievements and positive contributions to the local socio-economic development were honoured with noble medals from the Royal Government of Cambodia.