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| By:
Prak Chanthul. Photo of
Delegation - Courtesy
of Governor Puth Chandarith. |
|
 | | Cambodian
delegation lead by Governor
Puth Chandarith in Kyonggi
posing for a picture with
their South Korean counterparts
to commemorate the establishment
of relationship between
Kyonggi and Kampot. | | | | |
| The
quiet yet charming province
of Kampot will soon see
great changes, as its
talented governor has
a vision for the future.
Recognizing the potential
of Kampot's nearly untapped
tourist industry, Governor
Puth Chandarith has suggested
that the province could
serve as a bridge to Siem
Reap and other more developed
regions of the country.
Puth Chandarith's
idea for an inter-provincial
relationship stems from
the international link
the governor helped established
between Kampot and the
Republic of Korea's Kyonggi
province. After proposing
the idea for a cooperative
exchange to his Korean
counterpart Kyonggi governor
Sohn Hak-Kyu, D.Phil,
the two governors engaged
in a three-month Internet
correspondence. Good news
landed in Puth Chandarith's
email "In Box"
when Governor Sohn Hak-Kyu,
D. Phil finally agreed
to cooperate with Cambodia.
The provincial leaders
met on November 13, 2002
in Kyonggi to sign a collaborative
agreement to promote friendship
and cooperation on the
basis of reciprocity and
mutual equability. Although
no concrete action has
been taken by either of
the countries, the news
brings great happiness
to the people of Kampot.
The governor himself is
very optimistic and pleased
to see the upcoming changes
to the province.
"I
am very happy that we
have this agreement, because
Kampot can |
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become
developed like other provinces
in Cambodia," said
Governor Puth Chandarith.
Citizens are equally
as delighted. ''I am so
excited that our province
can do that. I am especially
happy about our good governor",
said Sek Phan, 23, a Kampot
resident. "The people
of Kampot will get more
jobs when the Korean companies
start coming, and people's
standard of living will
improve a lot."
Governor
Puth Chandarith shares
Sek Phan's thoughts. Since
Kampot laborers work for
low wages, he said foreign
companies would be more
inclined to invest in
the region and employ
his people.
In a November
20 letter to the Kampot
leader, Governor Sohn
Hak-Kyu, D.Phil wrote:
''I can confidently predict
that your region and nation
will enjoy a bright future
with focused and foresighted
leaders such as yourself.
Considering the success
of the ASEAN+3 Summit
held in Cambodia, I have
no doubt that Cambodia
shall continue to expand
its dynamic role in international
society".
Many
foreign countries recently
have poured praise over
Cambodia for its | | | |  | | Roundabout
in the town center of
Kampot | | |
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Governor Puth Chandarith | | | | |
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successful
hosting of the ASEAN Summit
in Phnom Penh in November.
In previous years, some
members of the world community
have considered Cambodia
an unsafe country. During
the ASEAN Summit, however,
Cambodia showed a new
face to the international
arena. The effects of
the recognition and esteem
Cambodia gained from the
ASEAN summit are limitless,
as shown by the Governor
Puth Chandarith's successful
cooperation with Korea.
"Governor Puth
Chandarith has done something
that is so virtuous for
the nation," said
Sek Phan.
The agreement
states that the two provinces
shall promote a mutual
exchange and cooperation
in the areas of economy,
culture, agriculture,
fishing and related fields.
The provinces also will
exert themselves in the
promotion of |
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sustainable
cooperation efforts, such
as information exchange,
mutual support for business
advancement, the opening
of shared sea routes,
and other relevant areas.
The agreement requires
that the two provinces
observe the principle
of reciprocity as it applies
to the provision of assistance
and for support when dispatching
official delegations to,
or receiving official
delegations from, the
other country.
While
the agreement is significant
for all Cambodians, Kampot
residents feel they will
particularly benefit from
the exchange. Residents
hope Korean companies
will identify Kampot as
a lucrative market and
develop its infrastructure.
The Governor Puth Chandarith
foresees Kampot emerging
from its silence to become
a busy tourist hub.
"The
Republic of Korea is going
to build the road Number
3 that links Kampot to
Sihanoukville. And the
government will soon build
the road that will stretch
from Phnom Penh to Kampot.
Many more tourists will
flock into our province
since we have good roads,"
the Governor Puth Chandarith
said. He also mentioned
plans to develop the former
electrical site of Phnom
Kamchai, 8 km out of town,
as well as the defected
region of Koh Slah, 40
km outside of province.
Kampot currently does
not have enough electricity
and would benefit greatly
if Phnom Kamchai were
turned into a power plant
again, the governor said.
After the Khmer Rouge's
occupation of Koh Slah,
little development took
place, leaving the region's
people poor and uneducated.
Kampot is divided
by a rushing river and
surrounded by Kampong
Speu, Takeo, Koh Kong,
Sihanouk Ville and Ha
Tien town of Vietnam.
The Republic of Korea's
Kyonggi province is |
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| | |  | | Tiger
in Kampot Zoo | | | | |
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located
in the west central area
of the Korean Peninsula
and surrounds the Korean
capital of Seoul. Approximately
9.28 million people called
Kyonggi province home
in 2000, with 87% of the
residents living in urban
areas. The population
of Kyonggi is expected
to surpass 10 million
by the year 2003. While
Kyonggi is a reservoir
of high technology and
human resources, Kampot
is a town with many fine
old colonial buildings
left behind by the French.
The latter is renowned
for its fruits, including
durian, banana, maize,
mango, papaya, pumpkin
and seafood. The Kampot
pepper is world famous,
and most of Cambodia's
locally produced salt
comes from the province.
The somnolent riverside
town of Kampot is beginning
to attract visitors with
its relaxed colonial charm
and French architecture.
The security concerns
that discouraged some
travelers from visiting
no longer pose a problem,
and local officials say
the town is a good base
from which to explore
the nearby beach resort
of Kep, just 24 km from
Kampot and the Bokor National
Park. Kampot's 8 districts
are divided into 92 communes
and 477 villages.
"Kampot
depends strongly on tourism
rather than agriculture,
because [it] has many
old buildings built during
the French occupation
and seventeen caves throughout
the province," Governor
Puth Chandarith said.
"But
what we are most concerned
about now is a shortage
of electricity,"
he lamented. Seeing what
possibilities for development
lied in wait for a motivated
leader, the Governor promised
to |
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do
more to develop Kampot
and work towards a cooperation
with Siem Reap province
as well.
As Cambodia
strives to revive tourism,
the country may look to
Governor Puth Chandarith
for guidance. His ambitious
plan for the future may
vault Cambodia into the
number spot in ASEAN's
top ten list of travel
destinations. | |  | | Zoo
at Kampot houses several
fine species of animal
including an ostrich. | | |
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Suite
B8, Regency Square, InterContinental
Hotel, 294 Mao Tse Toung
Boulevard,
Phnom Penh,
Kingdom of Cambodia.
Tel: (855) 23 213 133
Fax: (855) 23 213 033
E-mail:
editor@leisurecambodia.com
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