finance ministry
An aerial view of the Ministry of Economy and Finance posted to its Facebook page.

Finance Ministry Budget Spikes in Reshuffled State Spending

The Finance Ministry has been given a sixfold increase in its budget this year that was explained broadly in state documents as a reallocation of unclassified spending, raising concerns over a lack of transparency in national expenditures.

A row of tuk tuks park in front of building frames in Sihanoukville on December 2, 2020. (Danielle Keeton-Olsen/VOD)

Government Requests Leniency for Borey Buyers Struggling to Pay

The government is asking property developers to show leniency toward people struggling to pay installments on their gated homes and condominiums, even as a spokesman said a separate youth-led campaign calling for suspending microfinance repayments was illegal.

Cambodian soldiers celebrate the 65th anniversary of the nation's independence on November 9, 2018. (Chorn Chanren/VOD)

Soldier Dies by Suicide After Car, Bought With Debt, Confiscated

The finance and defense ministries are looking into the case of a Banteay Meanchey province soldier who died by suicide after his car, which he used for work, and which put him thousands of dollars in debt, was confiscated by the customs and excise department.

Workers repair part of a sidewalk in central Sihanoukville on December 2, 2020. (Danielle Keeton-Olsen/VOD)

Gov’t Promotes Land-for-Infrastructure Deals Amid Shrinking Budget

A policy of “using palm leaves to package palm sugar” will help the government save costs amid a decline in revenues due to Covid-19 — or, in other words, using available resources like swapping state land with investors to support needs like road-building, an official said.

People in the lobby area of the Phnom Penh International Airport on March 11, 2020 (VOD)

Foreign Visitors to Be Charged for Covid-19 Testing, Quarantine Fees

Foreign travelers may be required to pay more than $1,000 for Covid-19 testing, treatment and quarantine fees upon arriving in Cambodia, a departure from Prime Minister Hun Sen’s earlier vow to treat foreigners infected with the virus for free in state health facilities.