KohKong:2nd HongKong 4 KingKongs?

[GWR]

Thursday, May 01, 2008
Smoothing the waters with Hun Sen [-Thaksin wants to turn Koh Kong into a 2nd Hong Kong with Hun Sen's blessing]

http://bp0.blogger.com/_76xUgRgjZYM/SBkzlzTKhfI/AAAAAAAAEVk/CISM97ifkkM/s400/Hun+Sen+-+Thaksin+golf+01+%28Reuters%29.jpg
[Photo: KI Media - Thaksin Shinawatra playing golf with his buddy Hun Sen (Photo: Reuters)

Thursday May 01, 2008
Bangkok Post

Golf buddies hatch bold investment idea for Cambodian casino town, with Thailand likely to benefit, too / Thaksin and Potjaman parting picked by sassy gossip column / Khunpluem family mounts comeback after last year's poll defeat

The Cambodian border town of Koh Kong could become a "second Hong Kong" after former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra convinced a Dubai-based investor to pour money into what many reckon could be the most budget-intensive project in the town.

Koh Kong, which has a single, large, self-contained casino, has been a drawcard for mostly Thai and some foreign gamblers crossing from Trat.

But it sorely lacks wider appeal to tourists.

Soon funds may start pouring in from abroad to help turn the town into a world-class tourist destination to rival Hong Kong.

The project reportedly won the nod from Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, Mr Thaksin's golfing buddy, while the two men were on the green at one of Phnom Penh's five-star golf resorts on April 5 and 6.

A source said Mr Thaksin struck up the conversation by mentioning a proposal he had in mind to put Koh Kong on the world tourism map and give Hong Kong a run for its money.

The former prime minister envisioned a grand scheme to re-invent Koh Kong and expand the humble town into a multi-hub destination studded with shopping centres, eateries and entertainment venues in addition to its casino.

Mr Thaksin feels the town could easily charm visitors with its natural beauty and marine tourism activities.

Hun Sen appeared warm to the idea and appreciated Thailand's neighbourliness in taking the initiative to help boost his country's economy.

But many aspects of the project remain murky. It was unclear how much the unnamed Dubai investor will put into the ambitious development, which targets Thai, Southeast Asian and American visitors.

It could not be predicted when the project will get off the ground, either.

Fans of the project believe there would be a huge commercial windfall for Trat, which would become a gateway to the "second Hong Kong".

The source said Pad Supapa, the owner of Koh Kong's casino and an influential economic policy adviser to the Hun Sen government, has welcomed the mega-development proposal with open arms.

Koh Kong could ride Asia's next wave of economic boom towns. Some American companies are seizing the opportunity to take a slice of it, the source said.

The modernisation of the seaside town, giving reciprocal benefits to the two countries, could bode well for the unsettled dispute between Thailand and Cambodia over the eastern territorial waters.

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http://ki-media.blogspot.com/2008/05/smoothing-waters-with-hun-sen-thaksin.html

[GWR]

http://ki-media.blogspot.com/2008/05/smoothing-waters-with-hun-sen-thaksin.html

Two artikles!:

Thaksin 'wants to open Koh Kong casino'
Cambodia confident of end to Preah Vihear row

JAKKRIT WAEWKRAIHONG & THANIDA TANSUBHAPOL

Thaksin Shinawatra is interested in developing another casino and entertainment complex in the Cambodian province of Koh Kong, Cambodian Defence Minister Teah Banh said yesterday.

Gen Teah Banh, who also is a deputy prime minister with close links to Thai generals, also expressed confidence about a peaceful solution to the dispute over the push by Phnom Penh to register Preah Vihear as a World Heritage Site.

The Cambodian minister said in Koh Kong, opposite Trat, that talks about Mr Thaksin's plan were still unofficial. ''Prime Minister Hun Sen trusted and wanted Mr Thaksin to advise on developing Koh Kong as a special economic zone,'' the general said.

Koh Kong now has a casino complex operated by Koh Kong International, a firm owned by Pat Supapa, a senator representing the province and former governor.

The general maintained that the deadlock with Thailand over the Preah Vihear issue could be resolved and would not explode and compromise bilateral ties.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/150508_new02.jpg
[Photo: Bangkok Post - Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama cuts a large ribbon to mark the opening of Road 48 in Koh Kong while Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, left, and Deputy Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat, right, look on. The road project was financed by the Thai government. — JAKKRIT WAEWKRAIHONG]

Gen Teah Banh was speaking as he joined Hun Sen and Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Sok An in opening Road 48 and four new bridges. The road was built with one billion baht in financial assistance from Thailand. The Thai side was led by Deputy Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat and Foreign Minister Noppadon Pattama.

The road facilitates the transport of goods from Cambodia to Laem Chabang port in Chon Buri through Trat.

Mr Noppadon held talks with Mr Sok An at the temple ruins on the border of Si Sa Ket and Preah Vihear province.

Mr Noppadon hoped that the Cambodian government would agree to develop a joint management plan with Thailand on Preah Vihear with a solution reached within two weeks.

The obstacle to Cambodia's attempt to register Preah Vihear as a World Heritage Site is the overlapping area around the temple, which has not been demarcated.

Mr Noppadon said that the talks on Preah Vihear are separate from negotiations to resolve the overlapping maritime boundary covering 26,000 sq km in the Gulf of Thailand, and there would be no trade-off.

The two countries have submitted different proposals on how to share the benefits from the overlapping maritime area believed to be rich in oil and natural gas.

Thailand and Cambodia signed a memorandum of understanding in 2001 to start negotiations over the overlapping area. But talks were stalled after the Thai embassy in Phnom Penh was burned down by rioters in 2003.
http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/15May2008_news05.php

Thursday, May 15, 2008
Koh Kong development marks ‘new era’ of Thai-Cambodian links

Thursday, 15 May 2008
By Neth Pheaktra
The Mekong Times

The long-dilapidated 152-km National Highway 48 is to become a major commercial artery, driving economic cooperation between Cambodia and Thailand, Prime Minister Hun Sen said yesterday.

The renovated Koh Kong province highway, including four new concrete bridges, was constructed with a Thai grant. The road was declared officially open yesterday, with Thai and Cambodian VIPs attending yesterday’s inauguration.

At the ceremony Hun Sen said the road and the new bridges were a major achievement for both him and the Cambodian government.

Cambodian Public Works Minister Sun Chanthol said that National Highway 48 forms part of a national plan to improve cooperation and transport infrastructure between Cambodia and Thailand. As well as easing the movement of goods and spurring industrial investment, the new road would allow Thai tourists to visit the natural attractions of Koh Kong province, he added.

Thai Deputy Prime Minister Pong Chay Vong Savat said Highway 48 would be a useful link to and from major Thai economic zones bordering Cambodia. The road will drive the development of the Sihanoukville port, Cambodia’s southern coastal area and zones bordering Vietnam, he predicted.

Economic experts said the increase in road infrastructure heralds the expansion of Special Economic Zones.

Hun Sen urged the development of the industrial zone in Koh Kong, confirming that Koh Kong will be the “biggest economic zone” based on electricity generation and irrigation projects.

“It is Cambodian and Thai policy to seek means to make the border area become a friendly, peaceful and cooperative project,” the premier said, calling the development the start of “a new era.”

“In the past, residents living along the borders were poor and scared,” he added. “Now the people who live on the border between Cambodia and Thailand, Vietnam and Laos can stop being poor and scared and get rich instead.”
http://ki-media.blogspot.com/2008/05/koh-kong-development-marks-new-era-of.html