The Minister of Economy and Finance, Keat Chhon, was awarded an honorary doctorate

in business from Australia's Charles Sturt University in early April. Chhon, a former

university chancellor, hinted he might soon return to academic life after a political

career that saw him work as interpreter and advisor to Ieng Sary and Pol Pot before

defecting to the government in 1984. Chhon was appointed minister after Sam Rainsy

was sacked in 1994.