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.