Logo of Phnom Penh Post newspaper Phnom Penh Post - Tina seeks to improve economic land concession landscape

Tina seeks to improve economic land concession landscape

Content image - Phnom Penh Post
Agriculture minister Dith Tina chairs a meeting on the overall status of economic land concession (ELC) investment projects, on March 16. AGRICULTURE MINISTRY

Tina seeks to improve economic land concession landscape

Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Dith Tina on March 16 chaired a meeting at his ministry to assess the overall status of economic land concession (ELC) investment projects as well as to offer recommendations on how to effectively resolve pertinent issues and deliver benefits for the economy.

An ELC is a long-term lease that permits concessionaires to clear and use land for agricultural or agro-industrial exploitation, as outlined by Sub-decree No 146 on ELCs, adopted in 2005. The arrangements aim to stimulate rural economic development and support the financial security of locals.

The minister suggested that inactive projects be replaced with new, legitimate ones backed by investors with clear and realistic plans that could meaningfully spur provincial development and drive the economy at the national level.

Tina put forward a $5-per-hectare fine for concessionaires who fail to pay land fees as required, and called for efficient registration as well as for the joint resolution of related issues through shared responsibility, with a view to prevent encroachment of state land.

The minister asked attendees to recognise the importance of ELCs and addressing emerging challenges, and called for all involved to be committed and responsible in their efforts – putting national interests first, work closely with concessionaires, and make transparent evaluations of overall progress.

Tina requested that the ELC secretariat hold trimonthly meetings to review developments and adequately tackle any pressing issues in a timely manner. He also told the agency to ensure that projects are actively contributing to development and are otherwise suitable.

MOST VIEWED

  • Wing Bank opens new branch in front of Orkide The Royal along Street 2004

    Wing Bank celebrates first anniversary as commercial bank with launch of brand-new branch. One year since officially launching with a commercial banking licence, Wing Bank on March 14 launched a new branch in front of Orkide The Royal along Street 2004. The launch was presided over by

  • Girl from Stung Meanchey dump now college grad living in Australia

    After finishing her foundational studies at Trinity College and earning a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Melbourne in 2022, Ron Sophy, a girl who once lived at the Stung Meanchey garbage dump and scavenged for things to sell, is now working at a private

  • Ministry using ChatGPT AI to ‘ease workload’; Khmer version planned

    The Digital Government Committee is planning to make a Khmer language version of popular artificial intelligence (AI) technology ChatGPT available to the public in the near future, following extensive testing. On March 9, the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications revealed that it has been using the

  • Wat Phnom hornbills attract tourists, locals

    Thanks to the arrival of a friendly flock of great hornbills, Hour Rithy, a former aviculturist – or raiser of birds – in Kratie province turned Phnom Penh tuk tuk driver, has seen a partial return to his former profession. He has become something of a guide

  • PM urges end to ‘baseless’ international Ream base accusations

    Prime Minister Hun Sen urges an end to “baseless” foreign accusations surrounding the development of the Kingdom’s Ream Naval Base, as the US has consistently suggested that the base is being expanded to accommodate a Chinese military presence. Hun Sen renewed his calls while

  • Almost 9K tourists see equinox sunrise at Angkor Wat

    Nearly 9,000 visitors – including 2,226 international tourists – gathered at Angkor Wat on March 21 to view the spring equinox sunrise, according to a senior official of the Siem Reap provinical tourism department. Ngov Seng Kak, director of the department, said a total of 8,726 people visited Angkor Wat to