Ministry and the CRF probe bogus claims on rice packages

Official to casino firm: I wouldn’t bet on it

THE Ministry of Commerce and Cambodia Rice Federation (CRF) are investigating rice packaging that uses Angkor Wat as its logo but claims to be a “Product of Thailand”.

Moul Sarith, the secretarygeneral of the CRF, said it is aware of the matter and is cooperating with the ministry to bring those responsible to book.

“We are cooperating with the Ministry of Commerce to investigate the source of the product, but at present we cannot say where it came from or who produced it. We will work with our embassies to find its distributor and origin,” he said,

However, the CRF remains optimistic that such matters will not harm the Cambodian rice industry.

“We have just received this information, but I think it will not harm our rice exports as we have rice brand and logo controls, as well as checks for quality,” Sarith said.

Minister of Information Khieu Kanharith was alerted to the situation after he received a photo of the sacks from an American.

In a Facebook post, Kanharith urged the Ministry of Commerce to act against the packages printed with the Angkor Wat logo and the words “Premium Rice” in Khmer, and “Product of Thailand” in English.

Song Saran, CEO of AMRU Rice Co Ltd, said he had been aware of such bogus products for “many years”, especially in Cambodia’s export markets – the US and EU – and in other countries such as Australia.

“We informed the government many years ago about the bogus products but no action was ever taken to our knowledge,” he said.

He said it is an abuse of international trade law to use the World Heritage Site as a logo without registering with the Ministry of Commerce, and saying it was produced in Thailand or another country.

“Through our embassies, the Ministry of Commerce should work with vendors in the international market to find out who is behind this.

“It is happening a lot in the international market, and if it continues, it will surely hurt our market as consumers will be confused and lose trust in our products,” Saran said

Ministry spokesman Long Kemvichet confirmed that investigations were being made into the matter.

“We are fully aware of the matter and are taking appropriate action,” he said.

Data released this year by the General Department of Agriculture showed rice exports in the first four months of the year totalled 197,354 tonnes. This compares with the 212,394 tonnes exported in the same period last year, which is a year-on-year decrease of seven percent. HONG Kong-listed casino operator Macau Legend Development Ltd has unveiled plans to set up a resort that includes a casino in Siem Reap, a company executive said at a meeting on Wednesday.

The land purchase, he said, was almost finalised. But a Cambodian government official poured cold water on the plans, saying it would not allow gambling in the Kingdom’s biggest tourist destination.

In a report in GGR Asia – a website and newsletter devoted to the casino industry – Macau Legend CEO Chow Kam Fai was quoted as saying that by the end of the year the company expects to have a deal in place.

“The purchase [of land] is almost completed. Regarding important issues such as project size and other related questions, I believe we will be able to disclose those things in two to three months’ time,” Chow is quoted saying.

However, he did not give further details of its facilities.

Siem Reap is a popular tourist destination close to the Angkor Wat temple complex, a Unesco World Heritage Site.

Travel website Trip Advisor recently named Cambodia’s ancient wonder as the top landmark in the world for the second year running in its Travelers’ Choice Award 2018.

Siem Reap Provincial Governor Khim Bunsong could not be reached for comment.

While casino laws in Cambodia have not been finalised, the industry is currently supervised by the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF).

The deputy director-general of the MEF’s Finance Industry Department, Ros Phirun, on Thursday said the ministry had not received any investment proposal from Macau Legend as yet, but stressed a casino investment in Siem Reap will never get government approval.

“There is not even a single casino in Siem Reap because the gambling business is not allowed there.

“Investors are always expressing interest [to set up gambling businesses in Siem Reap], so they might have conducted internal conversations with company executives.

“But they might not know that the area is forbidden by our government for casino operations.We welcome investment, but not of the casino kind,” Phirun said.

According to Phirun, over 100 casinos in Cambodia have been granted MEF licences to operate, and that most are located in border areas.