Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
cages where water is available around the year. Some
frozen fish are exported.
Poor food distribution and soaring food prices have
led the International Food Policy Research Institute to
list Cambodia as a country having an “alarming” level of
hunger in 2008. A recent impact study concluded than
1.7 million Cambodians are experiencing food insecurity
and this number is expected to increase to 2.8 million—
a fifth of the population.
Cambodia' s rubber plantations are second only to
timber as a source of export earnings. Natural rubber is
Cambodia' s biggest export to South Korea. Expansion of
rubber production by Vietnamese investors is planned
for the eastern provinces. Cambodia should be able to
produce 600,000 tons of rubber annually .
T Teak and rosewood are among Cambodia' s most
valuable assets. However, more than 70 percent of Cam-
bodia is deforested and the government has taken meas-
ures to stop timber exports. Illegal cutting and exporting
continues despite the prohibitions. In 2003, the govern-
ment expelled Global Witness, an environmental group
that was monitoring efforts to combat illegal logging. As
a consequence, aid to the country' s forestry program
from the International Monetary Fund and the World
Bank has been stalled amid concerns over high-level
government involvement in illegal logging.
Cambodia is rich in minerals including iron, baux-
ite, gold and precious stones such as sapphires and ru-
bies. It has oil in the Gulf of Thailand, which is now
being exploited by both domestic and foreign concerns.
Foreign aid and investment is critical to Cambodia' is
development. Light industry is more developed than
heavy industry . The more developed industries include
household goods, textiles, soft drinks, alcohol, tires,
pharmaceuticals, and cigarettes. The extent of foreign in-
volvement can be demonstrated by the textile industry .
Of 165 companies, Hong Kong runs 45, Taiwan 25, Cam-
bodia 18, and China 17. The rest are divided up among
South Korea, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, France,
Britain, and the United States.
After decades of civil war and isolation, Cambodia
has become a favorite destination for foreign tourists.
With most wanting to experience Angkor Wat, some two
million foreigners visited the country in 2008. The
largest numbers of tourists come from Vietnam and
South Korea. T Tourism is Cambodia' is second largest
earner of foreign exchange after textile exports.
DANGEROUS LIAISONS
On the more sinister side, tourists also include thou-
sands of pedophiles who take advantage of Cambodia' s
weak law enforcement. Prostitution and drug abuse
have also led to the highest HIV/AIDS infection rate in
Asia. According the United Nations, 160,000 Cambodi-
ans between the ages of 15 and 49 have HIV . Some
30,000 children under the age of 5 have lost their par-
ents to AIDS.
AIDS so far has killed more than 200,000 people since
it was discovered in the country in 1991. Another 200,000
people are expected to develop the disease in the next 10
years. This will overwhelm Cambodia' s grossly inadequate
health-care system. Moreover, the economy will be im-
pacted because most of the sick and dying will be young
people—potential workers. The epidemic, which has
slowed slightly in recent years with increased intervention
on the part of the United Nations and other organizations,
is still referred to as “the new killing fields.”
Recommended Web Sites
Satellite photos of the impact of Cyclone Nargis on Burma.
Information on a variety of topics such as food security , educa-
tion, and literacy by country .
Interactive maps for any region in Asia. Link to Google Earth
satellite maps.
2009 report on shipbuilding, ports, and logistics in Vietnam.
Site founded by Burmese exiles. Specializes on recent and past
events in Burma. Photo gallery .
News on current political and economic issues in Southeast
Asia by country .
2007 report on the conflict in southern Thailand by the Stock-
holm International Peace Research Institute.
Information on business by country including maps and charts.
Christian site with a wealth of information on Cambodia.
Official site with historical and current information on govern-
ment, economy , etc. Link to Phnom Penh Post.
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