H.E. Long Kem, Ambassador of Cambodia to Kuwait
“From 800 CE to early 13th century, the Khmer Empire of Cambodia was one of the largest in Southeast Asia. The empire’s power center was the city of Angkor, which in its heyday extended for over nearly 3,000 square kilometers, making it the largest pre-industrial city in the world. Angkor Wat, the sprawling temple complex within the city, remains preserved to this day as evidence of the architectural skills and the power and might of the Khmer Empire. From 1863 to 1953 Cambodia was colonized by the French and remained a French protectorate. Following independence in 1953, Cambodia became a constitutional monarchy, enjoying relative peace, stability and development under King Norodom Sihanouk,” said His Excellency Long Kem, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Cambodia to Kuwait, at the start of an exclusive interview with The Times.
In the Sixties and early Seventies, Southeast Asia was gripped in political turmoil that pitted the communist forces, backed by the former Soviet Union and the People’s Republic of China, against the mainly Royalist forces supported by Western nations. As war in neighboring Vietnam progressed, Cambodia became an unwitting pawn in the regional power struggle. In 1970, during a visit to abroad, King Norodom Sihanouk was ousted through a military coup led by General Lon Nol. Western countries backed the new government of Lon Nol, while the king found an uncommon ally in the communists led by Khmer Rouge rebels and supported by the North Vietnamese and China. The ensuing civil war lasted nearly five years until the surrender of the Lon Nol government in April 1975. The victorious Khmer Rouge led by Pol Pot soon embarked on a policy of ridding the country of intellectuals and all elements of Western influence; they evacuated cities and forced the entire population to work in rural projects.
Detailing the turbulent history of his country the ambassador continued, “The atrocities committed by the Khmer Rouge led to the death of over two million people in my country. Then in 1979, realignment of loyalties and new political shifts led to the ouster of Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge from the country. Forces of the People’s Republic of Kampuchea (PRK), backed once again by the Vietnamese forces, established themselves in the capital Phnom Penh, while the Khmer Rouge and its partners set up a government in exile along the Thailand border and called itself the Coalition Government of Democratic Kampuchea (CGDK). The stalemate in the civil war between PRK and CGDK forces and their respective backers eventually resulted in the Paris Peace Agreement of 1991. The Peace Agreement led to a ceasefire and disarmament, under the supervision of the United Nations, and the setting up of the United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC).” Norodom Sihanouk was subsequently reinstated as King, however power was transferred to the hands of a government formed through an UNTAC sponsored general elections in 1993. Currently, Samdech Techo Hun Sen is prime minister and Head of Government and King Norodom Sihamoni holds the ceremonial post as Head of State.”
Diplomatic relations between Cambodia and Kuwait were established in 1994 and this was strengthened through high-level visits between the two countries. In August, 2008 the former Prime Minister of Kuwait, H.H. Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah visited Cambodia and in January, 2009, Samdech Techo Hun Sen the Prime Minister of Cambodia paid a return visit to Kuwait. These visits paved the way for constructive engagement between the two governments, including the signing of several bilateral agreements and Memorandum of Understandings (MoU) in the fields of economics, trade and investment. The MOUs called for setting up joint commissions to further promote cooperation and relations between the two countries and people. In December 2008, the Royal Embassy of Cambodia opened in Kuwait and this was reciprocated, in January 2012, by the opening of Kuwait’s embassy in Phnom Penh and the appointment of H.E. Dhrar Nasser Al-Tuwaijri as Kuwait’s first ambassador to Cambodia.
“My diplomatic career began in 1979, when I joined the Cambodian Foreign Service and served as Cabinet Director of the Foreign Ministry. On completing studies in international relations at institutes in the former East Germany, I returned to Cambodia and was accredited as ambassador to the Laos People’s Democratic Republic from 1988 to 1992. I then returned to Cambodia and was appointed as Director of Personnel at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and was involved in the UNTAC sponsored general election in 1993 that saw the return of a civilian democratic government to Cambodia. In 1994, I was assigned as Charge d’Affaires of Royal Embassy of Cambodia to Australia and then from 2004 to 2007 as ambassador to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. In 2008, following the establishment of the Royal Embassy of Cambodia in Kuwait, I assumed charge as my country’s first Ambassador Extraordinaire and Plenipotentiary to the State of Kuwait, State of Qatar, United Arab Emirates and the Sultanate of Oman,” said Ambassador Kem, who is the Dean of Asian ambassadors in Kuwait.
Clarifying that bilateral trade between Cambodia and Kuwait was still relatively small, the ambassador added, “The Royal Embassy of Cambodia is looking at various ways and means of creating favorable conditions for increasing trade and importing goods, especially rice and other agricultural products, to Kuwait. We are looking at exporting over one million tons of rice to the world market by 2015. There is also good scope for investments for Kuwaiti business people in Cambodia.”
“Since the return of political stability, our country has implemented reforms in all sectors to rebuild institutional capacities, strengthen socio-economic infrastructure and create a highly conducive climate for attracting investments. The country displayed consistent growth of 9.4 percent per annum from 2000 to 2007, and despite global downturn, Cambodia experienced a robust 6.9 percent economic growth in 2011. We expect growth to revive to 7 percent in 2012. Our huge unexploited potential, especially in the agricultural sector where the government is supporting large scale investments with favorable land concessions and business-friendly investment policies.”
“Meanwhile, the garment sector, with over 600 factories employing more than 300,000 workers, remains the greatest source of hard currency for the country. Having earned in excess of $ 4.25 billion in exports in 2011, the industry is also a highly lucrative potential option for foreign investors. The second largest earner of hard currency is the tourism industry. Endowed with an ancient cultural heritage, a wide geographical variety and rich bio-diversity, Cambodian tourism has enormous development potential. With over three million visitors in 2011, the tourism industry is already attracting significant investment but potential for further development still remains.”
Cambodia also has a promising future with its vast reserves of untapped mineral resources, including oil, natural gas, coal, iron and gold. The country is very investor friendly and offers joint ventures and the operation of 100-percent foreign owned companies. The country has opened its economy for direct investment in all sectors and I would like to take this opportunity to invite Kuwaiti and other foreign investors to explore opportunities for cooperation and investment in Cambodia and the ASEAN region in general, added the ambassador who until recently was also the Head of ASEAN Committee in Kuwait, before passing on that honor to the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Brunei.
In conclusion, the ambassador said, “During my four years of stay in Kuwait I have worked to bolster the valuable mutual relations between Cambodia and Kuwait. We are especially grateful to Kuwait government and its people for their generous assistance in helping to rebuild the infrastructure and in aiding the economic and social development of my country. From 1994, Islamic organizations in Kuwait have provided assistance to the Muslim community in Cambodia by rebuilding mosques and promoting religious educations; currently there are 34 students undergoing religious, technical and Arabic language studies at the College of Basic Education, Kuwait Religious Institute and at Kuwait University. I would like to express my sincere thanks and deepest gratitude to the government and people of Kuwait for the generous support for the development of Cambodia and look forward to continuing the close cooperation extended to the Royal Embassy of Cambodia in Kuwait.
– Staff Report
