By Ek Tha
Press and Quick
Reaction Unit
PHNOM PENH, 8
Aug. 2012 (PRU) – His Excellency Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Sok An on Tuesday
welcomed the Indian Ambassador’s comment that India is looking to expand
cooperation in tourism and to assist Cambodia’s vocational training, and is
interested in investing in agro-industrial crops in Cambodia.
The
Ambassador-designate of India to the Kingdom of Cambodia, Dinesh K. Patnaik,
told Dr. Sok An of his ambition to boost bilateral tourism with Cambodia by
encouraging the Indian movie industry to produce a short movie that features
Cambodia’s wonderful cultural heritage, which will intrigue Indian tourists.
The Ambassador recalled that Indian tourists flocked to Spain after they
watched a movie about Spanish civilisation.
Ambassador
Patnaik said that an estimated 500 million people, out of India’s 1.2 billion
population, have access to movies, and that will have a tremendous positive
impact on tourism.
“I am going to talk to Indian movie producers and
encourage them to shoot Angkor Temple to attract more Indian tourists to
Cambodia”, said the Ambassador.
H.E. Dr. Sok
An, who is also Minister in Charge of the Office of the Council of Ministers,
welcomed this move and mentioned that a US producer had produced a movie called
Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, and there was a French tiger film Two
Brothers.
The Ambassador
also said he has planned a dance ceremony at Angkor in which 70 Indian dancers
will perform on 4 September, the day that the ASEAN-India car rally will stop
over. The car rally will kick off in Indonesia and come to Delhi to celebrate
the 20th anniversary of the ASEAN-India relationship in December.
“I want people in Siem Reap and tourists to come to see
the performance”, said the Ambassador.
H.E. Dr. Sok An
supported the idea and said, “Cambodia wants a joint dance performance with
India”.
India also
plans to build a textile museum that will also attract more tourists to visit Angkor.
“Once you have a
museum, people will come to visit”, said Ambassador Patnaik.
Both sides also
discussed Cambodia’s vocational training. The Ambassador said that India
expects to send its experts to assist Cambodia’s vocational training centre.
Dr. Sok An said
that Cambodia has set up vocational training centres, especially in Takeo
province, where young people are encouraged to learn a number of skills for
their careers.
“We would welcome India’s contribution to the
vocational training centres”, said Dr. Sok An, who is also the Chairman of the
National Training Board.
The Ambassador
also said in the meeting that Indian investors are interested in investing in
agro-industrial crops in Mondulkiri province and other suitable land in
Cambodia. Rubber, sugar, turmeric and mulberry are among the crops that Indian
investors might invest in.
Dr. Sok An
welcomed this news and said that Cambodia has established a project called “One
Village One Product” that involved producing silk. Villagers involved in the project
are encouraged to sell their products at the market provided free of charge in
Kirivong district, Takeo province.
The Indian
Ambassador said he would try to get an Indian expert to study the project “One
Village One Product”.