News

In the first “Business Talk” organized by German Business Group Cambodia (ADW) and the Global Business Network (GBN) Programme in Phnom Penh, representatives of the private sector met their counterparts from major bilateral German development cooperation agencies. Following the establishment of GBN’s Business & Cooperation Desk within the German chapter of European Chamber of Commerce, the event on November 30th was the first of this kind in Cambodia, aiming to deepen links between the private sector, official bilateral development cooperation, non-governmental German organisations, and political foundations.

On 19th November 2018 Heinrich Böll Foundation (hbf) signed a cooperation agreement with the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities at the Royal University of Phnom Penh (RUPP). Both partners will cooperate in academic research on gender and development in Cambodia. The project aims at strengthening the academic level of the participating students and at deepening the knowledge about gender and equity.

Great recognition for a great dedication: Nicolaus Mesterharm, founding director of the German Cambodian Cultural Center Meta-House Goethe-Center in Cambodia’s capital Phnom Penh, was awarded the Cross of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany. The Ambassador Dr. Ingo Karsten presented the order on 1 November 2018 for Mr. Mesterharm’s unwavering commitment to the German-Cambodian understanding.

From Thursday to Sunday, classical music is going to be the nucleus of Phnom Penh’s cultural scene as the Art Plus Foundation invites to the 15th edition of the International Music Festival. It introduces works by immigrant composers from 19th century onwards in an advanced perspective of their works. There are four concerts between 1 and 4 November, each day one.

Lonely Planet, a giant among travel guide book publishers, emphasizes tourists from all over the world to visit Germany in 2019. It is the only European country in the top-ten ranking and is solely outperformed by Sri Lanka. And this insider tip is well-founded: “Prepare for a roller-coaster ride of feasts, treats and temptations experiencing Germany’s soul-stirring scenery, spirit-lifting culture, big-city beauties, romantic palaces and half-timbered towns.”

According to the latest Global Competitiveness Index published by the World Economic Forum (WEF), Germany is the most competitive country in Europe and number three in the world. Climbing two positions compared to the previous report, only the United States and Singapore perform better while Switzerland ranks fourth and Japan fifth.

The original Munich Oktoberfest is already over, but the Phnom Penh edition is yet to come. So join ADW’s annual Cambodian Oktoberfest on October 26th and 27th in Phnom Penh!

There are only few experts who have similar deep insights into the apparel industry as Marco Kalinna, CEO of Cosmos Services, a local garment trade supplier. Since the European Union has indicated a possible suspension of trade facilitation under the “Everything But Arms” (EBA) scheme, expertise on this industry is in great demand as garments comprise about 80% of all Cambodian exports. In an interview conducted by the Southeast Asia Globe online edition, Mr. Kalinna – a board member of ADW since its earliest days – illuminates the current state of affairs.

On 25 September 2018, EuroCham’s chairman, Arnaud Darc, and ADW’s president, Tassilo Brinzer, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with GIZ represented by Guenther Riethmacher. GIZ is a German development agency that provides services in the field of international development cooperation. The MoU formalizes cooperation between the German Business Group Cambodia (ADW) and GIZ in establishing a business & cooperation desk within the German chapter of EuroCham.

This week-end, the world’s largest annual Volksfest (a beer festival and travelling funfair) opens its doors with the traditional same traditional procedure: A twelve-gun salute and the tapping of the first keg of Oktoberfest beer at 12:00 p.m. by the incumbent Mayor of Munich with the proclamation “O’zapft is!” (“It's tapped!” in the Austro-Bavarian dialect). From September 22^nd to October 7^th, about six million people will visit edition 185. Nearly one million guests are foreigners travelling mainly on this occasion to Munich.