Cambodia Other Connections

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• Bilateral Llinkages
• Official Development Assistance
• Other Connections

Cambodia Other Connections

Immigration

New Zealand has received a considerable number of Cambodian settlers over the years, both as refugees since 1980 and migrants in more recent years.

As Cambodia develops and enters the global economy an increasing number of Cambodians are looking to travel, study overseas and resettle with family that left after the Khmer Rouge years.

Tourism

An increasing number of New Zealand tourists are travelling to Cambodia now with the Angkor Wat ruins in the northwest being a particular point of interest. Cambodian tourists to New Zealand are negligible. Most Cambodian arrivals come to visit family or friends or to study.

Trade Access Issues

The Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC) is the central body for coordinating donor and investor interests.

Cambodia joined the WTO in 2004, one of the first LDC countries to do so since the WTO's creation. New Zealand has provided some assistance to Cambodia to strengthen their trade policy machinery and promote their agricultural interests during their integration into the ASEAN Free Trade Area and accession to the WTO rules-based global trading system. This has included advice on the requirements of accession to the WTO Agreement on Agriculture (AoA). Assistance has also been provided on sanitary and phyto-sanitary standards, to lift export capability in agriculture.

Defence

Defence linkages with Cambodia have been consistent since the United Nations entered Cambodia after the 1991 Paris Peace Accords. Both the New Zealand Army and Navy contributed mainly in observer and mine clearance roles.

Cultural and Business Linkages

Cultural linkages with Cambodia are in their infancy. They can be expected to grow as the Cambodian community in New Zealand develops stronger linkages with home.

An increasing number of New Zealand business interests are exploring the Cambodian market. This started with New Zealand consulting services pursuing work in the agricultural, roading and engineering sectors funded under Asia Development Bank and World Bank programmes. These linkages have developed further now with some firms establishing resident operations and others exploring the market.