In spite of tensions over Preah Vihear, tourism in Cambodia was up in the first half, a 13% increase from the same period last year. Cambodia had over 1 million visitors from January to June. Many had expected tourism to drop because of the border problems with Thailand. However, the deputy director general of Cambodia National Tourist Authority expects the number of international tourists to reach 2.3 million by the end of the year.

A slowdown in the garment sector of Cambodia's economy is feared due to the decrease in exports in the first three months of 2008. In the first quarter of this year, garment exports decreased by 50% as compared to the first quarter of 2007. Factory operators have had to deal with surging electricity costs and frequent strikes from the unionized factory workers. In addition, the Ministry of Labor will soon implement a salary tax, which will cost factory owners 80 cents for each worker.

Collaborating with Hong Kong-based Millennium Group, Cambodia's Royal Group will venture forth to develop a 78-square kilometer island off Cambodia's coast. The two groups are seeking $2 billion in foreign investments in order to build casinos, golf courses, and resorts. If funds are secured soon, the development of the island is scheduled to be completed after 2018.

What is Cambodia’s newest hot export to South Korea? Brides. In 2004, 72 marriage visas were granted to Cambodia women by the South Korean embassy in Phnom Penh. Last year, that number had jumper to 1,759. In the first month of this year alone, 160 marriage visas were issued. In the past few years, more and more Korean men have begun traveling to Cambodia on so-called “marriage tours,” which often last for only for days and during which the men find partners and tie the knot. The issue has gotten the attention of Prime Minister Hun Sen, who discussed the issue with high-ranking officials on March 13.

Last week, Prime Minister Hun Sen announced the government would lift its two-month ban on rice exports, though some restrictions will remain in place. The ban was instituted in response to a fear that rice exports would raise prices on the domestic market even higher.

Petrol and sugar smuggling over the Vietnam and Cambodia borders has been increasing as of late. This is creating chaos on the local market. The price of petrol is significantly higher in Cambodia than in Vietnam, so petrol is brought from Vietnam to Cambodia, while the opposite is true in the case of sugar. Smugglers have strategies to avoid being caught at the border, while customs agents are doing their best to prevent the smuggling.

In the Gulf of Thailand, boats are firing high powered sound beams across the waters to penetrate the deep-sea soil deposits. They want to find out how much oil and gas are hidden in the ground under the water, about five blocks away from the shore. This spot is significant because it is where two years ago, Chevron found oil and gas deposits, and it has been exploring since then. The only obstacle of the mission so far has been its expensive costs.

Cambodia’s annual inflation is now 10.8 percent. This is due to rising fuel and rice prices and also the devaluation of the US dollar.

At the UNDP conference, Fueling Poverty Reduction with Oil and Gas Revenues Comparative Country Experiences, Thursday, Cambodia announced plans for developing the country’s oil and gas reserves in order to ensure sustainable economic development. The country is focusing on long term benefits instead of short term gains according to the Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Cambodian National Petroleum Authority.

The Planning Ministry’s National Institute of Statistics in Cambodia has announced that it will hold its first-ever agricultural census in 2009 and a business establishment census in 2011. The agricultural census will gather data on agricultural land, crop fields, livestock, and various types of forest lands. The business census will be held during the first half of 2011 and will gather data from 2010.