Macau Chief Executive meets Cambodian PM

Monday 12th of October 2015

Macau Chief Executive Chui Sai On met with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen to discuss how to strengthen cooperation between the two governments.

Chui said Macau and Cambodia, which has more than 60 licensed casinos, have strong bilateral ties covering several areas, including tourism, business and trade.

“Mr Chui said he hoped that Mr Hun Sen’s visit to Macau could help extend cooperation to other areas, such as culture, training of human resources and exchange of expertise,” a government statement said.

Hun Sen, visiting Macau for the first time, noted that both Macau and Cambodia were part of the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road initiative, put forward by the Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Hun Sen said cooperation between Cambodia and Macau could be intensified in three areas, namely trade, investment and tourism.

“The Cambodian Prime Minister noted Macau’s stable economic environment and added that Macau enterprises were welcome to invest in Cambodia. He said launching direct flights between Cambodia and Macau would not only boost bilateral ties but also encourage exchanges between Cambodia and cities close to Macau.”

Cambodia’s leading casino NagaWorld has been keen to attract gamblers from Macau and China and claims its profits have been driven by Macau’s downturn pushing gamblers to look abroad.

Cambodia’s casinos paid the state $12 million in taxes between January 1 and the end of June, compared to $10 million during the same period last year, according to local media.