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Relations with New Zealand
New Zealand’s relationship with the Cambodia is positive but limited in size.
Because Cambodia is one of Asia’s least developed countries an important component of the relationship is New Zealand’s aid programme. New Zealand has a strong aid relationship with Cambodia with an annual allocation of approximately NZ$5 million. New Zealand’s aid engagement with Cambodia focuses on supporting sustainable economic development through human resource development, including the very successful English language training programme for Cambodian officials, agricultural diplomacy and tourism.
New Zealand and Cambodia also cooperate in the context of the Association of South East Asian Nations (“ASEAN”) forum, which New Zealand is involved in as an ASEAN Dialogue Partner and member of the East Asian Summit. Over 2011 and 2012, New Zealand and Cambodia have worked together to co-chair the ASEAN Regional Forum group on Confidence Building Measures and Preventative Diplomacy. New Zealand is also working closely with Cambodia during its term as Chair of ASEAN in 2012.
There is a small trade relationship between Cambodia and New Zealand, and a steady flow of New Zealand tourists to Cambodia, notably the Angkor temple complex.
Historically, New Zealand was involved in the peace process following the end of Khmer Rouge rule and in 1993 provided its then-largest peacekeeping force (over 100 military personnel) to the UN peacekeeping mission (UNTAC) in Cambodia. Since then, New Zealand has supported the development and work of the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia (“ECCC”) - the Tribunal set up to try serious crimes committed during the Khmer Rouge regime. To date, New Zealand has contributed over NZ$1 million to the ECCC. Former New Zealand Governor General Dame Sylvia Cartwright is one of the international judges appointed to the ECCC.
Trade between New Zealand and Cambodia is small but growing.
New Zealand exports to Cambodia totalled NZ $3.8 million in the year to June 2012. Imports from Cambodia totalled NZ $5.7 million.
In November 2010 Cambodia ratified its participation in the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement which provides a strong basis for development of the trade relationship.
New Zealand has a strong aid relationship with Cambodia that focuses on supporting sustainable economic development by improving livelihoods through human resource development, agricultural diplomacy and tourism.
Under the New Zealand – ASEAN Flagships, launched in July 2010, Cambodia will benefit from the New Zealand ASEAN Scholars awards, Agricultural Diplomacy programme, Disaster Risk Management programme and a Young Business Leaders’ Initiative.
Under the New Zealand ASEAN Scholars awards a nominal allocation of 30 post-graduate scholarships is available to Cambodian students per annum. Cambodia also participates in the English Language Training for Officials (ELTO) and Senior ELTO programmes.
New Zealand supports the improvement of agribusiness through the Cambodia Agribusiness Development Facility (CADF) and the Agricultural Value Chain Strengthening in Landmine-Affected Areas of Cambodia (AVAiL) Project. It supports
increased access to livelihood opportunities for Angkor Park communities through APSARA, the government agency responsible for managing the Angkor Heritage Park.
Cambodia also benefits from other regional initiatives supported by the New Zealand Aid Programme, such as the Mekong Institute. This includes the Mekong Institute – New Zealand Ambassador’s Scholarships and the United Nations Inter-Agency Project on Human Trafficking (UNIAP) that works to combat human trafficking in the Greater Mekong Sub-region.
For more information on the New Zealand Government’s development programme in Cambodia please visit the New Zealand Aid Programme's Cambodia page.
New Zealand has become home to a considerable number of Cambodian settlers, both as refugees since 1980 and migrants - many of them families of earlier settlers - in more recent years.
Cambodia is an increasing draw for tourists, including from New Zealand. The Angkor Wat ruins in the northwest are a particular point of interest. Most Cambodian visitors to New Zealand come to visit family or friends or to study.
Some 300 New Zealand alumni now live in Cambodia, most having studied in New Zealand under the development programme.
Official Name: Kingdom of Cambodia
Total Area: 181,040 sq km
Population: 14,305 million (2011)
Capital City: Phnom Penh
Religion: Buddhist (Theravada) majority
Language: Khmer (national language) Other: Vietnamese, Cham, Chinese dialects, Hill Tribe dialects
Currency: Riel
Exchange Rate: NZ$1 = 3,400 Riel (November 2012)
Political system: Constitutional Monarchy
National government: Coalition Government
National legislature: National Assembly: 123 seats elected by popular vote (proportional representation). Members serve a five year term. Senate: 61 seats. 2 members are appointed by the monarch, 2 elected by the National Assembly and 57 elected by parliamentarians and commune councils. Members serve a five year term.
Next election:National Assembly: July 2013
Head of State: King Norodom Sihamoni (since 29 October 2004)
Head of Government: HE Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen (Cambodian People’s Party, CPP)
Key Ministers: Deputy Prime Minister HE Sok An; Minister of Foreign Affairs and Deputy Prime Minister: Hor Nam Hong; : Minister of Commerce: Cham Prasidh.
GDP: US $14.2 billion (2012 estimate, EIU)
GDP per capita (PPP):US $945 (2012 official estimate)
Exports of goods: US $6.1billion (2012 estimate, EIU)
Main exports: Clothing, timber, rubber, rice, fish, tobacco, footwear
Imports of goods: US $8.8 billion (2012 estimate, EIU)
Principle imports: Petroleum products, food, cigarettes, gold, construction materials, machinery, motor vehicles, pharmaceutical products.
NZ Exports (FOB): NZ $3.8 million (year to June 2012)
Main Exports: Paper, milk, apples, seafood, beef
NZ Imports (CIF):NZ $5.7 million (year to June 2012)
Main Imports: Clothing, footwear, plastics
Services Trade: New Zealand provides consulting services in areas including engineering, forestry, rural development, agriculture, education, tourism, and the public sector.
The Embassy of the Royal Government of Cambodia in Canberra is accredited to New Zealand.
Royal Government of Cambodia
5 Canterbury Crescent
Deakin
ACT 2600
AUSTRALIA
Ph: (61 6) 6273 1154, 6273 1259
Fax: (61 6) 6273 1053
The New Zealand Embassy in Bangkok (Thailand) is accredited to Cambodia.
New Zealand Embassy
M Thai Tower, 14th Floor
All Seasons Place, 87 Wireless Road
Lumpini, Bangkok 10330
THAILAND
(PO Box 2719, Bangkok 10500)
Ph: (66 2) 254 2530
Fax: (66 2) 253 9045
Email: nzembbkk@loxinfo.co.th
The Safetravel website provides a travel advisory for travellers to Cambodia [external link].
