The governor of the Cambodian province of Kampong Thom appreciated Vietnamese rubber companies’ contributions to local socio-economic development while visiting them on March 19.

Governor Sok Lu and Vietnamese Ambassador to Cambodia Vu Quang Minh made a fact-finding tour of the Ba Ria – Kampong Thom, Phuoc Hoa – Kampong Thom and Tan Bien – Kampong Thom rubber companies.

The official said the Vietnamese rubber companies in Kampong Thom and other Cambodian localities were established under an agreement between the two countries’ governments.

Since their foundation in 2007, they have maintained good relations with local authorities and people, created jobs and carried out social welfare activities like building schools and clinics for workers and building Buddhist temples.

The Ba Ria - Kampong Thom friendship primary school, built by the Ba Ria - Kampong Thom rubber company (Photo: VNA)

Ambassador Minh also lauded the businesses’ efforts to invest in Cambodia, adding that those investments have helped boost the socio-economic development of Cambodian localities.

He stressed that the companies investing in Cambodia’s rubber industry have contributed to not only the two countries’ economic growth but also solidarity and friendship.

Phung The Minh, Director General of the Ba Ria – Kampong Thom company, said Vietnamese rubber businesses in the province have planted more than 52,900ha of rubber trees, more than 21,700ha of which is being extracted with a planned output of 23,700 tonnes of latex in 2018.

The three firms the officials visited own nearly 20,300ha of rubber trees, more than 15,200ha of which has been extracted since 2017 with an expected output of 17,000 tonnes this year. They employ 3,100 Cambodian workers whose salary averages USD 200 per month.

He noted the companies have also ensured welfare for their workers by buying health and accident insurance. They have built three primary schools enrolling nearly 300 students who are children of their workers, opened clinics at rubber farms, and built more than 1,700 houses for workers’ families. Notably, they constructed a pagoda for Cambodian labourers at a cost of USD 180,000./.

VNF/VNA