Singaporean senior official visits Cambodia to boost ties

S. Iswaran, Singaporean Minister in the office of the Prime Minister and Second Minister for Home Affairs, Second Minister for Trade and Industry, visited Cambodia on Monday to further strengthen bilateral ties in politics, economics, trade, and investment.

Speaking during a meeting with Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sar Kheng on Monday afternoon, Iswaran hailed Cambodia for rapid economic development, saying that more Singaporean investors have been eyeing investment potential in Cambodia.

Meanwhile, Sar Kheng told the guest about Cambodia's current political dispute and expressed confidence that the row would be resolved soon since the opposition party has showed its willingness to end the dispute.

Both sides also agreed to combat trans-border crimes, drug smuggling, financial and cyber crimes.

Earlier in the day, Iswaran met separately with Cambodian Minister of Mines and Energy Suy Sem and Commerce Minister Sun Chanthol.

Singapore is the ninth largest investor in Cambodia with a cumulative investment of 722 million U.S. dollars from 1994 to 2012, according to a report released by the Council for the Development of Cambodia.

Trade between the two ASEAN member states has hit 1.6 billion U. S. dollars last year, up 17 percent over 2010.