Wednesday, 2 April 2008

Oil high on Qatar prime minister's Cambodian agenda

The Earth Times
Tue, 01 Apr 2008
Author : DPA

Phnom Penh - Oil and gas issues were high on Qatar Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem bin Jabor Al Thani's agenda on day one of his two-day official visit to Cambodia, a government spokesman told a press conference Tuesday. The sheikh, who is also Qatar's foreign minister, met with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and almost immediately inked deals ranging from oil and gas exploration cooperation to direct airline flights, government spokesman Khieu Kanharith told journalists.

After being presented with a gift of Cambodian sandalwood by Hun Sen, the Qatar politician signed an expected deal on direct flights between the Qatari capital of Doha and the Cambodian capital, as well as the northern tourist town of Siem Reap.

The sheikh also answered a call by Cambodia for foreign donors to assist it to prepare for an expected influx of oil and gas revenue from offshore oil reserves predicted to be tapped within three years.

He agreed to assist with training of Cambodians in oil and gas exploration, as well as teaming up with the Cambodian government in the future to increase exploration for oil, gas and minerals.

Cambodia has been described as Asia's new mining frontier and the government is hopeful additional petroleum deposits lie under its massive inland Tonle Sap lake.

"He also negotiated for Qatar to begin farming cotton in Cambodia and agreed to loans for roads and irrigation," Kanharith said.

The leaders also discussed investment protection legislation and a multi-million-dollar donation for a new school just outside of the capital.

The sheikh is scheduled to fly to Siem Reap Wednesday to visit the ancient Angkor Wat temple complex before flying out the same day.

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