Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen speaks at the conference (Photo: en.freshnewsasia.com)
Phnom Penh (VNA) - Cambodia has unveiled three main tasks which the government has been carrying out in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.
Speaking in a press conference held on April 7, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said the country works to prevent external cases of COVID-19, prevent the spread of the disease in the local community, and treat all the patients to full recoveries.
In a message to the national committee for COVID-19 combat, he emphasised that Cambodia must ensure the sufficiency of face masks, protective clothing and sanitiser.
As of April 7, Cambodia had confirmed 115 COVID-19 cases, with 58 having fully recovered.
Meanwhile, Indonesia’s Technology Assessment and Application Agency (BPPT) said it is working to produce 100,000 rapid diagnostic test kits in the next one or two months.
Research and Technology Minister of Indonesia Bambang Brodjonegoro said on April 7 that the country has been developing two types of test kit, a non-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) diagnostic test kit, or rapid diagnostic test kit, and a PCR diagnostic test kit that requires a swab test.
Though the rapid diagnostic test kit is not as accurate compared to the PCR diagnostic test kit, it is hoped to help authorities to perform initial screenings.
Bambang added that Indonesia has developed a portable ventilator using nearly 100 percent local components. The ventilator has been tested by the Health Ministry, hospitals and doctors before mass production.
Industry Minister Agus Gumiwang Kartasasmita said that Indonesian industries are ramping up their capacity to produce the medical equipment required to combat COVID-19 and will potentially export the products to other countries.
🧜 About 35 companies will produce some 18.3 million pieces of protective gear by early May, he added./.
The Cambodian government on March 31 decided to give tax breaks for three months from March to May this year to aviation companies to help offset losses caused by COVID-19.
The Cambodian government recently announced a measure to assist workers employed in the tourism sector which is severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Cambodian Rice Federation (CRF) has called on all rice millers and exporters to keep buying paddy rice to ease oversupply in the market, amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen said on April 7 that he has decided to cancel the Khmer New Year celebrations scheduled for April 13-16 in a bid to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
The Republic of Korea (RoK), China and Japan agreed on May 3 to reinforce the regional financial safety net, along with members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), by launching a new financing facility programme meant to extend greater support in case of a financial crisis.
A technical issue combined with an extreme heatwave was blamed for a series of explosions at a military base that killed 20 soldiers and injured several others in Cambodia on April 27, the country’s Ministry of Defence said in a May 2 statement as reported by the Xinhua news agency.
The Customs Department of Thailand is scheduled to commence the collection of value-added tax (VAT) on imported goods sent via postal services, regardless of the goods value, starting in May.
A lecturer from Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Medicine has warned Thais to be more vigilant against COVID-19, saying infection rates appeare to be worsening with higher hospital admissions, deaths and severe cases.
Malaysia should harness the collective expertise and resources to drive sustainable growth and development of the halal industry, according to Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Zafrul Abdul Aziz.
Laos has officially restored the 10% value-added tax (VAT) rate starting May 1, in a bid to support the country’s budget revenue and socio-economic development.
The ASEAN Future Forum 2024 (AFF 2024) entered its second plenary session in Hanoi on the afternoon of April 23, discussing ways to ensure comprehensive security for the people-centred ASEAN Community.
The first session of the ASEAN Future Forum 2024 (AFF 2024) in Hanoi on April 23 focused on fast and sustainable growth for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
The Canada-ASEAN Business Council (CABC) and the ASEAN Alliance on Carbon Markets (AACM) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen collaboration and accelerate the implementation of carbon crediting programmes across Southeast Asia.
ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn reaffirmed ASEAN leaders' commitment to empowering the youth to unleash their full potential when he had a dialogue with ASEAN youth in Hanoi on April 22 on the sidelines of the ASEAN Future Forum (AF 2024).
The Thai Government is being urged to increase the proportion of renewable power generation to more than the target of 50% set in the power development plan (PDP).
The Centre for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) of Indonesia on April 21 lifted its tsunami advisory issued previously following the eruption of Mount Ruang in Sitaro district of North Sulawesi province.
Thailand expects to export about 1 million tonnes of durian, valued at an estimated 130 billion THB (3.53 billion USD) this year, with most of the shipments to China, according to Minister of Agriculture Thammanat Prompao.
The 72nd meeting of the ASEAN Working Group on Intellectual Property Cooperation (AWGIPC) and related meetings are being held by the Ministry of Science and Technology’s Intellectual Property Office (IPO) of Vietnam in the central city of Da Nang on April 22-26.
Enhancing regional food security and tackling the pressing challenges of climate change will be key agendas defining Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship in 2025, Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat (lower house) Johari Abdul told the press on April 19.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen speaks at the conference (Photo: en.freshnewsasia.com) 
