Foreign Companies have taken a sudden
interest in Kampuchea's ageing, state-owned rubber
plantations. Kampuchean
officials are delighted at this
development. "Today there
is anarchy in the transport of
the rubber," says Chhun
Sareth, undersecretary of
state in the ministry of
agriculture. "They have to
replant it or it will be like the
teak plantations," he feels.
Three foreign companies
are competing for an investment in the plantations.
Terre Rouge Consultants,
affiliated to Group Rivaud of
France, have offered to take
over the Chop plantation in
Kampong Chant in central
Kampuchea. Belgium-based
Societe Investment Agriculture Tropicale is also wooing
the Kampuchean government and the third competitor is a joint venture called Cambodia/Aldec. North
Korea is also pressing ahead
despite an extravagant
estimate of at least us $130
million to replant trees and
upgrade factories.
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