Phnom Penh: The Royal Government is busy examining the possibility of reducing the 14-day quarantine period for fully-vaccinated investors. This was announced in a video conference chaired on Friday by Finance Minister, Aun Pornmoniroth, who is also the chairman of the Standing Committee of the National Commission for Combating Covid-19.

His meeting with the private sector and relevant ministries and looked at a number of issues relating to kickstarting the economy. The effectiveness of vaccines were discussed as were the measures being implemented ahead of Pchum Ben as well as after the holidays.

Most importantly, discussions were also reportedly held on reducing the duration of quarantine for investors who have been fully vaccinated. Prime Minister Hun Sen has already announced that government is looking at introducing a 7-day quarantine period for fully-vaccinated tourists who would need to spend a week in and around their port of arrival before being allowed to travel freely around the rest of the country, but this is the first time a reduction in quarantine has been mentioned by government for business travellers. It is not known if the current $2000 deposit for foreign residents of Cambodia was also discussed in the meeting, but this is something foreign residents have been calling for in recent weeks, with the vast majority fully-vaccinated but unable to travel due to the financial constraint.

In August, the Finance Ministry held another meeting with the private sector to discuss issues and concerns related to current border restrictions. At the time, the private sector called on the government to relax measures and deposit payments for foreign investors who have already been vaccinated.

The Prime Minister has said in recent weeks that a “new normal” would begin “soon” and that plans are being developed to reopen the borders and restart international tourism on which the local economy so heavily depends. International arrivals are down 93% year-on-year and thousands of people have lost their jobs in the sector. It is hoped that borders could reopen as early as November for fully-vaccinated travellers although there has been no further confirmation of this.