ECONOMIC LAND CONCESSIONS1
An economic land concession (ELC) is a type of land lease that the Cambodian government grants to private companies for the development of agro-industrial plantations. ELCs are supposed to promote economic growth, create jobs, and improve food security in the country. However, ELCs have also been criticized for their negative impacts on human rights, livelihoods, and the environment.
According to the Land Law of 2001, ELCs can be granted for up to 99 years and cover a maximum area of 10,000 hectares per concession. The concessionaires are required to conduct environmental and social impact assessments, respect the rights of indigenous communities, and comply with the land use plan and contract terms. However, many ELCs have been granted in violation of these legal requirements, resulting in land conflicts, displacement, deforestation, and loss of biodiversity.
As of 2015, the Cambodian government had granted 289 ELCs covering over 943,000 hectares of land, mostly in rural areas. About 36 of these concessions were given to foreign investors or politically connected individuals. In response to public outcry and social unrest, the government issued a moratorium on new ELCs in 2012 and initiated a review process to revoke or downsize existing ones. As of January 2015, 23 ELCs had been revoked and 66 had been downsized.
ELCs are a controversial issue in Cambodia that involve trade-offs between economic development and social justice. While some ELCs may have positive effects on the national economy and local communities, many others have caused serious problems for the people and the environment. Therefore, it is important to ensure that ELCs are granted and managed in a transparent, accountable, and participatory manner that respects the rights and interests of all stakeholders.
wdt_ID | map_id | shape_id | co_link | developer | Comments | concession_or_developer | change_type | amendment_text | amendment_value | amendment_date | description | reference | reviewed_by |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | elc_gdc_255 | 182 | PO_255 | Sok Heng Company Limited | We have no legal support for this cancellation, only a research report. | Amendment to concession | Cancellation | According to CEA Research Report dated July 2010, this concession was cancelled. | 2nds_CEA_RESEARCH_REPORT__02.07.2010.pdf | Liz and Naro | |||
2 | elc_gdc_35 | 30 | PO_35 | Plantation Agricultural Development | Amendment to concession | Cancellation | According to CEA Research Report dated July 2010, this concession was cancelled. | 2nds_CEA_RESEARCH_REPORT__02.07.2010.pdf | Liz Buner | ||||
3 | elc_gdc_229 | 158 | PO_229 | Best Royal (K) Co. Ltd. | Amendment to developer | Local address | Tropaing Srer village, 2 Thnou commune, Snuol district, Kratie Province, Cambodia | 08/07/2011 | According to the amendment information from Ministry of Commerce (Moc), the head office address was changed | Best_Royal_K_Co_Ltd_Amendment__10.06.2014.pdf | Ratana/Lisa | ||
4 | elc_gdc_229 | 158 | PO_229 | Best Royal (K) Co. Ltd. | Amendment to developer | Director nationality | Cambodian | 08/07/2011 | According to the amendment information from Ministry of Commerce (Moc), the director nationality was changed to Cambodian | Best_Royal_K_Co_Ltd_Amendment__10.06.2014.pdf | Ratana/Lisa | ||
5 | elc_gdc_229 | 158 | PO_229 | Best Royal (K) Co. Ltd. | Amendment to developer | Director | Leng Rithy | 08/07/2011 | According to the amendment information from Ministry of Commerce (Moc), the director was changed to Leng Rithy | Best_Royal_K_Co_Ltd_Amendment__10.06.2014.pdf | Ratana/Lisa | ||
6 | elc_gdc_230 | 159 | PO_230 | (Cambodia) Research Mining and Development | Amendment to developer | Director nationality | Cambodian | 08/08/2009 | According to the amendment information from Ministry of Commerce (Moc), the director nationality was changed to Cambodian | Cambodia_Research_Mining_and_Development_Amendment__10.06.2014.pdf | Ratana/Lisa | ||
7 | elc_gdc_230 | 159 | PO_230 | (Cambodia) Research Mining and Development | Amendment to developer | Director | Lay Sokleang | 08/08/2009 | According to the amendment information from Ministry of Commerce (Moc), the director was changed to Lay Sokleang | Cambodia_Research_Mining_and_Development_Amendment__10.06.2014.pdf | Ratana/Lisa | ||
8 | elc_gdp_154 | 342 | P_154 | Dong Nai Kratie Aphivath Caoutchouc Co. Ltd. | Amendment to concession | Downsizing | 2,502.00 | 29/01/2010 | According to report from Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (2012), 2502 hectares were excised from Dong Nai Kratie Aphivath Caoutchouc Co. Ltd. on 29 January, 2010. | Dong_Nay_Kratie_Aphivath_Caoutchouch_in_MAFF_Statistic__08.06.2012.pdf | Pinkie | ||
9 | elc_gdp_156 | 344 | P_156 | Dong Phu Kratie Apivath Caoutchouc Co. Ltd. | Unsure if excised land. Consult working group. | Amendment to concession | Downsizing | 4,631.00 | 29/01/2010 | According to report from Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (2012), 4631 hectares were excised from Dong Phu Kratie Aphivath Caoutchouc Co. Ltd. on 29 January, 2010. | Dong_Pho_Kratie_Aphivath_Caoutchouch_in_MAFF_Statistic__08.06.2012.pdf | Pinkie | |
10 | elc_gdp_156 | 344 | P_156 | Dong Phu Kratie Apivath Caoutchouc Co. Ltd. | Unsure if excised land. Consult working group. | Amendment to concession | Downsizing | 2,281.00 | 07/03/2011 | According to report from Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (2012), 2281 hectares were excised from Dong Phu Kratie Aphivath Caoutchouc Co. Ltd. on 07 March, 2011. | Dong_Pho_Kratie_Aphivath_Caoutchouch_in_MAFF_Statistic__08.06.2012.pdf | Pinkie | |
11 | elc_gdc_20 | 15 | PO_20 | Green Sea Industry Co. Ltd. | Amendment to concession | Developer name | Green Sea Agricultural Co. Ltd. | 08/06/2012 | According to MAFF website, the developer name was changed from Green Sea Industry Co. Ltd. to Green Sea Agriculture Co. Ltd. | Green_Sea_Agricultural_Co_Ltd_in_MAFF_Statistic__08.06.2012.pdf; | Pinkie | ||
12 | elc_gdc_20 | 15 | Green Sea Agriculture Co. Ltd. | Amendment to developer | Director | Hong Baoer | 19/06/2012 | According to the amendment information from Ministry of Commerce (Moc), director was changed to Mr. Hong Baoer | Green_Sea_Agriculture_MoC_Amendment__19.06.2012.pdf | Pinkie | |||
13 | elc_gdc_20 | 15 | Green Sea Agriculture Co. Ltd. | Amendment to developer | Developer nationality | Foriegn | 19/06/2012 | According to the amendment information from Ministry of Commerce (Moc), the developer nationality was changed to foriegn | Green_Sea_Agriculture_MoC_Amendment__19.06.2012.pdf | Pinkie | |||
14 | elc_gdp_153 | 341 | P_153 | Growest Building Trading Co. Ltd. | Amendment to developer | Director | Mr. Jang Young Do | 06/11/2014 | According to the amendment information from Ministry of Commerce (Moc), the director was changed to Jang Young Do. | Growest_Building_Trading__11.06.2014.pdf | |||
15 | elc_gdc_227 | 156 | PO_227 | Kampong Speu Sugar Co. Ltd. | Amendment to developer | Local address | 344 Mao Tse Tung Blvd, Sangkat Tuol Svay Prey 1, Khan Chamkarmorn, Phnom Penh, Cambodia | 18/08/2013 | According to the amendment information from Ministry of Commerce (Moc), the head office address was changed | Kampong_Speu_Sugar_Co_Ltd_Amendment__10.06.2014.pdf | Ratana/Lisa | ||
16 | elc_gdc_227 | 156 | PO_227 | Kampong Speu Sugar Co. Ltd. | Amendment to developer | Director | Seng Nhak | 18/08/2013 | According to the amendment information from Ministry of Commerce (Moc), the director was changed to Seng Nhak | Kampong_Speu_Sugar_Co_Ltd_Amendment__10.06.2014.pdf | Ratana/Lisa | ||
17 | elc_gdc_121 | 87 | PO_121 | Kampong Speu Sugar Co. Ltd. | Have not tracked change of address | Amendment to developer | Director | Seng Nhak | 01/08/2013 | According to the amendment information from Ministry of Commerce (Moc), the director was changed to Seng Nhak | Kampong_Speu_Sugar_Co_Ltd_Amendment__10.06.2014.pdf | Ratana/Lisa | |
18 | elc_gdp_158 | 345 | P_158 | Khaou Chuly Development Co. Ltd. (K C D) | Amendment to concession | Developer name | Varanasi (K C D) | According to MAFF report dated on 08 June 2012, the developer name was changed from Khaou Chuly Development Co. Ltd. to Varanasi. | Khaou_Chuly_Development_KCD_in_MAFF_Statistic__08.06.2012.pdf | Pinkie | |||
19 | elc_gdc_16 | 11 | PO_16 | An Mady Group Co. Ltd. | Amendment to concession | Developer name | Kol Veasna Investment Co. Ltd. | 08/06/2012 | According to MAFF report dated on 08 June 2012, the developer name was changed from An Mady Group to Kol Veasna Investment Co. Ltd. | Kol_Veasna_in_MAFF_Statistic__08.06.2012.pdf; http://web.archive.org/web/20140825091736/http://www.moc.gov.kh/Company/Detail.aspxMenuID=18&NoticeID=1&ID=21352 | Eric & Ratana | ||
20 | elc_gdc_204 | 135 | PO_204 | Eastern Agro (Cambodia) | Amendment to concession | Cancellation | 8423 | 26/12/2014 | According to letters No. 1755, dated on 26 December 2014, 8423 hectares (total granted land area) were cancelled. | Letters_No_1755_Sar_Chor_Nar__26.12.2014.pdf | Kalyan | ||
21 | elc_gdc_234 | 163 | PO_234 | Tai Ninh Kratie Sugar | Amendment to concession | Cancellation | 8725 | 26/12/2014 | According to letters No. 1755, dated on 26 December 2014, 8725 hectares (total granted land area) were cancelled. | Letters_No_1755_Sar_Chor_Nar__26.12.2014.pdf | Kalyan | ||
22 | elc_gdc_240 | 169 | PO_240 | Ly Ye Rubber Co. Ltd. | Amendment to concession | Cancellation | 7827 | 26/12/2014 | According to letters No. 1755, dated on 26 December 2014, 7827 hectares (total granted land area) were cancelled. | Letters_No_1755_Sar_Chor_Nar__26.12.2014.pdf | Kalyan | ||
23 | elc_gdc_278 | 191 | PO_278 | Heng Heang Siv Chanthou Transport Co. Ltd. | Amendment to concession | Cancellation | 4000 | 26/12/2014 | According to letters No. 1755, dated on 26 December 2014, 4000 hectares (total granted land area) were cancelled. | Letters_No_1755_Sar_Chor_Nar__26.12.2014.pdf | Kalyan | ||
24 | elc_gdc_250 | 178 | PO_250 | Heng Mean Investment | Amendment to concession | Cancellation | 917 | 04/04/2011 | According to MAFF No. 2483, dated on 4 April 2011, 917 hectares (total granted land area) were cancelled. | MAFF_No_2483__04.04.2011.pdf,Office_Of_Council_Of_Ministers_No_437__08.04.2011.pdf | Kalyan | ||
25 | elc_gdc_81 | 53 | PO_81 | Agro Forestry Research | Amendment to concession | Cancellation | 04/04/2011 | According to MAFF​ Website, dated on 4 April 2011 | MAFF_No_2483__04.04.2011.pdf; Office_Of_Council_Of_Ministers_No_437__08.04.2011.pdf | Kalyan | |||
map_id | shape_id | co_link | developer | Comments | concession_or_developer | change_type | amendment_text | amendment_value | amendment_date | description | reference | reviewed_by |