Dong Nai and Dong Phu companies under the Vietnam Rubber Group (VRG)on June 19 launched a new phase of rubber planting in Sombo district,Kratie province of Cambodia.

The move was part of the VRGplan to grow 100,000 hectares of rubber trees in Cambodia by2012.

Addressing the launching ceremony, VRG Chairman Le QuangThung said the group’s investment in Cambodia has not only yieldedprofit but also brought social benefits. Dong Nai and Dong Phu companieshave so far provided jobs to over 2,000 Cambodian workers at theirrubber plantations.

Senior Minister of the Cambodia Ministry ofLand Management, Urban Planning and Construction Im Chhun Lim said thatthe VRG has contributed to job generation and poverty reduction inCambodia .

The two companies have been licensed to grow rubbertrees on 16,000 ha of land in Sombo district. In the 2008-2009 crop,they planted over 2,000 ha and plan to put an additional 2,000 ha underrubber trees in 2010.

The VRG said it plans to invest 55 millionUSD in growing an additional 20,000 hectares of rubber trees in fiveCambodian provinces this year, including 8,900 ha in Kampong Thom, 7,500ha in Kratie, 1,500 ha in Ratanakiri, 1,100 ha in Stung Treng, and1,000 ha in Preah Vihear.

Thoserubber plantations are expected to begin producing latex in 2017 with atotal output of 150,000 tonnes to be increased to 250,000 tonnes in2020.

By the end of last year,Cambodia had 123,000 hectares of rubber trees, 50,000 hectares ofwhich were yielding 50,000 tonnes of dry latex for export./.