First INDIA – ASEAN Car Rally 2004 Arrived in Cambodia

Posted: 5th December 2004

Prince Norodom Sirey Vuth welcoms Mr. Rajat Majumder and the Car Rally delegation

PHNOM PENH : The 1st India–Asean Car Rally -2004- arrived in Phnom Penh last December 4th at Wat Phnom, along Norodom Blvd. Mr. Kep Chuk Tema, Governor of Phnom Penh, Prince Norodom Sirey Vuth deputy prime minister, the Ministry of interior, H.E Mr. Nuth Nin Doeurn and other Khmer government personalities gave the warm welcoming to the Rally at 3:30 PM when the 62 cars entered Wat Phnom under the custody of the Cambodian Police and surrounded by hundreds of Cambodian people including students and teachers from many the schools of the city. Beautiful traditionally dressed Cambodian girls offered the bouquets of flowers to each of the sport car-drivers. Cambodia has a delegation of 12 persons in three cars as part of the rally.

Mr. Ok Em Teacher of Phnom Doun Penh School said that “I am very excited to realize that our country has the honor to be part of this Car Rally. It is a sign of friendship. This is a great occasion for many people from other countries, especially from India, to know more about our country. Because of this rally many tourists will visit Cambodia in the near future”. “I understand that to fulfill this program may be quite expensive, however, after all we feel very happy”, he continued.

Major. Gnor Vanny said: “I am very proud for those Khmer car competitors who have participated in this India-Asean Car Rally friendship. It can help to rebuild our country by raising the industry of tourism and all the business sectors.”

“It has been a very good experience for me to participate in the India-Asean Car Rally competition. We left from India passed Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam”, expressed Mr. Kim Sampours, one of the Khmer competitors. “I was especially concerned while driving the car in the Himalayan Mountain. Nature was beautiful, with a lot of water falls, the valleys and highland”, continued Mr. Sampours.

“Cambodian people are very good and friendly. I am interested in the natural heritage of Cambodia. It is very attractive. I have heard that a Cambodia- India Airline will soon set up. This will be a good opportunity for many tourists from India to come to visit Cambodia. Along the national road I Cambodia, I observed that the infrastructure in Cambodia doesn’t have big problems. In Myanmar we had a small problem when entered a road they are just building”, Mr. D.K Sarkar, a sportsman competitor from India manifested to our reporters.

Mr DK Sarkar

One special attraction during this rally was Mr. D.K Sarkar a physically limited sportsman, who participated throughout the whole competition form India to Cambodia. Talking to our reporters Mr. D.K Sarkar sent a message to all the physically limited persons in Cambodia: “To all the handicapped in Cambodia I send a message of encouragement. You must be strong-minded person. Though I have a strong physical handicap, I can participate in different sports such as swimming and driving. So, I encourage you to also practice sports. Do not stay at home”, Mr. D.K Sarkar added. He was the only handicapped person participating in this car rally.

One of the main objectives of this First India-Asean Car Rally was to show to the world that it is possible to travel from India across Asean countries and that it is easy to communicate between the countries of the region. It is a very positive for all the tourists to that is it easy to travel from country to country in safety and high security. The incomes during this Car Rally were not significative, however, we know that the industry of tourism will increase and it will be a good support for our countries living in poverty, specially Cambodia. The Secretary of State and Minister of Tourism, H.E .Mr. Thong Khon said: “We lead the group of cars to cross the Kompong Kdei bridge in order to show them this historical bridge of our country which has existed since about one thousand (1000) years ago”.
According to press release issued by ministry of Tourism said “This first Car Rally is part of the strategy of India-Asean cooperation. It has the purpose to further enhance and strengthen the cooperation in the tourism field and in other fields in the India-Asean region. On aim has been to show the neighborhood continuity between India and the countries in the Asean region, with the perspective of broadening the relationships between India and the Asean nations, as well as to promote the road linkage infrastructure developed in the region. By this action a principal aim is to boost business, investment, tourism and good relations between India people and those of the Asean nation members”.

Indian Car rally participant

Car rally sports participants, with sixty two cars and 3-4 persons in each car, started its journey from Guwahati in the northeast part of India on 22 Nov, 2004. The journey has crossed several countries such as Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia and Singapore. It will conclude in Batam, Indonesia on 11 Dec, 2004. It is a non-competitive and amateur Motorcar Rally.

In Cambodia, the Car Rally reached Bavet, the international border point of Svay Rieng Province with Vietnam on 4 December, 2004. The rally has crossed 8 Cambodian provinces and municipalities such as Svay Rieng, Prey Veng, Kandal, Phom Penh, Kampong Chnam, Kampong Thom, Siem Reap, and Banteay Meanchey, with an itinerary of 635 Km.

The Car Rally’s departure from Phnom Penh was on 5 December at 10:00 AM and it will leave Cambodia on December 7, 2004, passing the Cambodia – Thai International Border of Poipet.

Article Source: C.S.C. : Reportes; LY SOVANNY and SAM RANY