Keat Chhon facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Keat Chhon GCRS
គាត ឈន់
Minister of Economy and Finance
In office 24 October 1994 – 23 September 2013
Prime Minister	Norodom Ranariddh Ung Huot Hun Sen
Preceded by	Sam Rainsy
Succeeded by	Aun Pornmoniroth
Deputy Prime Minister of Cambodia
In office 25 September 2008 – 4 April 2016
Monarch	Norodom Sihamoni
Prime Minister	Hun Sen
Member of Parliament for Phnom Penh
In office 25 November 1998 – 29 July 2018
Member of Parliament for Kampong Cham
In office 14 June 1993 – 26 July 1998
Personal details
Born	(1934-08-11) 11 August 1934 (age 90) Chhloung, Kratié, Cambodia, French Indochina
Political party	Cambodian People's Party
Spouse	Lay Neari
Education	Institut national des sciences et techniques nucléaires

Keat Chhon (born 11 August 1934) is a Cambodian politician. He was a member of the Cambodian People's Party. He represented Phnom Penh in the National Assembly of Cambodia starting in 2003. He also served as the Minister for Economy and Finance from 1994 to 2013. By 2018, he had retired from all his public roles.

Keat Chhon is one of the few political leaders who served in the current government of Cambodia after also serving under the Khmer Rouge. Other officials include Chea Sim, Hor Namhong, Heng Samrin, Ouk Bunchhoeun, and Sim Ka.

Experts like Justin Corfield and Laura Summers describe him as a very experienced "technocrat." This means he is a skilled expert in how the government works. They say he successfully brought better control over how the government spent money for many years.

Keat Chhon's Early Life and Education

From Chhlong to Saclay: Becoming an Atomic Engineer

Keat Chhon was born in the village of Chhlong in the Kratié Province on 11 August 1934. When he was about 13 or 14, he went to Sihanouk College in Kampong Cham. In 1951, he moved to Phnom Penh to attend Lycee Sisowath. This was one of the best high schools in Cambodia.

In 1954, Mr. Chhon received a scholarship to study in France. He studied with other Cambodian students who later became leaders, like Ieng Sary and Khieu Samphan. In 1958, he studied for two degrees at once. These were in marine engineering, and in mathematics and physics. In 1960, Keat Chhon earned a special degree in atomic engineering. He got this from the Saclay Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology in France. While at university, he met Lay Neary, who was also Cambodian. They got married. In 1961, they returned to Cambodia with their first child.

As a young engineer, he helped build important projects. He worked on the railroad tracks between Sihanoukville and Phnom Penh. He also helped build the Olympic Stadium with famous architect Vann Molyvnann.

Serving as Minister of Industry

Under the Sangkum government, Keat Chhon became the Minister of Industry. This was a role given to him by Norodom Sihanouk. Until 1962, industries in Cambodia grew quickly. However, after 1964, the economy slowed down. This happened because of more violence and less building work. In 1964, Chhon became the head of Kampong Cham University. This was the first university outside Phnom Penh. In 1966, Keat Chhon led Cambodia's team to a physics meeting in Beijing. In 1967, he became a Secretary of State.

High-Ranking Official During a Difficult Time

After Prince Sihanouk was removed from power in March 1970, Chhon went to Beijing. He joined Prince Sihanouk there. They worked with the Khmer Rouge resistance against the US-backed Lon Nol government. This government had bombed his university in Kampong Cham.

Keat Chhon was a close helper to Prince Sihanouk. He traveled with him to Hanoi and parts of Cambodia controlled by the Khmer Rouge in 1973. In March 1975, Chhon went to Cambodia with Khmer Rouge leader Ieng Sary. This was during the fall of Phnom Penh.

During the Khmer Rouge period, he worked in the Foreign Ministry. He was under the direction of Ieng Sary. Keat Chhon also went with King Norodom Sihanouk on a visit to the United Nations secretary-general in October 1975.

His wife and two children were almost arrested in January 1979. But Vietnamese forces entered Phnom Penh on January 7, 1979. Chhon then fled to Beijing with Prince Sihanouk again.

Time in Exile

In September 1979, Keat Chhon met Hun Sen for the first time. This was at a meeting in Cuba. Hun Sen was the foreign minister of the Phnom Penh government at that time. After staying near the Thai border, Keat Chhon became a refugee in France in 1983. There, he worked for a small engineering company. In 1988, he started working for the United Nations. He helped with an economic development project in Zaire. He stayed there until 1992.

Minister of Economy and Finance: Rebuilding Cambodia

Reopening Cambodia's Economy to the World

Keat Chhon met Hun Sen again in 1987 and 1988. He then helped sign the Paris Peace Agreements in October 1991. In 1992, he returned to Cambodia with the United Nations Transitional Authority. He joined the Cambodian People's Party. In 1993, he became an adviser to the government. He was also a Senior Minister in charge of development. In this role, he helped Cambodia rebuild its economic ties. He moved the country away from the old Soviet economic system.

He supported a new Law on Investment in 1994. This law was seen as very open and offered good reasons for investors to come to Cambodia. He also worked to improve his own ministry. He removed "ghost" staff, whose salaries were being taken by others. He also helped Cambodia connect with other countries. He built ties with ASEAN to help Cambodia's economy join the region and the world. In November 1994, he became the Minister of Economy and Finance. He held this important job until 2004.

Managing Cambodia's Budget and Politics

In April 1995, Sam Rainsy sued Keat Chhon. This was because Keat Chhon had said that Rainsy was trying to stop foreign aid to Cambodia.

In January 1996, Keat Chhon had some tension with Prime Minister Hun Sen. Hun Sen said that Keat Chhon was too strict with import checks. This caused problems for businesses.

The ball is now at His Excellency Keat Chhon's feet. You kick it or not, you already know me very well.

In December 1996, Cambodia's national budget was still struggling. Money was being lost due to corruption. As the minister in charge of rebuilding, Keat Chhon had to agree to reduce money for education.

On July 5, 1998, Keat Chhon was in Paris. He was meeting with groups that give aid to Cambodia. He was assuring them about the upcoming elections. He learned about violence breaking out in Cambodia. This caused Prince Rannaridh to leave the country. These events delayed Cambodia joining ASEAN.

Facing Challenges in a Growing Economy

From 2004 to 2008, Keat Chhon was Senior Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance. From 2008, he became the Deputy Prime Minister for the Minister of Economy and Finance. During this time, he faced many challenges. Even with the 2008 financial crisis, he had to deal with more land disputes. His own sister was involved in some of these. He also worked to reduce government waste by making things more open.

Cambodia's economy was growing. But the government was accused of not helping the poor enough. In response, they increased social welfare programs. However, they also continued to move people from shanty towns to build new areas. The growing economy also meant higher prices, like for gas. The government tried to control these prices. In September 2011, Keat Chhon was accused of trying to close down foreign NGOs. These NGOs were said to be getting involved in Cambodian politics. That same year, Keat Chhon opened the Cambodia Securities Exchange (CSX). This had been delayed since 2007.

Retirement

In March 2016, Keat Chhon retired due to old age. Two other long-serving ministers, Hor Namhong and Im Chhun Lim, also retired at the same time.

Family Life

Keat Chhon is married to Lay Neari. They have two children together.

Keat Chhon's Lasting Impact

Changing Cambodia's Banking System

From 1996 to 2002, Keat Chhon led big changes in Cambodia's banking system. As Minister of Economy and Finance, he worked to make the banks stronger. Many banks that were operating in Cambodia in 1996 either lost their licenses or left. This was part of his effort to create a healthy banking system.

These measures [were] necessary to establish a sound banking system, promote savings, and increase the confidence of the public in the banking system.

Helping Cambodia Through the 1997 Financial Crisis

The Cambodian economy, like other Asian economies, suffered during the 1997 Asian financial crisis. Keat Chhon saw signs that people were starting to trust the economy again. This was thanks to good policies and help from other countries. The World Bank and the International Monetary Fund were especially helpful. It was important for Cambodia to get this help after the 1997 Cambodian coup d'état. Keat Chhon had warned that without help, there could be a big rise in prices and money problems. The world recognized the 1998 Cambodian general election. This helped Cambodia's government gain international trust.

Encouraging English Language Use

Even though Cambodia is part of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (French-speaking countries), Keat Chhon encouraged the government to use English. He believed that staff needed to know "three or four foreign languages," with "English [being] the first priority."

From Communism to a Free Market

Keat Chhon, like many others of his generation, helped Cambodia change its economy. It moved from a centralized communist economy to a free-market economy. This change was not just practical; it was a clear choice. Keat Chhon increasingly supported the idea of the rule of law.

Cognisant of the correlation between the rule of law and economic growth … our responses to the crises respect the rule of law and economic freedom.

Honors

• Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun (2017)
• Honorary Doctorate in Development Economics from the University of Cambodia (2005)
• Honorary Doctorate in Business Administration, Charles Sturt University (2003)