17 Facts About Keat Chhon

Keat Chhon belongs to the Cambodian People's Party and was elected to represent Phnom Penh in the National Assembly of Cambodia in 2003.

Keat Chhon was the Minister for Economy and Finance from 1994 to 2013.

Keat Chhon is one of the only political leaders to have served in the current government of Cambodia after serving under the Khmer rouge along with five other government officials: Senate President Chea Sim, Foreign Minister Hor Namhong, National Assembly President Heng Samrin and Cambodian People's Party Senators Ouk Bunchhoeun and Sim Ka.

Keat Chhon was born in the village of Chhlong in the Kratie Province on 11 August 1934.

In 1954, Mr Chhon headed for France, having obtained a student grant.

In 1960, Keat Chhon obtained a diploma in atomic engineering, from the Saclay Institute of Nuclear Science and Technology in France.

Under the Sangkum, Keat Chhon was appointed Minister of Industry by Norodom Sihanouk.

In 1964, Keat Chhon was named rector of Kampong Cham University, the country's first university outside Phnom Penh.

Keat Chhon was a close assistant of Prince Sihanouk travelling with him to Hanoi or parts of Cambodia under Khmer Rouge control in 1973.

Keat Chhon accompanied then-King Norodom Sihanouk on an official visit as figurehead of Democratic Kampuchea to the United Nations secretary-general in October, 1975.

Keat Chhon was accused of being Pol Pot's secretary and adviser by then opposition leader Sam Rainsy.

Keat Chhon was with Ung Huot, Minister of the Foreign Affairs, when he learned of violence exploding in Cambodia, leading Prince Rannaridh to flee the country.

Keat Chhon became Senior Minister, Minister of Economy and Finance from 2004 to 2008 and since 2008 he has been the Deputy Prime of the Minister for the Minister of Economy and Finance.

The economic boom entailed a rise in prices, such as gas, which the government tried to control, while Keat Chhon was accused in September 2011 of trying to shut down foreign NGOs interfering in Cambodian politics.

That same year, after many delays since 2007, Keat Chhon opened the Cambodia Securities Exchange.

Keat Chhon is married to Lay Neari and has two children.

From 1996 to 2002, as Minister of Economy and Finance, Keat Chhon led a dramatic reform of the banking sector in Cambodia "to support the flight to quality of the banking system".