The CDC met to evaluate the investment proposals of 12 companies on February 4. CDC
A total of 12 investment projects, with a total capital of $135 million and the potential to create 7,000 jobs, are currently under review by the Council for the Development of Cambodian (CDC).
A meeting to evaluate the projects and discuss their eligibility for official registration was held at the CDC headquarters on February 4. Chea Vuthy, secretary-general of the CDC’s Cambodia Investment Board chaired the meeting, which was attended by representatives of several government institutions.
According to the CDC, 11 of the 12 projects are in the industrial sector (including factories for manufacturing medical devices, assembling household electrical appliances, metal processing, producing steel construction materials, manufacturing various tools, garment stitching and textile dyeing) and one involves the development of a 30-megawatt solar-powered electricity plant.
The projects will be located in Kampong Speu, Takeo, Kandal, Kampot and Kampong Chhnang provinces.
Lim Heng, vice-president of the Cambodian Chamber of Commerce (CCC), told The Post that despite a slowdown in global economic growth since the Covid-19 pandemic of 2020, Cambodia still has the capacity to attract both small and large investment projects.
He attributed this to the government’s efforts to reform the legal system, the development of a skilled labour force and the strengthening of export markets through free trade agreements.
Heng noted that Cambodia is becoming an increasingly attractive destination for investment across all sectors.
He also shared how, in the near future, Cambodia will complete many major infrastructure projects such as international airports and the Funan Techo canal, all of which will be key drivers in attracting investment.
“As a country with a favourable geographical location, a comprehensive transport system (land, water, and air), and trade agreements with many countries, I believe Cambodia will continue to earn opportunities to attract investors and businesses,” he said.
He also mentioned how the private sector, represented by the CCC, has participated in numerous national and international events to promote Cambodia's potential for foreign direct investment. Furthermore, the CCC has opened representative offices in several countries to serve as information hubs and bridges for foreign investors.
Recently, the CDC announced that in 2024, it approved a total of 414 investment projects with a total investment of $6.9 billion, which could create nearly 320,000 jobs. Compared to 2023, the number of approved projects increased by 146, and total investment grew by nearly $2 billion, or almost 40%.
Some of the major projects approved in 2024 include the expansion of production by gold mines, a car tyre factory, a beverage manufacturing plant, an aluminium processing plant, a machine assembly and mechanics plant, and a dairy, beverage, and food processing factory.
Lor Vichet, vice-president of the Cambodia Chinese Commerce Association (CCCA), believed that foreign direct investment would bring numerous benefits to national income and the people. It not only generates economic gains through job creation and tax revenue for the government but also helps raise the profile of Cambodian products in international markets.
“The number of companies investing in Cambodia in 2025 will be higher than in 2024,” he affirmed.
In addition, according to Vichet, ongoing trade tensions between major countries, especially the US and China, have led to the relocation of several factories from China to Cambodia, as Cambodia has strong relations with many countries around the world.
