The latest group of Japanese investors to travel to Cambodia have explored investment opportunities in the electric wire and cable industry, architecture and construction, and public infrastructure development. In 2024 alone, about 90 Japanese companies registered businesses in Cambodia.
The purpose of the latest delegation’s visit was highlighted during an August 19 working meeting at the headquarters of the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC).
Nut Unvoanra, deputy secretary-general of the Cambodian Investment Committee at CDC, met with group, which was led by Yajima Nobumasa, CEO of BARIKI Institute.
Unvoanra welcomed the Japanese investors, while explaining how Cambodia currently offers great potential across all sectors. He emphasised that the Cambodian government has consistently introduced supportive policies to improve the country’s investment climate. These include tax and non-tax incentives, investment guarantees under the legal framework, macroeconomic stability, peace and security, and the rapid development of physical infrastructure.
Yajima expressed interest in Cambodia’s investment potential, noting that many Japanese investors are already doing business or conducting studies and gathering further information about direct investment in Cambodia. He noted that the visiting Japanese companies are specifically interested in the electric wire and cable industry, the architecture and construction sectors, and public infrastructure development.
“These companies are not only considering direct investment in Cambodia, but also intend to attract other Japanese investors from different sectors to the country,” he said.
In 2024, around 90 Japanese companies registered to do business in Cambodia, representing a 20.55% increase over 2023. Japanese investments span multiple sectors, including manufacturing, agriculture, infrastructure, modern retail and tourism services.
Hong Vanak, an economist at the Royal Academy of Cambodia, told The Post on August 20 that the increasing trend in bilateral trade and investment from Japanese investors is due to strong diplomatic relations between the two countries.
He noted that Japan, being a country with advanced industries and a high standard of living, presents Cambodia with an excellent opportunity to attract Japanese investment and potentially re-export Cambodian-made products to the Japanese market.
“Cambodia has sufficient strengths to attract Japanese investors, as well as other foreign investors,” he said.
According to the General Department of Customs and Excise (GDCE), Japan is Cambodia’s 5th largest trading partner. In the first seven months of 2025, bilateral trade between the two countries reached a total of $1.44 billion, an increase of 24.9%. Cambodian exports to Japan were approximately $882.66 million, up 15.4%, while imports reached $558.17 million, up 43.5%.
In 2024, total trade between Cambodia and Japan reached $2.16 billion, up 20.1% compared to 2023. Cambodian exports to Japan totaled $1.41 billion, increasing 19.8%, while imports totalled $752.56 million, up 20.7%, according to the GDCE.