Officials from the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC) meet with a delegation from China’s Jiangsu province on August 13 in Phnom Penh. CDC
China's Jiangsu province and Shantou city in Guangdong are seeking to enhance cooperation with Cambodia to boost investment and trade between the two nations.
On August 13, Jiang Xin, deputy director of the Jiangsu provincial Department of Commerce, led a Chinese delegation to meet with Chea Vuthy, secretary-general of the Cambodia Investment Board (CIB) of the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC), at its office in Phnom Penh.
“The main purpose of the meeting was to seek further cooperation between the CDC and Jiangsu to promote investment and trade,” the CDC said in an August 13 statement.
During the meeting, Vuthy highlighted the progress of the Sihanoukville Special Economic Zone (SSEZ), noting that it is now nearing completion and has successfully attracted investments from Jiangsu.
The SSEZ was established through a joint venture between the Cambodia International Investment Development Group (CIIDG) and Jiangsu Taihu Cambodia International Economic Cooperation Investment. The zone, covering an area of 1,113 hectares in Preah Sihanouk province, was authorised by the CDC in 2008.
“Building on the framework of comprehensive strategic partnership and diamond cooperation, the governments of both Cambodia and China have decided to establish industrial and technological corridors as well as fisheries and rice corridors to further promote socio-economic development,” Vuthy said.
Jiang expressed gratitude to the CDC for providing valuable information on Cambodia’s investment climate, the current state of economic cooperation between Cambodia and China and updates on the SSEZ, emphasising that the zone represents a key investment by Jiangsu investors.
“The Chinese delegation also acknowledged Cambodia’s rapid growth in recent years,” the statement said.
Vuthy urged the Chinese delegation to promote Cambodia’s current investment potential and favourable and competitive investment environment to Chinese investors, particularly those in Jiangsu. He also encouraged Jiang to consider cooperating on training Cambodian human resources.
Separately, investment companies from Shantou city have shown interest in investing in Cambodia.
Prime Minister Hun Manet shakes hands with China’s Wen Zhanbin (right), party secretary of Guangdong province’s Shantou city, during an August 13 meeting in Phnom Penh. STPM
Wen Zhanbin, party secretary of Shantou, led a delegation of nine companies from the city to Cambodia to promote trade, investment and cultural exchanges. During their visit, they met with Prime Minister Hun Manet on August 13 in Phnom Penh.
Shantou is looking to enhance cooperation in various sectors, including health, agriculture and tourism, as well as exploring the possibility of reopening direct flights between Shantou and Cambodia in the near future, according to a social media post by Manet on August 13.
The post mentioned that with around 120 companies participating in the visit, cooperation documents were signed with Phnom Penh Municipal Hall and several private Cambodian companies.
“The prime minister was pleased to welcome the delegation’s interest in investing in various sectors with potential in Cambodia,” it stated.
During the meeting, Manet underscored the long-standing and “ironclad” relations between the two countries, noting that the visit would further strengthen and expand cooperation between them, particularly in connecting the private sectors.
He encouraged investors from Shantou to continue engaging with relevant ministries, institutions and private sector entities in Cambodia to explore opportunities for expanding investment in other promising sectors, particularly in agriculture and industry.
