A delegation of major American companies has shown interest in the Kingdom’s investment potential, thanks to the favourable conditions for investing in the country. Cambodian exports to the US in the first 11 months of the year exceeded $9 billion, reflecting an 11% increase compared to the same period in 2023.
On December 9, at the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC) headquarters, a group of 16 American companies led by Kim Chha Hout, honorary consul-general of Cambodia and president of the Representative Office of the Cambodia Chamber of Commerce in California, the US, met with Sun Chanthol, first vice-chairman of the CDC, to discuss investment opportunities.
Chha Hout stated that the delegation’s visit to Cambodia followed a promotional investment tour in the US by a Cambodian delegation, led by Chanthol, in September.
“Through his visit, the American investors have demonstrated interest in Cambodia's attractive investment potential and favourable conditions. Companies expressed interest in key sectors such as technology, agri-industries and education,” he said.
The delegation also met with Lim Heng, vice-president of the Cambodia Chamber of Commerce, on December 10 to explore investment opportunities and gain insights into Cambodia’s economic growth, industrial development, young labour force and expanding markets.
“The US is a major export market and a significant investment partner for Cambodia. Several major American companies have invested and continue to invest in Cambodia,” explained Leng.
He further encouraged US businesses to collaborate with Cambodian entrepreneurs to capitalise on the country's growing business opportunities.
During the Cambodia-US Business Forum on September 22 in New York, Prime Minister Hun Manet highlighted the mutual benefits of the strong partnership between the two countries. He emphasised Cambodia's strategic location, youthful workforce and low production costs, which create competitive advantages for US investors.
“Seeing is believing, so we encourage investors to visit Cambodia and explore its potential. The government remains committed to supporting private sector development and addressing challenges to foster growth and partnership,” he said at the time.
According to the CDC, US investments in Cambodia from 1994 to January 2024 totalled over $1.077 billion, primarily in agriculture, agro-industry, manufacturing and tourism.
Data from the General Department of Customs and Excise (GDCE) revealed that bilateral trade between Cambodia and the US in the first 11 months of 2024 amounted to $9.3 billion, up 11.2% from the same period in 2023. Cambodia exported $9.06 billion to the US (an 11.3% increase), while imports from the US totalled $244.42 million (a 9.8% increase), resulting in a trade surplus of $8.82 billion.