Cambodian Deputy PM Highlights Economic Cooperation and Investment Climate at China Trade Fair

Deputy Prime Minister Sun Chanthol of Cambodia delivered a keynote speech at the 26th China International Fair for Investment and Trade (CIFIT) held in Xiamen, Fujian Province, China, on the morning of Tuesday, September 8, 2026. The Deputy Prime Minister emphasized the importance of strengthening cooperation and opening economies between countries to respond to the global economic crisis, rising trade barriers, and geopolitical tensions. He stated that Cambodia is a tangible example of benefiting from an open economic policy, transforming from a nation that experienced war and isolation to one with peace, political stability, and deep integration into the regional and global economy. Under the far-sighted leadership of the government, Cambodia is preparing for another level of development with the aim of becoming a high-income country by 2050. The private sector is considered the heart of this transformation, as private investment not only brings capital to promote national economic growth but also creates job opportunities, transfers new modern technologies, and connects Cambodia to global value chains. The Cambodian government is firmly committed to creating a vibrant and favorable investment environment through: 1. The Law on Investment of the Kingdom of Cambodia, designed to offer high incentives and robust protection to investors. 2. Enforcement of laws and promotion of security by strictly cracking down on technological fraud and cross-border crimes to ensure a safe business and investment environment. 3. Opening up major markets through the use of Free Trade Agreements (ASEAN, RCEP, bilateral agreements), the European Union's EBA preferential system, the Cambodia-US Trade Agreement, and efforts to join the CPTPP free trade agreement. In the first seven months of 2026, the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC) approved 309 investment projects with a total capital of approximately $5.2 billion, expected to create about 177,000 jobs. Beyond quantity, Cambodia is also enhancing the quality of investment by diversifying into high value-added sectors. While the garment, footwear, and travel goods sectors remain important, Cambodia is attracting investment flows towards high value-added industries and modern technologies, including electronics manufacturing, vehicle assembly, clean energy development, high-level agricultural product processing, and modern logistics systems. These factors will become new driving forces for increasing productivity, strengthening global value chains, and promoting sustainable and resilient national economic growth. The Deputy Prime Minister expressed deep gratitude to the Chinese government and people for their continuous support in developing many major infrastructure projects in Cambodia, highlighting ongoing strategic projects such as the expansion of the deep-sea port in Sihanoukville, the Funan Techo Multipurpose Irrigation System, and various infrastructure developments at Techo International Airport. Finally, he invited and encouraged businessmen and investors from all directions, especially Chinese investors, to personally explore Cambodia's investment environment and business ecosystem, with the CDC providing direct facilitation to serve as a basis for their decisions to choose Cambodia as their next investment destination, aiming to leverage economic opportunities and achieve sustainable and inclusive growth.