Cambodia Inaugurates Car Assembly Plant, Boosting Industrialization and Job Creation Hopes

Prime Minister Hun Manet of Cambodia presided over the official inauguration of the assembly plant and GAC brand production line of TH Auto Automotive Manufacturing company on the morning of Thursday, September 17, 2026, in Kampong Chhnang province. Prime Minister Hun Manet stated that it is necessary to build confidence for investors. He said, "Specifically, the share of the industrial sector in GDP was about 12.6% in 1993, and now it has increased to 42.3% in 2025, with a continuing upward trend." He added that the government has achieved successive successes in transforming the industrial sector from one primarily dependent on labor to one that utilizes higher skills and technology. Prime Minister Hun Manet emphasized that the establishment of numerous factories in Cambodia not only creates jobs but also transfers real skills to Cambodian youth and builds Cambodia's human resources to be more resilient. He clarified that over the past three decades, Cambodia's economic base has transformed from a country almost entirely reliant on traditional agriculture to one with a broader and stronger economic foundation capable of embracing new, high-value industries through the active, timely, and precise formulation and development of appropriate policies. Prime Minister Hun Manet announced that as of July 2026, Cambodia's industrial sector comprises 3,357 factories registered with the Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology, and Innovation across all 25 provinces, employing a total of 1.3 million workers, of which over 900,000 are women, primarily in the garment and textile sectors. The total investment in this sector amounts to $28 billion, an increase of over $6 billion, or 28.82%, compared to the same period in 2025. Prime Minister Hun Manet also stated that currently, Cambodia has a total of 15 car assembly plants, with 10 currently in operation, 2 yet to commence operations, and 3 additional car assembly plant projects that have applied for investment registration and are under construction. The total investment in this sector is $248 million, with 28% domestic investment and 72% foreign investment, creating a total of 2,774 jobs.