Sun Chanthol, first vice-president of the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC), will lead a Cambodian delegation to Australia at the end of the month to promote Cambodia’s investment potential and attract more direct Australian investment to the Kingdom.
The plan was announced during an August 6 working meeting at the CDC headquarters to discuss preparations for the “Investment Roadshow to Australia”. The meeting was attended by Chanthol, Australian ambassador to Cambodia Derik Yip, senior officials from relevant government institutions and representatives from the private sector.
“The meeting served as a platform for in-depth discussions and idea exchanges focused on ensuring that the upcoming investment mission proceeds smoothly, efficiently and delivers the expected high-impact results,” said a CDC statement.
The Australia Investment Roadshow, scheduled for the end of August, is part of Cambodia’s ongoing overseas investment promotion strategy. The government and private sector delegation will promote the country’s favourable investment climate and key sectors with the goal of raising awareness and attracting more foreign direct investment (FDI). The mission will be jointly coordinated by the Australian embassy in Cambodia and the Cambodia-Australia Partnership for Resilient Economic Development (CAPRED).
According to the General Department of Customs and Excise (GDCE), in the first half of 2025, trade volume between Cambodia and Australia reached $161.25 million, up 15.7% compared to the first half of 2024. Exports to Australia amounted to $111.95 million, an increase of 8.9%, while imports were $49.3 million, a significant rise of 46.8%.
Hong Vanak, an economist at the Royal Academy of Cambodia, told The Post on August 6 that although the Cambodian and Australian governments enjoy good bilateral relations, two-way trade remains relatively modest. Beyond the strong diplomatic relationship, both countries are also members of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).
“If we look at the trade volume between the two countries, it is still relatively small, but it is expected to grow in the future, especially as several Australian investors are already investing directly in Cambodia,” he said.
Lim Heng, vice-president of the Cambodia Chamber of Commerce (CCC), has previously highlighted the potential of the Australian market. In 2023, the CCC opened two representative offices in Australia — in Melbourne and Sydney. They aim to provide information and attract more Australian investors to the Kingdom.
Current Australian investment is primarily in the mining, industrial and agricultural sectors.
“Beyond investment and trade, Australia also provides significant aid to Cambodia,” added Heng.
