Chinese firms eye investment in Cambodia

Two Chinese companies, one an industrial park management firm and another electric storage battery manufacturer, Wednesday evinced interest in exploring investment opportunities in Cambodia.

The companies expressed their keenness to invest during a meeting with Hean Sahib, Advisor to the Prime Minister and Chairman of the Investment Promotion Working Group for Preah Sihanouk at the Ministry of Economy and Finance in the capital.

The delegation was led by Billy Tam, Director of Louis International (Holdings) Co., Ltd., and Sun Fangzhou, Director of Hubei Cherizon Group Co., Ltd. underlined their readiness to invest in Cambodia, leveraging their advanced technology and expertise in industrial park management, as well as their ability to attract foreign companies to invest in the country.

During the meeting, the representative of Louis International shared the company’s experience in managing industrial parks both in China and abroad. The company operates three parks with a combined area of approximately 300 hectares, housing numerous enterprises involved in producing household products, packaging materials, clothing, electric storage batteries, home decor, and more.

Similarly, the representative of Hubei Cherizon Group also expressed interest in investing in Cambodia, specifically in large-scale battery production for electric storage, as well as in managing battery waste by collecting and recycling old and damaged batteries.

Speaking at the meeting, Sahib highlighted Cambodia’s investment potential and the government’s supportive policies, especially the recently launched ‘Special Program to Promote Investment in Preah Sihanouk Province 2024,’ which will continue until the end of 2025. This program operates under the Economic and Financial Policy Committee, guided by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance.

At the request of the company representatives, Sahib instructed the Secretariat of the Preah Sihanouk Investment Promotion Working Group to facilitate the delegation’s visit to Preah Sihanouk province.

“The visit will allow them to assess the investment climate, understand the mechanisms for investment facilitation under the special program, and explore the economic zones successfully operating in Cambodia,” he said.

Speaking to Khmer Times, Lim Heng, Vice President of the Cambodia Chamber of Commerce, emphasized that the Cambodia-China Free Trade Agreement (CCFTA) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) have greatly strengthened trade ties between Cambodia and China. These agreements have not only facilitated a surge in bilateral trade but also fostered a more favourable investment climate, attracting foreign capital into the country.

He further noted that the CCFTA and RCEP have enhanced Cambodia’s appeal as an investment destination, especially for Chinese and other international investors looking to establish manufacturing and export-oriented businesses.

“Under the Cambodia-China FTA and RCEP, Chinese investors and other foreign investors view Cambodia as a potential export investment hub,” he said, pointing out that the preferential tariffs and trade facilitation measures under these agreements have made Cambodia a strategic location for production and distribution within the region.

Moreover, he stressed that increased investment has led to the expansion of key industries such as manufacturing, agriculture, and infrastructure development. The growing interest from foreign businesses is expected to create more job opportunities for Cambodians and strengthen the country’s position in regional and global supply chains.

According to a CDC report released in early February, Chinese investment represented approximately 73.35 percent of Cambodia’s total investment capital in January 2025, totaling $548.65 million out of the country’s overall $748 million investment. The report identified China as the largest source of investment, followed by Vietnam, which contributed 5.52 percent.