Cambodia’s Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC) approved 172 investment projects in the first quarter of 2025, marking a 16% increase from 106 projects during the same period last year. The approved projects represent USD 2.5 billion in total investment capital, up 14% year-on-year, and are expected to generate approximately 120,000 jobs for local workers.
Of the 172 approved projects, 99 are located outside special economic zones while 73 operate within these designated areas. Key investments include electronics manufacturing facilities, electric vehicle assembly plants, steel production, garment and textile factories, fruit processing facilities, and luxury hospitality developments.
Chinese investors dominated foreign direct investment (FDI), accounting for 56% of total investments, followed by domestic Cambodian investors at 34%. Other significant contributors include Vietnamese and Singaporean investors, along with capital from the United States, Canada, Samoa, the United Kingdom, the Cayman Islands, and British Virgin Islands.
As potential trade tensions loom globally, the CDC is reviewing additional reforms and incentives to maintain Cambodia’s investment attractiveness. The Q1 performance builds on 2024’s success, when Cambodia attracted 414 investments worth USD 6.9 billion, representing a 40% increase from the previous year.
Source: Kingdom approves $2.5B fixed-asset investment projects in Q1| Khmer Times (khmertimeskh.com)