Cambodia - Investment Opportunity

Today Cambodia has a good track record of overcoming its past problems and is now a rich new investment ground full of lucrative investment opportunities.

The recent development of several special economic trade zones, a developing sea port, a newly opened stock exchange, hotels, resorts and casinos with great tourist attractions have positioned Cambodia for a boom in most sectors of business and trade. There are increasing investment opportunities in Cambodia.

Sihanouk Ville: Cambodia has in the south one port and an economic trade zone, 5 luxury casinos and several beautiful white sand beaches!

Oil, gas, minerals, jewelry production, agriculture, real estate, factory productions, casinos, hotels, resorts and much more are all now possible investment areas in Cambodia for foreign investors.

The Current Cambodia Investment Opportunities are:

  • Fully functional Casino for sale with permits to operate.
  • Floating Casino Cruise liner
  • House lots
  • Agricultural lots
  • Economic Zone leases
  • Islands for sale
  • Precious gems

The exquisitely designed French riverside quarters in Phnom Penh, refurbished yet undeniably remarkable with their guaranteed 10% rental return are certainly good investment opportunities in the light of the Cambodian capital’s newly found allure in the international investment market for properties. Cambodia’s capital is expected to see a 15-20% growth currently.
 

So, considering the fact that Cambodia’s economy is set to grow fast in the coming years any investment made in the region in properties or other infrastructure development could be expected to give attractive returns.
 

Available through reputed overseas property investment specialists like David Stanley Redfern Ltd and others investment offers starting from $55,000 onwards should elicit considerable enquiries. Willing investors surely would find such enquiries and offers worth making.
 

Apart from the auspicious apartment itself, furnished with most sleek and modern furnishings and finished to a very high standard of workmanship, what else the surroundings of the Cambodian capital can offer? Once referred to as The Pearl of Asia, this architecturally awe inspiring city is today’s wealthiest and most populous Cambodian city, giving it a charged and vibrant climate that’s simply wonderful.
 

Its busy inhabitants are peaceful folks, some Buddhists, who along with many tourists frequent the many attractions, the most popular being the Royal Palace.
 

Phnom Penh’s main shopping centre is the Phsar Thom Thmei market place which too attracts visitors with shops eager to offer their vast array of treasures. From plant life to antique currency and from opulent foods to fancy fabrics, it’s sure to be found on the stalls of this enigmatic, once in a lifetime shopping experience. Phnom Penh is both accessible and inviting to any international visitor looking for good shopping or investment opportunities.
 

Anyone interested in this unique investment opportunity in Cambodia amidst an emerging market is advised to discuss his/her investment plans with reputed firms dealing in properties.

 

ECONOMY

Despite recent progress, the Cambodian economy continues to suffer from the devastating impact of decades of war and internal strife. The country’s economic infrastructure was seriously damaged by the civil wars of the early 1970s and late 1980’s, the desperate rule of the Khmer Rouge between 1975 and 1979, and Cambodia’s diplomatic isolation in the first half of the 1980s.Growth accelerated in the late 1980s with the government’s gradual move towards free market economic policies. Growth was propelled further during 1991-1993 by the UN presence in Cambodia. The July 1997 internal conflict set back business confidence, and development assistance flows. The Asian economic crisis also had a negative impact on the economy. However, 2001 and 2002 showed good economic recovery and then recovery. The introduction of a Value Added Tax (VAT) at that stage also contributed to the process.

The garment industry, although contentious in regard to worker conditions, has played a considerable part in recent economic progress and increased export earnings. In 1999 the US and Cambodia signed a Bilateral Textile Agreement. This has given Cambodia a guaranteed quota of US textile imports and established a bonus for improving working conditions and enforcing Cambodian labour laws and international labour standards in the industry. Tourism is also growing with Angkor Wat one of the country’s most popular tourist destinations, attracting a large number of foreign tourists. Visitors from several foreign countries come in large numbers to Angkor Wat and other tourist attractions in Cambodia, and their number crossed one million for the year ending September 2005.

Agriculture represents around 32.9% of GDP making Cambodia a largely subsistence economy. Around 75% of rural households depend on agriculture and its related subsectors. Regular droughts and floods, however, affect rice production leading to a need for food aid.

Cambodia has been rich in natural resources but persistent exploitation of forests, fisheries and gems has resulted in rapid resource depletion. The fisheries resource remains at risk from proposals to dam the Mekong River and its tributaries. In 2005 exploitable oil and natural gas deposits were found beneath Cambodia’s territorial waters. Commercial extraction is yet to begin. But that holds a good economic prospect for future.

International trade and investment comprises only a small proportion of economic activity. This FDI has tended to be concentrated in garment manufacturing, services, construction, tourism, and to a lesser extent, wood processing. Malaysia is the largest investor, followed by China, Taiwan, Singapore, Korea and France.

Cambodia continues to remain heavily reliant on foreign assistance – about half of the central government budget depends on donor assistance. Japan is by far the largest donor to Cambodia.