Cambodia Investment Review
Manufacturing diversification, agricultural value chains, logistics infrastructure and Cambodia’s growing role in regional supply chains are among the most promising investment opportunities for 2026, according to business leaders and investment experts speaking at an International Business Chamber of Cambodia (IBC) open meeting in Phnom Penh.
Held on June 3 at Fairfield by Marriott Phnom Penh, the event, titled “The Next Wave of Investment Opportunities in Cambodia,” brought together investors, business leaders and policymakers to discuss emerging trends shaping the Kingdom’s investment landscape.
Delivering the keynote address, H.E. Lim Visal, Deputy Secretary General of the Cambodian Investment Board (CIB) under the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC), outlined Cambodia’s investment outlook and ongoing efforts to attract foreign direct investment.
The discussion was moderated by Jesse McCaul and featured panelists Poullang Doung, Joshua Morris and Currie Lee.
Investors Looking Beyond Headlines
McCaul opened the discussion by noting that while Cambodia continues to face challenges and uncertainties, the purpose of the session was to focus on identifying opportunities rather than obstacles.
“In every conversation there is always the positive, the negative, obstacles and opportunities,” McCaul said, adding that many emerging opportunities are often overlooked amid broader discussions about challenges facing the economy.
Joshua Morris said international investors, particularly those from Europe, continue to closely monitor developments including sanctions relating to Prince Group-linked entities, scam centre concerns, Thailand-Cambodia border tensions and broader geopolitical risks.
However, he noted that investors who look beyond these issues continue to find strong fundamentals supporting Cambodia’s investment case.
Among the most attractive factors cited by investors are Cambodia’s exchange rate stability, widespread use of the U.S. dollar, and a regulatory environment that supports investment and capital flows.
“Both of these are seen as strong components to any investment thesis for Cambodia,” Morris said.
Key Investment Opportunities For 2026
Panelists identified several sectors expected to drive the next phase of investment into Cambodia.
Agriculture and food processing emerged as one of the strongest opportunities, supported by improvements in agricultural supply chains and growing demand for value-added production.
Manufacturing diversification was also highlighted as a major growth area as Cambodia expands beyond garments into higher-value industries and strengthens its position within regional production networks.
Supporting industries were viewed as equally attractive, particularly logistics, distribution, warehousing, cold-chain infrastructure and financing services that enable trade and industrial growth.
Morris noted that many investors are increasingly evaluating opportunities across entire supply chains rather than focusing solely on factories or production facilities.
Cambodia’s Growing Role In ASEAN Supply Chains
Currie Lee highlighted a growing trend among Korean investors to view Cambodia as part of a broader ASEAN investment strategy rather than a standalone market.
According to Lee, Cambodia is increasingly benefiting from a “Vietnam Plus One” approach, where companies diversify operations across multiple Southeast Asian markets to improve resilience and access regional supply chains.
He said Cambodia’s geographic connectivity with Vietnam and its growing integration into regional manufacturing networks are making the country more attractive to foreign investors.
Lee also pointed to South Korea’s continued investment in infrastructure and development financing, which is helping create a more stable environment for long-term private sector investment.
Key Recommendations For Investors
The panel highlighted several themes investors should consider when evaluating Cambodia in 2026:
- Look beyond short-term geopolitical risks and focus on Cambodia’s long-term economic fundamentals.
- Explore opportunities within agricultural value chains, food processing and agribusiness support services.
- Consider logistics, warehousing, cold-chain infrastructure and financing as growth sectors linked to expanding trade and manufacturing activity.
- Evaluate Cambodia as part of a broader ASEAN or Vietnam Plus One investment strategy.
- Monitor evolving consumer preferences, including growing demand for locally produced products, which may create opportunities for domestic manufacturing and branding.
Panelists concluded that Cambodia remains well-positioned to benefit from ongoing regional supply chain diversification, with agriculture, manufacturing and infrastructure-related sectors likely to attract increasing investor attention throughout 2026 and beyond.
