Chinese investment strains Cambodian society
Drastic transformation of Sihanoukville should warn other Asian countries
Kimkong Heng
July 22, 2019 14:01 JST
The past decade has witnessed an unprecedented and massive influx of Chinese investments and tourism into Cambodia. The capital inflow and rising visitor numbers have been both beneficial and disruptive for Cambodia's economic development and social cohesion.

Chinese investments have impacted Cambodia's domestic politics and foreign policy in ways that have facilitated the country's drift toward autocratic rule. They also appear to be leading to far-reaching environmental and sociocultural changes.

The experience offers valuable lessons for other countries in Southeast Asia, and highlights an urgent dilemma for the government and society alike.

Relations between Cambodia and China gained momentum after the two countries established a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2010. At the heart of the relationship is Phnom Penh's close embrace of China's Belt and Road Initiative. There has been remarkable progress in infrastructure development throughout the country under BRI since 2013, such as the Chinese-funded Sihanoukville Special Economic Zone and the Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville Expressway, on which construction began in March under a build-operate-transfer scheme.

In the process, China has replaced Japan as Cambodia's largest foreign direct investor and become the country's closest ally. Beijing has financed seven hydropower dam projects that are collectively capable of producing half of Cambodia's entire electricity needs. It has also constructed 3,000 km of highways and eight bridges since the mid-1990s.
Full article: https://asia.nikkei.com/Opinion/Chinese ... an-society

Business November 20, 2019
BRI boosting ties with China, Hunan rep says
Chea Vannak / Khmer Times Share:

Du Jiahao, Secretary of the Community Party Committee of Hunan, led the delegation of Chinese businesspeople at the event yesterday. KT/Siv Channa
Companies from the Chinese province of Hunan met yesterday with local firms and public officials at an event aimed to boost trade between Cambodia and China.



For in depth analysis of Cambodian Business, visit Capital Cambodia
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Hundreds of company representatives from Hunan, in Central China, attended the Hunan Investment Promotion and Machinery Expo yesterday. The delegation was led by Du Jiahao, Secretary of the Community Party Committee of Hunan.

“Peace, political and macroeconomic stability has helped build a strong relation between Cambodia and China. This relation was strengthened even further with the launch of the Belt and Road Initiative by China in 2013. The project has contributed enormously to the development of the Cambodian economy in recent years,” Mr Chanthol said.

Mr Chanthol pointed out that China was responsible for about 70 percent of all foreign direct investment flowing into the country last year.

“This is the result of the cooperation between the leaders of our countries,” Mr Chanthol said.

By last year, China had provided $2.8 billion worth of soft loans to Cambodia to build infrastructure, particularly roads, bridges, and ports, he said.



“The Belt and Road Initiative and the establishment of the Asian Investment and Infrastructure Bank, of which Cambodia is also a founding member, have also supported the development of hydroelectric dams, ports, and special economic zones in Cambodia,” the Cambodian minister noted.

Mr Du also highlighted the role the BRI has been playing in the promotion of cooperation between Cambodia and China and in enhancing the flow of investment from Hunan to the Kingdom.

He said there are 37 companies from Hunan investing in Cambodia, accounting for a total capital investment of about $500 million. More than 30,000 people from Hunan are working in Cambodia.

Mr Du noted that Hunan companies attending yesterday’s event were mostly interested in investments in manufacturing, agriculture and tourism.

Wang Wentian, Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia, said the event will encourage more Chinese investors to consider Cambodia.

“The event today is the result of cooperation between the two countries and serves as an important platform to encourage Chinese enterprises from Hunan to cooperate with Cambodia,” Mr Wang said.

“I firmly believe that, because of this event, more investors from China will consider Cambodia as an investment destination.”

The expo ended with a signing ceremony for several memoranda of understanding to boost cooperation between the government and the private sector.

Bilateral trade between Cambodia and China last year totalled $6.6 billion, up from $5.5 billion in 2017.


SO this group has invested $500 mil but have also imported 30,000 workers.......... great for them but what about benifits to the Khmer people. (not the skimmers at the top)

Quote ] By last year, China had provided $2.8 billion worth of soft loans to Cambodia to build infrastructure, particularly roads, bridges, and ports, he said.




I wonder how , and how long it will take to pay back these loans. Remembering that the monetary return to the government on roads and bridges is virtually NIL.

China’s Hunan Provincial Investment Project Worth US$1.3 Billion Signed
AKP Phnom Penh, November 21, 2019 --

Cambodia and Hunan province of the People’s Republic of China have entered an investment project worth US$1.3 billion.

The agreement was signed recently here in Phnom Penh between Cambodian and Hunan provincial investors.

The investment project focused on many areas such as industry, agriculture, industrial and agricultural machines and beyond.

As shared by the spokesperson at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, in 2018, the trade volume between Cambodia and China was US$6,600 million, up from US$5,577 million in 2017.

Investments from China were worth US$3,594 million last year, up from US$1,657 million in 2017.

By Lim Nary

Trade volume of 6.6 billion? Huh? What exactly is being traded? That is about 25% of the total GDP of Cambodia...

Felgerkarb wrote: ↑Thu Nov 21, 2019 8:34 pm Trade volume of 6.6 billion? Huh? What exactly is being traded? That is about 25% of the total GDP of Cambodia...

fabric?