Cambodia welcomes Chinese investments, Deputy PM

February 11, 2010

Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Sok An on Wednesday encouraged more Chinese investment and tourists to Cambodia.

Speaking at a farewell meeting with Chinese ambassador Zhang Jinfeng, Sok An said that investment from China has greatly contributed to the Cambodian economic growth.

"The more investments and tourists from China, the greater contributions will be for Cambodian economic growth," Sok An, who is also the Minister of the Office of the Council of Ministers, told Zhang who will leave Cambodia soon after four years work as Chinese ambassador to the Kingdom.

Sok An said that Cambodia has great potential in terms of not only tourism but also others including agro-industry sector, which could attract more Chinese investments.

Ambassador Zhang said there are numbers of Chinese investors who are interested in investing in rubber plantations for exports.

China has provided Cambodia the duty free access of 418 items for exporting its products to Chinese market.

"I have been told that there is a big Chinese company who wanted to plant 60,000 hectares of rubber plantations in Cambodia, " the ambassador told Sok An.

She also said the Chinese company has planned to have a joint venture with a local partner to plant rubber trees.

"Actually, Cambodia has great potential for investments in many forms," she said.

In response, Sok An said "we welcome and will facilitate such Chinese investment to invest in rubber plantations."

Source: Xinhua