Cambodia 20251117
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Headlines:
Prince Group, LYP Refute Criminal Allegations
Investment for Tech and Healthcare
Business Faces Border and Tariff Pressures
Arms Embargo Lifted, Exercises Resumed
Semiconductor and Tech
Tourism’s Sacred Sites and More
Labor Leader Gets a Payday
Vocational Training Grows
Infrastructure and Urban Development
Environmental and Regulatory Updates
Prince Group, LYP Refute Criminal Allegations
Prince Holding Group and Prince Bank are fighting back against allegations of operating a transnational criminal organization after US authorities seized $15 billion in assets linked to founder Chen Zhi. The group denies running labor camps where trafficked workers run online scams, calling the claims an attempt to justify asset confiscation. UK, Taiwan, Singapore, and Hong Kong authorities have frozen hundreds of millions in related assets. Separately, tycoon Ly Yong Phat refutes claims that his properties are linked to scam operations. Both parties claim that they are victims of a reputation-damaging plot, but US officials disagree.
Read more: VnExpress (Asset Seizures), UCANews (Denials), The Diplomat (Regional Context), Khmer Times (Arrests), Xinhua (South Korea), CamboJA News (Joint Task Force), Khmer Times (UK Partnership), Khmer Times (Evidence)
Investment for Tech and Healthcare
Canadia Impact Fund has been launched with its first investment to the benefit of Jalat Logistics, a company that has reportedly completed more than “one million deliveries with a 98% success rate.” It is not clear if they lost the other 20,000 packages. The Impact fund is intended to focus on early-stage startups in education, healthcare, logistics, digital infrastructure, and renewable energy. Maybank and SERC have agreed to renew their partnership for another two years in pursuit of bettering the capital markets, promoting regulatory frameworks, and bringing more FDI. The Japan-Cambodia Association has said that it wants to set up nursing training and medical product production facilities.
Read more: TechNode Global (Canadia Fund), Tech in Asia (Jalat Details), Cambodianess (Royal Group), Cambodia Investment Review (Maybank), Khmer Times (Healthcare)
Business Faces Border and Tariff Pressures
EuroCham’s Business Pulse H1 2025 Report showed that nearly 4 in ten businesses suffered disruptions from the Thailand-Cambodia border dispute. US tariffs that were brought into play early this year have delayed foreign investments and raised exporter costs, creating a tougher operating environment. The real estate, construction, and services sectors have all seen sliding revenues, but tourism and ag exports were bright spots. Financial deposits increased 14.5%, but non-performing loans rose to 8.3%. One-third of businesses plan cost reductions through staff cuts and the reduction in their marketing budgets. The Global Organized Crime Index this year ranked Cambodia in the top (bottom?) 20 for criminality. Officials have been quick to say that the ranking can be credited to better anti-crime operations rather than worsening conditions.
Read more: Cambodia Investment Review (Business Survey), CamboJA News (Crime Index), Khmer Times(Government Response)
Arms Embargo Lifted, Exercises Resumed
The US lifted a four-year arms embargo on November 12 as part of its plan to improve relations and counter Chinese influence in the region. The decision comes alongside a resumption of the Angkor Sentinel military exercises, last held in 2017. Future arms sales will be evaluated case-by-case. The US says that it’ll increase the number of Cambodian officers trained at military colleges and further cooperation on combating transnational crime. France has also agreed to more military cooperation through training, information sharing, counterterrorism, and humanitarian assistance. France provided scholarships for officers preparing for UN peacekeeping missions and supported preparations for hosting the 2026 Francophonie Summit.
Read more: Defense News (US Embargo), Khmer Times (France), Khmer Times (Regional Ties)
Semiconductor and Tech
The Ministry of Industry organized a seminar on November 14 to promote the semiconductor industry, bringing together players from academia, government, and international partners. Semiconductors are responsible for 37% of global GDP, and the market is expected to be worth $627 billion by the end of this year. MISTI says that it plans to train more than 300 local engineers in digital integrated circuit design by 2030. The Internet Governance Forum 2025 is scheduled for December 6. Its purpose is to share ideas about digital safety and inclusion. The government says it will hire 19 more contract teachers for digital skills classes for grades 4-6 in 14 provinces, an expansion from a pilot that already covers 42 schools.
Read more: Khmer Times (Semiconductors), Khmer Times (Internet Forum), Khmer Times (Digital Education)
Tourism’s Sacred Sites and More
The government is trying out a “Sacred Tourism strategy” as it tries to bring more than two million “high-value” (those who spend at least $350 daily) tourists annually over the next decade by way of pagoda tourism. The strategy includes halal-certified services to try to bring more Muslim tourists, promotional events targeting Middle East visitors, and better flight connections. IHG says that it will open Crowne Plaza Phnom Penh (276 key, more than 1,000 sqm of meeting space) by year’s end. Plaza Premium Group finally opened its lounges at Techo International Airport on November 12. The Water Festival this year reportedly drew 2.3 million tourists and resulted in $400 million of spending.
Read more: Eurasia Review (Sacred Tourism), UCANews (Strategy Details), Travel and Tour World (IHG), Airport Suppliers (Plaza Premium), Travel and Tour World (Water Festival)
Labor Leader Gets a Payday
A mechanic who was locked up for six months after attempting to form an independent union at Wing Star Shoes (supplier to Asics and Muji), has been given $53,000 in compensation and his job back. The settlement is worth more than 20 years of typical garment worker pay. Chea Chan’s union gained official registration with the Cambodian Alliance of Trade Unions; reports from the factory are of violations, including excessive heat and forced overtime.
Read more: Sourcing Journal (Settlement), Ecotextile (Sector Agreement)
Vocational Training Grows
The TVET 1.5M skills-training program has been inundated with applications. Business and Information Technology pulled in 28,320 applicants, followed by Tourism (22,208), Construction (21,333), Agriculture and Agro-industry (17,536), and General Services (17,257). Currently just over 24,000 students are enrolled, 63,000+ have finished their studies, and about 32,00 graduates are employed. The National Social Security Fund reached almost 3.4 million members, including 1.8 million women (we did the math: that’s more than half). Street vendors say they want better social protections. Labour Minister Heng Sour spoke up at the International Street Vendors Day forum, he says he’s in favor of recognition, as workers should be entitled to social security and healthcare.
Read more: Khmer Times (TVET Program), Khmer Times (NSSF), Khmer Times (Street Vendors)
Infrastructure and Urban Development
The Architects Association launched a competition titled “Transforming Phnom Penh Old Airport into a Sponge City” (Yes. “Sponge City”) which features a $3,000 first prize. Submissions are due December 12. The Ministry of Rural Development is publishing a guidebook for developing “model villages” that promotes more local participation and growth through improved standards. The government wants to set up at least 50 model villages every year, but it has only recognized about 30 to date. Rural sanitation access now reaches 95% on the way to a 100% coverage goal by 2030. Nine-tenths of the Cambodian population has basic clean water coverage. There is a modernization of the National Archives underway with help from the Korea International Cooperation Agency to do training.
Read more: Khmer Times (Airport Competition), Khmer Times (Model Villages), Khmer Times (Sanitation), Khmer Times (Archives)
Environmental and Regulatory Updates
The General Department of Customs and Excise and the Chamber of Commerce co-organized the 3rd Cambodia Customs Forum on November 14 to promote the digitalization of customs procedures. The Ministry of Environment published a 245-page guidebook on COP participation from COP1 to COP29. They say that annual updates are planned. Cambodia has set a target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2035 under NDC3.0. The 11th East Asia Summit New Energy Forum on November 11 featured the “Coal to Clean” project that turned a coal power plant into a solar farm. The Environment Ministry has refuted claims of air pollution, saying that they see typical PM2.5 levels at 15.36 µg/m³, which is well below a 50 µg/m³ standard.
Read more: Khmer Times (Customs), Khmer Times (Climate), Khmer Times (Clean Energy), Khmer Times (Air Quality), Khmer Times (Enforcement)
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