Cambodia: PonteSud – News Desk
A delegation of Malaysian business leaders have expressed their interest in exploring investment opportunities in Cambodia. Bilateral trade between Cambodia and Malaysia in the first five months of 2025 rose by nearly 20% compared to the same period in 2024.
Dato’ Sri Dr. Ricky Yaw, president of the Malaysia-Cambodia Business Association (MCBA), led the delegation, which represented 20 Malaysian associations, to meet Prime Minister Hun Manet at the Peace Palace on June 26.
During the meeting, Yaw expressed his pleasure at holding direct discussions with the head of government. He explained that the delegation aimed to assess the local situation and explore direct investment opportunities.
They are interested in various sectors, including education, healthcare, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), agricultural processing, construction and real estate.
“The Malaysia-Cambodia Business Association was established as a platform to strengthen partnerships and connect businesspeople and investors from both countries,” he said.
Manet noted the growing Cambodia-Malaysia relationship with satisfaction, particularly in terms of expanding connectivity between the two countries. He highlighted that Cambodia Airways recently launched direct flights between Phnom Penh and Penang, adding to the existing flight connections.
He said Cambodia welcomes Malaysian businesspeople and all other investors seeking opportunities in the Kingdom, which has investor-friendly policies. The Cambodian government has introduced several incentives and supportive measures, including liberal investment laws, especially those which encourage investment in SMEs, a key sector contributing to Cambodia’s economic growth.
The prime minister added that the government has also implemented various measures to ensure the country’s competitiveness in both regional and international markets.
“I encourage the Malaysia-Cambodia Business Association to continue deepening cooperation with Cambodian government institutions to gain a clearer understanding of policies and incentives, and to seize real investment opportunities directly in Cambodia,” he said.
To strengthen economic relations and enhance trade, investment, and private-sector cooperation between Cambodia and Malaysia, representatives from the Cambodia Chamber of Commerce (CCC) and the Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (ACCCIM) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on May 6 at the CCC headquarters.
In February 2024, the National Bank of Cambodia and Bank Negara Malaysia signed an MoU to promote collaboration in financial innovation and payment systems.
This aims to boost close cooperation, enhance cross-border financial innovation and payments efficiently and safely, and benefit the people and businesses of both nations. This MoU also paves the way for Cambodia and Malaysia to make QR code-based cross-border payments.
According to the General Department of Customs and Excise (GDCE), during the first five months of 2025, the total value of trade between Cambodia and Malaysia was $429.27 million, an increase of 17.1% over the same period in 2024. Cambodian exports totalled $57.52 million (up 5.7%), while imports amounted to $371.75 million (up 19.1%). Malaysia is Cambodia’s 9th largest trading partner.
In 2024, total trade between the two countries reached $865.52 million, an increase of 36.9% year-on-year. Exports totalled $147.39 million (up 40.3%), while imports were $718.13 million (up 36.2%).
