Phnom Penh, Oct. 3 — Cambodia and Vietnam are exploring new dialogue mechanisms between their governments and private sectors aimed at expanding Vietnamese investment in Cambodia, according to the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC).
The discussions took place during an October 2 bilateral meeting between Sun Chanthol, CDC first vice-president, and Nguyen Minh Vu, Vietnamese ambassador to Cambodia. Topics included bilateral cooperation in investment, trade, and cross-border transportation, as well as adapting to shifting global economic dynamics.
Ambassador Nguyen praised Cambodia for setting investment project approval records in 2024 and expressed confidence that the country will continue to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) in 2025. He noted that such achievements demonstrate Cambodia’s commitment to creating a favorable and trustworthy business environment.
Chanthol welcomed the ambassador and reaffirmed CDC’s readiness to facilitate investment from friendly countries. “Our aim is to ensure a flexible, effective, and most favorable investment environment for all investors,” he said.
According to the General Department of Customs and Excise of Cambodia (GDCE), Vietnam is Cambodia’s third-largest trading partner. In the first eight months of 2025, bilateral trade rose 6.8% year-on-year to $5.59 billion. Cambodia’s exports to Vietnam reached $2.75 billion (up 11.5%), while imports totaled $2.84 billion (up 2.6%).
Hong Vanak, an economist at the Royal Academy of Cambodia, said the robust trade reflects geographic advantages, strong diplomatic ties, and Cambodia’s growing production capacity, especially in agriculture. “Based on geography and diplomatic ties, the volume of trade between the two countries will continue to grow,” he said.
The two countries have also expanded people-to-people and business exchanges. The “Cambodia-Vietnam Trade Promotion Programme” held in Phnom Penh on August 28 brought together entrepreneurs, traders, and business leaders to explore partnership opportunities.
During the event, Seang Thai, secretary of state at the Ministry of Commerce, stressed that strong government and people-to-people relations remain key drivers of bilateral growth. He emphasized the importance of cross-border trade networks, improved transport infrastructure, and value-added agricultural production in sustaining economic cooperation.
Also read, ADB Sees Cambodia Maintaining Steady Growth Amid External Pressures
