Hun Manet Launches MSME Strategy 2026–2030, Calls Small Firms the Backbone of Cambodia’s Economy
Prime Minister Hun Manet launched the National Strategy for MSME Development 2026–2030 in Phnom Penh on 22 October, calling micro, small and medium enterprises the backbone of Cambodia’s economy.
Cambodia’s government has launched a five-year plan to grow the country’s micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), the businesses that employ most Cambodian workers. Prime Minister Hun Manet presided over the launch of the National Strategy for the Development of MSMEs 2026–2030 at Sokha Phnom Penh Hotel on the morning of Thursday, 22 October 2026.
Key points
- Cambodia launched its National Strategy for the Development of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) 2026–2030 in Phnom Penh on 22 October 2026.
- Prime Minister Hun Manet called MSMEs the backbone of the economy and key government partners in jobs, household income and resilience.
- MSMEs employ about 2.98 million people, more than 1.84 million of them women: over 60% of Cambodia’s workforce.
- The 2022 Cambodia Economic Census counted about 753,670 business establishments, including 60,503 small and medium-sized enterprises.
“The backbone of the national economy”
In his address, the Prime Minister described MSMEs as the backbone of the national economy and key partners of the Royal Government in creating jobs, generating household income, promoting domestic production and strengthening economic resilience.
He pointed to the role small businesses play in supporting livelihoods and local economic development across the country, and said they help the national economy withstand shocks.
Building on earlier foundations
Hun Manet said the focus on small businesses was not new. He credited earlier governments led by his predecessor, Hun Sen, now President of the Senate, with laying the groundwork: peace and stability, infrastructure, a legal framework and a business-friendly environment.
Those foundations, he said, allowed Cambodia’s private sector and domestic enterprises to grow and to connect more closely with regional and global markets.
Cambodia’s MSMEs in numbers
Figures cited at the launch show how much of the economy depends on small firms. According to the 2022 Cambodia Economic Census, the country had about 753,670 business establishments, of which 60,503 were small and medium-sized enterprises.
MSMEs employ roughly 2.98 million people, including more than 1.84 million women. That is more than 60 percent of Cambodia’s total workforce.
At the same event, the Prime Minister reported a 73 percent rise in registrations of locally made products this year, and addressed the border issue with Thailand.
Frequently asked questions
What is Cambodia’s National Strategy for MSME Development 2026–2030?
It is the government’s five-year plan for growing micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, launched by Prime Minister Hun Manet in Phnom Penh on 22 October 2026.
How many people do MSMEs employ in Cambodia?
About 2.98 million people, including more than 1.84 million women: over 60 percent of the total workforce.
How many businesses are there in Cambodia?
The 2022 Cambodia Economic Census counted about 753,670 business establishments, including 60,503 small and medium-sized enterprises.
Based on reporting by Agence Kampuchea Presse (AKP), used with permission.
