The Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC) is streamlining the process for foreign companies to apply for the Qualified Investment Projects (QIP) status in Cambodia by refining the online registration system. This initiative is aimed at facilitating a smoother application process for international investors interested in the Cambodian market.
During a recent discussion with representatives from the American Chamber of Commerce in Cambodia (AmCham Cambodia), Sun Chanthol, the Deputy Prime Minister and First Vice President of the CDC, emphasized the technological enhancements made to the QIP registration platform. These improvements are designed to allow U.S. and other foreign investors to submit their applications for eligible investment projects from their respective countries, thereby eliminating the need for physical presence during the application phase. The upgraded online system is expected to provide a more efficient way for shareholders to assess the viability of their projects under Cambodia’s preferential investment framework.
To further engage U.S.-based companies in QIPs and explore additional investment opportunities, Chanthol revealed plans for the CDC to conduct promotional visits to the United States. The goal is to increase awareness about the lucrative investment prospects in Cambodia and to encourage more American investment into the country.
Under the 2021 Investment Law, a QIP is defined as an investment initiative that has been granted a Final Registration Certificate (FRC) by the CDC, qualifying it for various fiscal and non-fiscal incentives offered by the Cambodian Investment Board (CIB). These incentives are provided to promote investments that contribute positively to the Cambodian economy.
QIPs are categorized into three types: domestic, export-oriented, and supporting industry projects. Registered foreign companies enjoy benefits such as special tax exemptions or depreciation, potentially including up to nine years of income tax exemptions, export tax waivers, and complete import duty exemptions on construction materials and production equipment.
Those opting out of the tax exemption can instead claim a special depreciation allowance of 40% on tangible assets used in production, applicable in the first year of asset acquisition or use.
Sisavuthara Sim, CEO of Nexus Capital & Investment Advisory, highlighted the pivotal role of the QIP program in enhancing Cambodia’s trade and investment landscape. He anticipates that the program will continue to draw manufacturers that will significantly benefit the country. The combination of preferential tax treatments and the establishment of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) across Cambodia presents an attractive proposition for foreign investors, minimizing entry risks into the Cambodian market.
For manufacturing entities, Cambodia offers vast regional and international trade prospects, bolstered by an array of preferential trade agreements. These include intra-ASEAN Free Trade Agreements, the China-Cambodia FTA, the Cambodia-South Korea FTA, and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), among others. This network of agreements provides Cambodian producers, regardless of their QIP status, with competitive advantages in global markets that might not be available in their home countries.
