Cambodia registered US$5.92 billion in investment capital across 382 approved investment projects during the first nine months of 2026, with the projects expected to generate approximately 217,000 jobs, according to the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC). Despite continued investment activity, both the number of approved projects and the value of registered capital declined compared with the same period in 2025. The government is pursuing regulatory reforms, streamlined administrative procedures and workforce development to strengthen the investment climate amid a more challenging global and domestic economic outlook.
Key Facts
Registered investment capital: US$5.92 billion from January to September 2026.
Approved projects: 382.
Expected employment: Approximately 217,000 jobs.
Investment capital in the same period of 2025: US$7.8 billion.
Approved projects in the same period of 2025: 546.
Leading investment sector: Industry.
Largest foreign investment source: China, accounting for more than 50% of total investment capital.
Government priorities: Regulatory reform, reduced administrative burdens, workforce development and higher-value-added industries.
IMF growth forecast: 3% for 2026 and 4% for 2027, compared with 5.3% in 2025.
Cambodia Registers US$5.92 Billion Across 382 Projects
The CDC approved 382 investment projects between January and September 2026, involving registered investment capital of US$5.92 billion.
The approved projects are expected to generate approximately 217,000 jobs nationwide, providing a potential source of employment across Cambodia's economy.
The registered investment figure includes both newly approved projects and additional capital injected into existing investments. It therefore reflects a combination of new investment activity and the expansion of established operations.
However, the latest figures show a decline compared with the first nine months of 2025, when the CDC approved 546 projects with registered investment capital of US$7.8 billion.
The number of approved projects fell by approximately 30%, while registered investment capital declined by about 24.1%.
These comparisons indicate that investment activity remained substantial but weakened in aggregate terms compared with the previous year.
Industry Remains the Main Investment Driver
The industrial sector remained Cambodia's leading investment destination during the first nine months of 2026, according to the CDC report.
Agriculture and agro-industry, tourism and infrastructure also showed an upward trend, suggesting that investment activity continued across several areas of the economy.
The report did not provide detailed sector-by-sector investment values in the supplied information, so the relative contributions of these sectors cannot be quantified.
The continued importance of industry is relevant to Cambodia's efforts to strengthen its manufacturing base and attract activities with greater domestic value added.
The source report also highlights investment in tyre factories as an area that has increased significantly. Such activity forms part of Cambodia's broader industrial development, although the supplied figures do not specify the number of tyre-related projects or their total investment value.
For Cambodia, the long-term challenge is not simply to attract more capital, but to encourage investments that create productive employment, develop local suppliers, improve worker skills and support more sophisticated manufacturing activities.
China Leads Cambodia's Foreign Investment Sources
China remained Cambodia's largest source of foreign direct investment, accounting for more than 50% of total investment capital during the reporting period.
Domestic investors ranked next, while other major sources included Singapore, Vietnam, South Korea, the United States and Malaysia.
This investment profile highlights the continued importance of Chinese capital alongside contributions from Cambodian businesses and investors from other countries.
A diversified investor base can provide access to different markets, technologies, financing sources and business networks. However, the supplied report does not provide individual investment values for each source country beyond China's share and the ranking of domestic investors.
Further breakdowns would help determine how investment-source concentration is changing and which countries are contributing to emerging sectors.
CDC Pushes Reforms to Strengthen Cambodia's Investment Climate
Deputy Prime Minister and CDC First Vice-Chairman Sun Chanthol has emphasised the role of foreign direct investment in supporting Cambodia's socioeconomic development, particularly through employment creation and higher household incomes.
Speaking at a forum on October 8, Chanthol said Cambodia was preparing to attract investment into upstream industries and higher-value-added activities within global supply chains.
The government is pursuing reforms intended to improve the country's competitiveness, including:
Streamlining administrative procedures.
Reducing unnecessary operating costs.
Accelerating domestic reforms.
Improving cooperation with international investors and businesses.
Strengthening the investment framework and supporting existing investors.
These measures are intended to make it easier for businesses to establish and expand operations in Cambodia while strengthening long-term investor confidence.
The practical effect will depend on implementation, consistency in administrative processes and the ability of investors to navigate regulatory requirements efficiently.
Trade Agreements Support Cambodia's Investment Appeal
Lim Heng, vice-president of the Cambodia Chamber of Commerce, attributed Cambodia's investment appeal partly to government efforts to improve the business environment and the market-access opportunities available through bilateral and regional trade agreements.
Trade arrangements can influence investment decisions by giving manufacturers access to overseas markets and opportunities to integrate into international supply chains.
For companies considering Cambodia as a production base, market access is one factor among several. Investors also evaluate labour productivity, logistics costs, infrastructure, regulatory certainty, supplier networks and the availability of skilled workers.
Cambodia's ability to translate trade agreements into additional investment will therefore depend on how effectively businesses can use those arrangements and compete in destination markets.
The supplied report does not quantify the amount of investment attributable directly to individual trade agreements.
Workforce Development Targets 1.5 Million Young People
Skills development is another government priority under the Pentagonal Strategy, which provides a long-term framework for Cambodia's development ambitions towards Vision 2050.
Through the Ministry of Labour and Vocational Training, the government is implementing a technical and vocational education and training programme targeting 1.5 million young people.
The programme aims to equip participants with skills relevant to modern industries and the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
Workforce development is particularly relevant as Cambodia seeks to attract upstream manufacturing and higher-value-added activities. Investors operating in more sophisticated industries may require technical capabilities that go beyond basic production skills.
Connecting vocational training with employers' needs can help businesses find appropriately skilled workers while improving employment opportunities for young people.
The source report does not specify how many participants had completed training by September 2026 or how many had secured jobs through the programme.
IMF Forecast Points to Slower Economic Growth
Cambodia's investment drive comes as the economy faces a more challenging outlook.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF), according to the September forecast cited by Khmer Times, projected economic growth of 3% in 2026, down from 5.3% in 2025, before recovering to 4% in 2027.
The IMF attributed the slowdown to several pressures:
Higher energy costs.
Weaker tourism activity.
Lower remittances.
Slower garment exports.
Subdued domestic demand.
Tighter financial conditions.
These factors can affect investment decisions through production costs, consumer demand, access to financing and expectations for future sales.
The combination of weaker growth projections and declining registered investment capital compared with 2025 makes the government's reform and diversification agenda particularly relevant. However, the available figures do not establish that the economic slowdown alone caused the decline in approved projects.
What the Investment Figures Mean for Cambodian Businesses?
Manufacturers
Industrial companies may find opportunities in Cambodia's continuing effort to attract investment into upstream production and higher-value-added activities. The availability of skilled labour, reliable logistics and competitive operating costs will remain important.
Agricultural businesses
The reported upward trend in agriculture and agro-industry may create opportunities for processing, storage, supply-chain development and value-added production. The source report does not provide enough detail to identify the fastest-growing subsectors.
Tourism operators
Tourism investment also showed an upward trend, according to the CDC. Future project performance will depend on visitor demand, transport connectivity, market conditions and the viability of individual developments.
Domestic investors
Domestic investors were the second-largest investment source after China. A more predictable business environment and efficient administrative procedures could help Cambodian companies expand their operations and participate in wider supply chains.
Foreign investors
The government's stated emphasis on regulatory reform and international business cooperation signals an effort to improve Cambodia's investment environment. Investors should still assess sector-specific risks, project approvals, operating requirements and market demand before making investment decisions.
Angkor Times Analysis
Cambodia's US$5.92 billion in registered investment capital demonstrates that substantial project activity continued during the first nine months of 2026. However, the year-on-year decline in both approved projects and registered capital indicates that the headline total should be considered alongside the direction of investment activity.
The expected 217,000 jobs represent a potentially significant employment contribution, but they are projected positions associated with approved projects rather than confirmed jobs already created. Actual employment outcomes will depend on project implementation, construction progress, operational start dates and companies' workforce requirements.
The government's focus on higher-value-added industries is also important. Attracting capital is one step; building a more productive industrial economy requires investment in skills, technology, infrastructure and local supplier capabilities.
Cambodia's investment-source profile provides another area to monitor. China's share of more than 50% makes it the dominant foreign source in the reported figures, while domestic investors and capital from other countries also contribute. The available data do not show whether this concentration has increased or decreased over time.
Finally, the IMF's lower growth forecast underscores the importance of maintaining competitiveness during a period of economic uncertainty. Regulatory reform, workforce training and more efficient administration may support investment, but their impact will need to be assessed through measurable outcomes, including realised investment, completed projects, actual job creation and growth in domestic value added.
For investors, the key question is whether approved projects translate into operating businesses and sustainable returns. For policymakers, the challenge is to convert investment commitments into broad-based economic benefits.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How much investment did Cambodia register in the first nine months of 2026?
Cambodia registered US$5.92 billion in investment capital across 382 approved projects from January to September 2026.
2. How many jobs are expected from the approved projects?
The projects are expected to generate approximately 217,000 jobs. This is a projection, not a count of jobs already created.
3. How does the 2026 investment performance compare with 2025?
In the same period of 2025, Cambodia approved 546 projects with registered investment capital of US$7.8 billion. Both the number of projects and the value of investment declined in the first nine months of 2026.
4. Which sector attracted the most investment?
Industry remained the main investment driver. Agriculture and agro-industry, tourism and infrastructure also showed an upward trend, according to the CDC.
5. Which country was Cambodia's largest foreign investment source?
China accounted for more than 50% of total investment capital, followed by domestic investors. Other major sources included Singapore, Vietnam, South Korea, the United States and Malaysia.
6. What reforms is Cambodia pursuing to attract investment?
The government has highlighted regulatory reform, streamlined administrative procedures, reduced unnecessary operating costs, improved investor cooperation and workforce development.
7. What is the IMF's economic growth forecast for Cambodia?
The September forecast cited in the source report projected growth of 3% in 2026 and 4% in 2027, following growth of 5.3% in 2025.
Sources and Further Reading
Khmer Times — “Cambodia draws $5.92B in projects despite global risks,” by Chea Vanyuth.
Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC) — Investment figures for January–September 2026, as reported by Khmer Times.
International Monetary Fund (IMF) — September economic growth forecast for Cambodia, as cited in the source report.
Cambodia Chamber of Commerce — Business-environment and trade-agreement perspectives attributed to Vice-President Lim Heng.