Cambodia registered 36 investment projects worth approximately US$470 million in September 2026, with the projects expected to create around 17,000 jobs for Cambodian workers, according to the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC). The registrations included two major solar power projects in Pursat province with a combined investment value of US$258 million, while domestic investors accounted for the largest share of registered investment capital.
Key Facts
Total registered projects: 36.
Total investment capital: Approximately US$470 million.
Expected employment: Around 17,000 jobs.
Projects registered by the CDC: 23 projects worth approximately US$435 million.
Projects registered by Capital-Provincial Investment Sub-Committees: 13 projects worth approximately US$35 million.
Major renewable energy investments: Two solar power plants in Krakor district, Pursat province, with capacities of 350 megawatts and 30 megawatts.
Largest investor group by capital: Domestic investors, accounting for 57.80% of investment capital.
Reporting period: September 2026, with separate CDC commentary covering the first nine months of the year.
Cambodia Registers US$470 Million in September Investment Projects
The CDC and Capital-Provincial Investment Sub-Committees registered 36 investment projects during September, with combined capital of approximately US$470 million.
According to the CDC's press release, the projects are expected to generate around 17,000 jobs, highlighting the potential contribution of new investment to employment and economic activity.
Of the total, 23 projects were registered by the CDC, representing approximately US$435 million in investment capital and the potential to create around 11,000 jobs.
The remaining 13 projects were registered by Capital-Provincial Investment Sub-Committees. These projects accounted for approximately US$35 million and were expected to generate around 6,000 jobs.
The figures show that projects registered through the CDC accounted for most of the reported investment capital, while the provincial and capital-level committees registered a larger share of the expected jobs relative to their investment value.
These are projected employment figures. The announcement does not establish how many jobs have already been created or when the projects will begin operating.
Two Solar Power Plants Account for Major Investment Commitments
Renewable energy featured prominently among the September registrations, with two solar power plants planned for Krakor district in Pursat province.
The projects are:
| Project | Planned capacity | Reported investment |
|---|---|---|
| Solar power plant 1 | 350 MW | US$225 million |
| Solar power plant 2 | 30 MW | US$33 million |
| Combined | 380 MW | US$258 million |
Together, the two projects represent US$258 million in reported investment capital.
The combined amount is more than half of the approximately US$470 million registered during September, making the projects a significant component of the month's investment figures.
Solar power development can contribute to electricity generation capacity and diversify the energy mix. However, the CDC announcement did not provide construction schedules, commissioning dates, project developers, financing structures or expected annual electricity output.
The registration figures should therefore be understood as investment commitments associated with registered projects, rather than evidence that the plants are already operating or generating electricity.
Infrastructure and Industry Lead Investment Allocation
By sector, investment capital was concentrated in infrastructure and other sectors, followed by industry, agriculture and agro-industry, and tourism.
| Sector | Reported investment capital |
|---|---|
| Infrastructure and other sectors | Approximately US$258 million |
| Industry | Approximately US$172 million |
| Agriculture and agro-industry | Approximately US$29 million |
| Tourism | Approximately US$11 million |
| Total | Approximately US$470 million |
Infrastructure and other sectors accounted for the largest reported allocation, at approximately US$258 million. Industry followed with around US$172 million.
Agriculture and agro-industry received approximately US$29 million, while tourism accounted for about US$11 million.
These figures indicate that infrastructure and industrial activity represented the main destinations for September's registered investment capital.
The source report did not provide a detailed breakdown of individual projects within each sector beyond the two solar power plants highlighted in Pursat.
Domestic Investors Account for the Largest Share
Domestic investors represented 57.80% of September's registered investment capital, according to the CDC.
China accounted for 28.66%, while Malaysia represented 6.52%. Other investment sources included Vietnam, the Republic of Korea and Japan.
The reported shares indicate that Cambodian investors contributed the largest portion of registered capital during the month, followed by Chinese and Malaysian investors.
Domestic investment can support business expansion and local economic activity, while foreign investment can introduce additional capital, technology, market connections and production capabilities, depending on the nature of the projects.
However, the CDC announcement did not provide the precise investment amounts attributable to each country or identify the investors behind the individual projects, apart from the information on the solar power plants.
CDC Reports Continued Investment Activity in 2026
The CDC stated that Cambodia continued to attract quality investment projects during the first nine months of 2026.
It attributed this trend to the resilience of Cambodia's investment climate and investor confidence in the Royal Government's efforts to promote business activities and investment.
The September figures provide a snapshot of newly registered projects during one month. They should not be interpreted as the total value of investment registered during the first nine months of the year, as the source did not provide the cumulative amount in the announcement.
A fuller assessment of investment performance would require year-to-date figures, project implementation data, actual capital expenditure and employment outcomes.
Angkor Times Analysis
September's investment registrations highlight three important features of Cambodia's investment activity: the concentration of capital in infrastructure and industry, the prominence of domestic investors, and the potential employment contribution of smaller projects registered at the provincial level.
First, renewable energy is a notable part of the September figures. The two planned solar power plants in Pursat represent US$258 million in combined investment and 380 megawatts of planned capacity. Their eventual contribution will depend on implementation, grid integration and when the facilities begin operating.
Second, investment value and job creation do not always move together. The CDC registered projects worth approximately US$435 million with around 11,000 expected jobs, while provincial and capital-level committees registered US$35 million in projects expected to create around 6,000 jobs. This difference suggests that project types and labour requirements vary. It does not, by itself, establish the quality, wages or long-term stability of the jobs.
Third, registration is only one stage of investment delivery. The next indicators to watch are construction progress, capital actually deployed, projects entering operation and jobs created. These measures would help establish how much the registered investment contributes to economic output and household incomes.
For businesses and investors, the figures provide an indication of the sectors and investor groups active in September. For policymakers, transparent reporting on implementation and employment would help show how registered projects translate into lasting economic benefits.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How much investment did Cambodia register in September 2026?
Cambodia registered approximately US$470 million across 36 investment projects, according to the CDC.
2. How many jobs are the projects expected to create?
The projects are expected to create around 17,000 jobs. The announcement does not confirm how many positions have already been filled.
3. What were the two major solar power projects?
Two solar power plants planned for Krakor district in Pursat province have capacities of 350 MW and 30 MW, with reported investments of US$225 million and US$33 million, respectively.
4. Which sectors received the most investment capital?
Infrastructure and other sectors received approximately US$258 million, followed by industry at US$172 million, agriculture and agro-industry at US$29 million, and tourism at US$11 million.
5. Which investors accounted for the largest shares of capital?
Domestic investors accounted for 57.80% of registered investment capital, followed by China at 28.66% and Malaysia at 6.52%.
6. How were the 36 projects divided between the CDC and provincial committees?
The CDC registered 23 projects worth approximately US$435 million, while Capital-Provincial Investment Sub-Committees registered 13 projects worth approximately US$35 million.
7. Does the US$470 million figure represent all investment registered in 2026?
No. It represents the projects registered during September 2026. The announcement did not provide the cumulative investment value for the first nine months of the year.