Cambodia Studies to Establish Cambodia-Japan Special Economic Zone to attract Japanese investors

Cambodia is studying the establishment of a Cambodia-Japan Special Economic Zone to attract more Japanese investors to Cambodia. 

In order to achieve this plan, on the morning of Monday, February 12, 2024, Deputy Prime Minister Sun Chanthol, First Vice President of the Council for the Development of Cambodia, was in charge of chairing the policy working group for the establishment of the Cambodia-Japan Special Economic Zone and leading an inter-ministerial working group to discuss the preparation of concept documents for the preparation of the Cambodia-Japan Special Economic Zone.

The meeting was attended by the Minister of Mines and Energy, the Minister of Industry, Science, Technology, and Innovation, the Secretary General of the Investment Commission of the Council for the Development of Cambodia, the Secretary of State of the Ministry of Economy and Finance, and leaders and government officials from various relevant ministries and institutions.

The meeting was held on the initiative of the Prime Minister during his visit to Japan on December 15–19, 2023. The Council for the Development of Cambodia emphasized that the establishment of the Cambodia-Japan Special Economic Zone aims to encourage more Japanese investors to invest in Cambodia.

Please note that the Cambodia Special Economic Zone refers to the Special Center for Economic Development, which brings together industrial activities and other related activities and may include general industrial zones and/or export processing and export zones.

Pursuant to Sub-Decree No. 148 dated December 2005 on the Establishment and Management of Special Economic Zones, each SEZ must have a production center and possibly a free trade center, service center, residential center, and tourism center.

As of August 2023, Cambodia has 24 Special Economic Zones (SEZs) operating in 9 locations in 9 capital and provinces, with a total of 655 investment projects that provide more than 170,000 jobs:

• Phnom Penh has 2 SEZs in operation.

• Kandal province has 2 SEZs in operation.

• Kampong Speu Province has 1 SEZ in operation.

• Sihanoukville has 4 SEZs in operation.

• Kampot Province has 1 SEZ in operation.

• Koh Kong Province has 1 SEZ in operation.

• Kratie Province has 1 SEZ in operation.

• Svay Rieng province has 9 SEZs in operation.

• Banteay Meanchey province has 3 SEZs in operation.