Cambodia Shifts from Garment Reliance to Diversified Export Economy
A medium-size cargo ship deck at Sihanouk Ville, Cambodia
Phnom Penh, 10 January 2026 — Cambodia has successfully transitioned from an economy heavily reliant on the garment industry to one with a diversified manufacturing and export base, marked by record-breaking investment approvals for two consecutive years. In 2025 alone, the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC) approved new investment projects totaling USD 10 billion, underscoring growing investor confidence and structural economic transformation.
The announcement was made by H.E. Sun Chanthol, First Vice Chairman of the CDC, during the closing ceremony of the 2025 Trade Performance Review and the 2026 Trade Direction Conference held on 9 January 2026.
H.E. Sun Chanthol emphasized that Cambodia’s export base has expanded beyond garments to include electronics and agro-industry, reflecting a strategic shift toward higher value-added production. In 2025, the CDC approved 630 new investment projects, generating more than 430,000 jobs nationwide—the highest investment performance recorded to date.
Cambodia’s leading export products now include garments, footwear, travel goods and bags, rice, automobile tires, electronic components and parts, cassava, bicycles, electrical wires, and wiring harnesses. Key trading partners in 2025 comprised China, ASEAN member states, the United States, the European Union, Japan, Canada, the United Kingdom, the Republic of Korea, Australia, India, and the United Arab Emirates.
The development highlights Cambodia’s continued progress toward economic diversification, resilience, and deeper integration into global value chains.
