Some managers and entrepreneurs have talked about business prospects for Cambodia in 2020 in recent interviews of Cambodia’s English-language newspaper Khmer Times.
A display of lights near the Independence Monument in Phnom Penh. (Source: Khmer Times)
Phnom Penh (VNA) – Some managers andentrepreneurs have talked about business prospects for Cambodia in 2020 inrecent interviews of Cambodia’s English-language newspaper Khmer Times.
Ken Loo, secretary-general of the GarmentManufacturers Association in Cambodia, said the garment-textile sector in 2020will depend much on the outcome of the decision of the European Union on theEverything But Arms (EBA) trade deal.
“If the EBA is retained, our sector shouldbe able to continue to experience growth,” he said.
“We should continue to see a revival in exportsto the USA – our exports should continue to experience decent growth to theUSA. We expect to see more investors in both garment and travel goods nextyear.”
He added that the sector will continue focusingon improving productivity and efficiency as well as invest more in training andincreasing skills for workers.
Meanwhile, In Channy, president and groupmanaging director of ACLEDA Bank and president of the Association Bank ofCambodia (ABC), said the financial sector performed well in 2019 and it willcontinue enjoying a healthy growth rate in 2020 thanks to political stabilityand favourable macro-economic situation.
“In 2020, we foresee that the outstandingloans and deposits will increase around 10 percent and 12 percent respectively.The growth will depend solely on the overall economic growth, peace andstability. Our growth plan is dependent on the economic growth of Cambodia,” hesaid.
Ha Jong Weon, vice-chairman and chief operationsofficer of the Cambodia Securities Exchange (CSX), said the CSX performed wellin 2019. The daily average trading was 73.55 million USD in the first 11 monthsof 2019, while it was only 2.92 million USD in the same period of 2018, hecited.
“Our mission in 2020 is to find a techcompany to join the stock market,” he said./.
Vietnam and Cambodia hold substantial potential for cooperation in economy, trade, investment, tourism and other fields, Vietnamese Ambassador to Cambodia Thach Du said.
Vietnam and Cambodia could make their two-way trade value at 7-8 billion USD by 2020 as they have established sound cooperation across sectors and their governments have regularly taken measures to remove difficulties for businesses, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said.
Vietnam’s exports to Cambodia exceeded 3 billion USD last year, setting a record high in a decade and opening up opportunities for local firms to capitalise on untapped potential of the neighbouring market, statistics show.
A Vietnam – Cambodia business cooperation forum and a caravan tour for Vietnamese and Cambodian businesspeople will take place in Cambodia from December 5 – 8, heard a press conference in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho on November 1.
A Vietnam – Cambodia business cooperation forum was held in Phnom Penh on December 6, focusing on how to boost trade efficiency and protect the legitimate interests of enterprises, as well as experiences in completing procedures for cross-border goods.
Total trade between Indonesia and New Zealand in the first half of 2025 reached 963.23 million USD, an increase of 21.56% compared to 792.39 million USD in the same period last year. Of this amount, Indonesia's exports to New Zealand totaled 374.89 million USD, while imports 588.35 million USD
Malaysia, as ASEAN 2025 Chair, marked the bloc’s 58th founding anniversary on August 8 with a vibrant celebration in Cyberjaya, blending an official ceremony with a colorful cultural festival.
Vietnam plays an important role in Southeast Asia’s economic growth and is a key partner of her country in realising the shared vision of a peaceful, stable, and prosperous region, said Robyn Mudie, First Assistant Secretary of Office of Southeast Asia (OSA) – Southeast Asia Regional and Mainland Division at Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).
The 2025 ASEAN Business Community Development (ABCD) Forum, themed “Empowering ASEAN's Next Leap: Digital, Sustainable & Entrepreneurial Transformation” brought together ministers, CEOs, and top industry experts to discuss key regional economic priorities.
The DES Ministry will seek cooperation from social media platforms to prevent the spread of fake news and monitor accounts related to such activities, he told reporters after chairing a meeting of the newly established Anti-Fake News Centre (AFNC).
The Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking identified the US tariff reduction as a significant driver behind the improved economic outlook for Thailand.
Financial institutions and financial technology (fintech) players are intensifying their focus on expanding across the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), adopting tailored strategies to strengthen their presence in the region’s digital financial services landscape.
Featuring a permanent exhibition area, the ASEAN Hall will function both as a cultural showcase and as a dynamic venue for ASEAN-related events and programmes. Its inauguration on ASEAN Day added symbolic weight, marking a fresh milestone in ASEAN–RoK relations.
Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce and rice exporters are devising strategic plans to boost rice exports amid global market fluctuations, focusing on key markets and adjusting output.
The focus of the upcoming ASEAN Summit in October will be on strengthening economic relations through intra-regional trade and investment, as well as regional initiatives on energy networks and connectivity.
Indonesian Ambassador Rina P. Soemarno, who currently serves as Chair of the ASEAN Committee in Prague, emphasised the spirit of regional solidarity and cooperation, and the importance of enhancing ASEAN–Czech Republic relations.
The Indonesian Government is determined to seize opportunities to enhance the competitiveness of national agricultural products, an official has said, adding that it always strives to promote exports at the highest possible level, based on a mutually beneficial foundation.
Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira has outlined a six-point strategy to promote innovation, support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and push for Thailand's removal from the US Trade Representative (USTR)’s special 301 Watch List regarding intellectual property rights protection among trading partners.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Israel Ly Duc Trung emphasised ASEAN’s central role in regional mechanisms such as the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and the East Asia Summit (EAS), highlighting its significant contribution to promoting peace, stability, and prosperity in Southeast Asia.
The consumer index of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC), fell to 51.7 in July from 52.7 in the previous month. The sluggish economy and the trade war, as well as high living costs, continue to undermine confidence, the university said.
Deputy Speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly Istvan Jakab expressed his hope for further deepening Hungary’s ties with ASEAN countries and called for their support for Hungary’s accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia.
The 30-storey tower crumbled seconds after a 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit neighbouring Myanmar on March 28. The partially built high-rise, meant to house the State Audit Office (SAO), was the only building in Thailand to collapse, killing 89 people on the site, mostly construction workers.
Indonesia’s waste generation is projected to exceed 50 million tonnes in 2025. Of the total, more than 20 million tonnes could potentially enter the ocean through rivers, coastal areas, small islands, ports, and marine activities, and thereby, pose a risk to coastal ecosystems and marine biota.
Indonesia is accelerating plans to increase lithium imports, particularly from Australia, in a bid to fill gaps in the electric vehicle (EV) battery supply chain and realise its ambition of becoming a global EV manufacturing hub.
A display of lights near the Independence Monument in Phnom Penh. (Source: Khmer Times) 
