Cambodia: 2025 project boom, concentrated capital… and a window of opportunity for French businesses

From late 2025 into early 2026, Cambodia’s business signals are clear: a surge in approved projects, growing momentum in industrial provinces, and rising FDI—but with a strong concentration (China + manufacturing) that calls for a cautious reading when making market-entry decisions and planning international mobility.

1) 2025: a sharp rise in approved projects

From January to October 2025, the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC) reported 575 approved projects, up 66% year-on-year. The total investment value increased in similar proportions (+67%).Manufacturing remained the main driver, supported by Special Economic Zones and export-oriented activities; renewable energy (notably solar and hydropower) also continued to expand.

Where is activity concentrated? 

Over the period, leading provinces were Kampong Speu (130 projects), Svay Rieng (129), followed by Phnom Penh (68), Takeo (59), Koh Kong (50), Sihanoukville (45), reflecting industrial growth beyond the capital and the role of SEZs and logistics corridors.

2) 2025 FDI: above $5bn, but highly concentrated

Cambodia’s National Bank reported $5.1bn in FDI inflows in 2025, up 16% vs 2024.The 2025 structure highlights a marked dependency:

·       China: 73.7% of 2025 FDI

·       Manufacturing: 68.1% of 2025 FDI (vs 11.9% for financial activities; 6.1% for construction)

Note: for Jan–Oct 2025, China was the leading source in announced capital with 49.2% over that window—showing how figures can differ depending on whether you look at annual FDI inflows vs project-based approvals on a partial-year period.

3) France–Cambodia: a structured dialogue with targeted sectors

In September 2025, a French delegation (MEDEF International / ASEAN Special Representative) met with the CDC to discuss investment opportunities.

Useful “French business” reference points:

·       Since 1994, the CDC has approved 44 French Qualified Investment Projects (QIPs), totaling $380m.

·       Sectors explicitly highlighted: civil aviation, logistics, energy, wholesale and retail trade.

·       Cambodia also signals a broader francophone agenda: the 20th Francophonie Summit is mentioned as planned for 2026 in Siem Reap.

How Relocation Vietnam supports your move to Cambodia

Relocation Vietnam provides end-to-end, on-the-ground support for expatriates and corporate assignees relocating to Cambodia—covering both the compliance layer and the practical setup that determines whether an assignment starts smoothly.

Key support areas include:

·       Immigration guidance for Cambodia (visa pathways and entry requirements), including practical cost references (e.g., tourist visa US$30 / business visa US$35 on arrival, as indicated on Relocation Vietnam’s Cambodia immigration page).

·       Settling-in support and local integration guidance, with Cambodia-specific content and practical city tips (e.g., Phnom Penh survival guide logistics and transport cost references).

·       Core relocation services delivered as structured modules (orientation, home search, school search support, immigration, settling-in, networking, cross-cultural training, departure services).

·       Cross-cultural training options designed for families and executives (program formats and durations are outlined on the site).

For a Cambodia assignment in 2026, the value is in aligning arrival timing, immigration steps, and the first-week essentials (housing, local setup, and family integration) so the assignee can become operational quickly and compliantly.