Cambodia aims to become an upper middle-income country by 2030, having achieved lower middle-income status in 2015. The Royal Government of Cambodia has embraced economic and market diversification and integration as a pathway to this prosperity. The Cambodia Trade Integration Strategy 2019–2023 of the Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology and Innovation establishes a strong link between trade and poverty reduction, gender equality and inclusivity.
CAPRED helps the Royal Government of Cambodia to leverage existing and upcoming free trade agreements, including the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, the world’s largest free trade agreement. Cambodia also has free trade agreements with China and the Republic of Korea, and takes part in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the World Trade Organization.
CAPRED is working with firms along the value chain to promote Cambodia’s exports. We are assisting with export and branding strategies and identifying priority investments.
CAPRED supports Cambodia to develop a national quality infrastructure policy and strengthen quality infrastructure systems in the agriculture and food export sector. We are building capacity in the public and private sectors to implement standards, accreditation, metrology and conformity assessments. We also advocate to streamline and reduce costs and promote private sector participation.
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Cambodia’s growth has been heavily reliant on foreign direct investment, particularly from China. As investment capital becomes scarcer, Cambodia must look at other streams, such as green finance.
CAPRED focuses on supporting national-level policies and legal and regulatory frameworks. Other investments are in our main work areas such as agriculture, climate resilience and infrastructure services.
The 2021 Investment Law offers incentives such as income tax and customs duties exemptions and will significantly engage women, people with disability and marginalised groups in trade and investment. CAPRED provides technical support to develop an implementation roadmap and increase awareness of the new law on investment.
CAPRED continues to support the Agri-Food Investment Desk (AFID) to develop proactive investment strategies and target investors. In 2023, CAPRED facilitated a successful AFID study visit to Australia. CAPRED also works to prepare small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) for investment readiness and opportunities.
CAPRED is building capacity in data collection on agriculture, particularly for the evidence base or business case for gender equality, disability and social inclusion (GEDSI) in agro-processing, trade and investment.
CAPRED is working with local SMEs to upgrade their investment readiness, strengthen their business governance and financial compliance, and match them with potential investors and investment funds through AFID.
CAPRED is also supporting the Royal Government of Cambodia to develop a user-friendly online process to streamline business registration. Nearly 90% of Cambodian enterprises are micro, small and medium-sized enterprises. While these estimated 500,000 enterprises generate 70% of all employment, only 5% are formally registered. The process for registration is costly and complicated, with ongoing fees and licencing requirements. Registration is necessary, however, to access loans and import and export licences, and to establish a brand.
CAPRED offers several funding rounds and grant opportunities each year. They are
primarily open to businesses and organisations within Cambodia, in line with our
program
activities.
Rounds follow competitive processes with all applicants given similar consideration.
CAPRED offers several funding rounds and grant opportunities each year. They are
primarily open to businesses and organisations within Cambodia, in line with our
program
activities.
Rounds follow competitive processes with all applicants given similar consideration.
CAPRED offers several funding rounds and grant opportunities each year. They are
primarily open to businesses and organisations within Cambodia, in line with our
program
activities.
Rounds follow competitive processes with all applicants given similar consideration.
See our latest resources from across the CAPRED program.
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The Cambodia Australia Partnership for Resilient Economic Development (CAPRED) is Australia’s flagship economic development program in Cambodia. CAPRED’s goal is to help Cambodia achieve resilient, inclusive and sustainable economic growth. Australia through CAPRED works with stakeholders across the Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC), the private sector and development partners to achieve outcomes. In its second full year of implementation (1 July 2023-30 June 2024), CAPRED had significant successes across the cross-cutting themes (Policy Hub; Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion (GEDSI); and Climate Resilience) and technical domains (Agriculture and Agro-Processing; Trade, Investment and Enterprise Development; and Infrastructure Development).
This policy brief provides an overview of the Cambodian Government-Private Sector Forum (G-PSF), from its founding to the challenges and opportunities of the present day. It is the first in a planned series of policy briefs that delve into the G-PSF model. The G-PSF is a comprehensive public-private dialogue mechanism that comprises a plenary forum chaired by the Cambodian Prime Minister and technical working groups (WGs). Its primary function is to provide a platform through which government and industry can come together to discuss, debate and create solutions to regulatory or policy issues to promote economic growth.
Within a fast-moving international trade environment, Cambodia’s aspirations for growth, along with global shifts and trends, require a focus on constructive economic policies.
CAPRED: Highlights 2023-24
CAMBODIA GOVERNMENT-PRIVATE SECTOR FORUM (G-PSF)
CAPRED in Policy Support
Read our latest news & stories to find out more about CAPRED’s interventions.
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