Cambodian Ambassador: Eager to Enhance Economic and Investment Cooperation with Kuwait

- The friendship relations between the two countries have completed 32 years... and we look forward to expanding the partnership and turning opportunities into concrete projects.

- We celebrate the 73rd anniversary of our country’s independence and take pride in the peace, development, and prosperity it has achieved.

Cambodia’s Ambassador to Kuwait, Chea Makra, expressed his country’s pride in the friendship and cooperation relations with Kuwait, which completed their 32nd year last July. He emphasized his country’s commitment to strengthening bilateral ties, particularly in economic, trade, and investment sectors, and exploring new opportunities that serve the mutual interests of both nations.

In a statement marking the 73rd anniversary of the Kingdom of Cambodia’s independence, which falls on November 9, Ambassador Makra extended his highest regards, respect, and sincere wishes for success and prosperity to His Highness the Amir of Kuwait, Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah; His Highness the Crown Prince, Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah; the Kuwaiti government; and its people.

He noted that November 9 represents a historic milestone and a source of pride for the Cambodian people, as the country regained its independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity from French colonial rule in 1953, thanks to the "Royal Campaign for Independence" led by King Norodom Sihanouk. He praised the King’s role, diplomatic acumen, and sacrifices in liberating the country and unifying its people.

He pointed out that after gaining independence, Cambodia faced decades of internal conflicts and genocide during the 1970s, before former Prime Minister Hun Sen’s "Profit for All" policy succeeded in ending the civil war and achieving peace and national unity by the end of 1998.

He added that peace laid the foundation for the development and prosperity journey Cambodia is witnessing under the leadership of King Norodom Sihamoni, confirming that the country’s harsh experiences strengthened its understanding of the importance of peace and stability.

He noted that Cambodia transformed from a host country for United Nations peacekeeping forces during the 1990s into a contributor to international peacekeeping operations. Over more than two decades, it has deployed 10,814 personnel to 10 countries—Sudan, South Sudan, Chad, Lebanon, Cyprus, Syria, Mali, the Central African Republic, Yemen, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo—to participate in humanitarian missions, infrastructure development, and mine clearance.

On economic matters, Makra clarified that the Cambodian government, led by Prime Minister Hun Manet, is implementing the "Five-Year Strategy – Phase I," aiming to transform the country into an upper-middle-income nation by 2030 and a high-income country by 2050.

He noted that the Cambodian economy recorded an average growth rate of about 7 percent over more than two decades prior to the coronavirus pandemic, while projections indicate an average GDP growth of 4.9 percent and an average inflation rate of 2.8 percent during the period from 2021 to 2028.

Regarding Kuwait-Cambodia relations, the Ambassador confirmed that the reciprocal visits by then-Kuwaiti Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser Al-Mohammed Al-Sabah in 2008 and then-Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen in 2009 helped lay the foundations for political, trade, investment, educational, and tourism cooperation between the two countries.

He added that bilateral relations reached an important milestone in May 2025 during the ASEAN and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit in the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur, where Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet met with His Highness the Crown Prince, Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Sabah. Both sides affirmed their shared vision to enhance friendship and cooperation.

He emphasized the Cambodian Embassy’s commitment in Kuwait to continue its role in broadening the scope of bilateral partnership and creating opportunities to enhance political, cultural, and investment cooperation, noting the significant potential to increase trade exchanges, strengthen ties between business communities, and explore new investments.

He clarified that cooperation between the public and private sectors is a key factor in leveraging available economic opportunities, pointing out that Kuwait holds an important international position in the energy sector, financial investment management, and franchising, while Cambodia offers an attractive investment environment and diverse competitive advantages.

He highlighted that among these advantages is a young workforce with digital skills and the capacity to acquire expertise, noting that approximately 60 percent of the population is under 35 years old. He also mentioned investment incentives, including income tax exemptions of up to 12 years, allowing 100 percent foreign ownership, and the unrestricted repatriation of profits.

He added that his country is working to facilitate investment procedures through the single-window system of the Council for the Development of Cambodia, as well as providing government support to investors via direct dialogue and the Government-Business Forum chaired by the Prime Minister.

He pointed out that Cambodia’s strategic location in the heart of the ASEAN region, along with the development of infrastructure projects such as the Funan Techo Canal, enhance transport efficiency and contribute to reducing operational costs.

He noted that Cambodia’s membership in ASEAN and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), alongside free trade agreements with China and South Korea, and the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement with the United Arab Emirates, provide investors with broader opportunities to access global markets.

In the energy sector, Makara explained that renewable energy sources, including hydropower, solar, and wind, accounted for 63 percent of Cambodia’s energy mix as of July 2026, adding that his country aims to raise this share to 70 percent by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.

He affirmed that geographical distance is no longer an obstacle to strengthening economic relations in light of a shared vision for progress and prosperity, stressing the Embassy’s readiness to provide necessary facilitations and support to transform cooperation opportunities into actual trade visits, strategic partnerships, agreements, and investment projects during 2027 and subsequent years.

Concluding his statement, the Cambodian Ambassador reaffirmed that celebrating Independence Day also serves as an occasion to honor the friendship and cooperation between Kuwait and Cambodia, expressing his hope for the continued development of bilateral relations that will bring peace, prosperity, and happiness to the peoples of both countries.