Phnom Penh (FN), Apr. 9 – Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet expressed his strong desire to see the special programme aimed at promoting investment in the four northeastern provinces—Kratie, Stung Treng, Ratanakiri, and Mondulkiri—make a significant contribution to creating a tangible "economic flow" in the region. He added that this success can only be realised through the cooperation of all relevant parties, both public and private sectors.
The premier spoke on Wednesday (Apr. 9) at the official launching of the “Special Programme to Promote Investment in the Four Northeastern Province of Cambodia 2025-2028” at Sokha Phnom Penh Hotel.
Samdech Thipadei highlighted that the shortage of human resources, particularly in agriculture and agro-industry, remains a challenge. Many workers prefer to work in urban areas, prompting the Royal Government to offer incentives such as tax exemptions on salaries for Cambodian workers earning up to 2,000,000 riels per month and working in Qualified Investment Projects (QIPs) in any of the four provinces in the northeast. While implementing such policies is crucial, Samdech Thipadei stressed that execution is equally important.
“"I truly hope this special programme will significantly boost economic activity in our northeastern region," the premier underscored.
"I would particularly like to underscore the public sector's role in safeguarding, nurturing, and supporting investors, while ensuring that any inaction does not hinder business operations. The traditional approach to creating new opportunities is vital. We must protect existing investors and bolster their confidence as problem-solvers, not problem-makers," Samdech Thipadei continued.
At the same time, the prime minister noted that this confidence would naturally become a word-of-mouth endorsement of Cambodia within the business community.
The premier also instructed the working group to approach its tasks with a spirit of teamwork, following the "Dynamics of Stakeholder System" approach, to ensure the successful implementation of the measures in the special investment promotion programme, yielding the desired and tangible results.
On the occasion, Samdech Thipadei also called for the wide dissemination of information about the programme, emphasising the need for clear and accurate explanations. He stressed the importance of offering hospitality and fostering strong cooperation with investors and businesspeople, both domestically and internationally, to raise awareness and attract key stakeholders. He further urged the group to seek innovative ideas to enhance the programme’s appeal, focusing on both commercial viability and the added value of the production chain connected to the market.
The Royal Government of Cambodia considers the four northeastern provinces to have favourable conditions for agriculture, agro-industry, and tourism. The agricultural and agro-industrial products cultivated in these provinces include rubber, cashew, cassava, pepper, and yellow bananas, all of which are strategic products with significant potential in both domestic and international markets.
In fact, in 2024, the output of these crops in the four provinces accounted for approximately 20 to 60 per cent of the total national yield, clearly illustrating the high productivity and suitability of the soil, as well as the geographical and climatic conditions in the northeastern region for these crops.
Additionally, the region’s abundant natural resources—such as its cool climate, clean air, diverse natural resources, forests, and wildlife sanctuaries—have made the four provinces an area with considerable potential for nature and ecotourism. This includes Unique Identity Tourism, which refers to cultural, natural, and historical tourism products unique to the northeastern provinces and regions of Cambodia.
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