Phnom Penh, Cambodia – In a significant move to bolster their enduring bilateral relationship, Cambodia and France have pledged to intensify their economic and investment cooperation. This commitment comes as bilateral trade between the two nations recently reached nearly $570 million, signaling robust growth in their commercial ties.
The pledge was made during a high-level meeting in Phnom Penh on February 24, where Mr. Suon Sophal, Deputy Secretary General of the Cambodian Investment Committee of the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC), met with Mr. Thomas Lam, Head of the Cambodia-France Parliamentary Friendship Group and a member of the French Parliament. The discussions, held at the CDC office, focused on exchanging views and strategies for strengthening economic and investment collaboration between the two countries, as confirmed by the CDC.
During the meeting, Mr. Suon Sophal underscored the steadfast commitment of both governments to further cultivate their historical ties. He emphasized efforts to promote trade and investment activities, particularly by attracting high-potential French businesses to the Cambodian market. Mr. Suon Sophal elaborated on the Cambodian government’s ongoing initiatives to enhance the investment climate. These include implementing a smart and highly preferential investment regime, developing crucial physical infrastructure, and training the national workforce to meet evolving market demands. Furthermore, he noted that the mechanism for dialogue between the state and the Cambodian-European Union private sector has convened three times, successfully building trust and addressing investor concerns effectively.
Looking ahead, Mr. Suon Sophal urged the Cambodia-France Friendship Group to continue fostering joint initiatives and action plans aimed at reinforcing Business-to-Business (B2B) relations between the two nations. A key opportunity highlighted was the 20th Francophonie Summit, which Cambodia is set to host in late 2026. He proposed leveraging this prestigious event to organize a pivotal investment and business forum as a significant accompanying event.
In response, Mr. Thomas Lam expressed high appreciation for Cambodia’s rapid progress and reiterated France’s commitment to further solidify cooperation. He pledged to encourage more high-potential French businesses to initiate and expand their investment operations in Cambodia across various promising sectors. These include areas that attract innovation, such as agro-industry, accounting and finance, tourism, automotive and electronics, healthcare, and logistics, all aimed at driving mutual economic growth.
According to data from the General Department of Customs and Excise of Cambodia (GDCE), Cambodia-France trade relations reached $568.74 million in 2025, marking an impressive 11.7 percent increase compared to 2024. Specifically, Cambodia’s exports to the French market totaled $447.52 million, up by 12.5 percent, while imports from France stood at $121.21 million, increasing by 9 percent. The GDCE identified France as Cambodia’s 16th largest trading partner, following countries such as China, the United States, Vietnam, Thailand, Japan, Singapore, Canada, Spain, Germany, Indonesia, Malaysia, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, South Korea, and Taiwan.
Investment data from the Council for the Development of Cambodia further illustrates the depth of this partnership. From 1994 to mid-2025, the CDC approved 44 qualified investment projects from France, cumulatively valued at approximately $380 million. These figures highlight the sustained and growing confidence of French investors in Cambodia’s economic potential.
