AKP Phnom Penh, May 27, 2026 --

Preah Sihanouk Province is actively rolling out the red carpet for Chinese enterprises, inviting investors from eastern China’s Hefei City to leverage the coastal province's rapidly expanding industrial, commercial, and tourism ecosystems.

H.E. Mang Sineth, Governor of Preah Sihanouk Province, led a high-level Cambodian delegation to the "Hefei (Anhui Province) - Preah Sihanouk Province (Cambodia) Industrial Investors Matchmaking Forum" held in Hefei, the capital of Anhui Province on May 26. Organised in collaboration with the Hefei Municipal Administration and the Cambodian Consulate General in Shanghai, the forum aims to deepen bilateral economic ties and foster practical trade partnerships.

The economic forum drew together key political and business figures, including Yang Li, Director of the Hefei Foreign Affairs Office, and Nguon Visoth, Cambodian Consul General in Shanghai.

Representing Hefei’s robust industrial sector were executives from 50 leading investment firms and major enterprises specialised in cutting-edge industries, including:
Water Management & Environmental Technology: Anhui Shunyu Water Affairs and Anhui Tongyuan Environment Energy Saving; New Energy & Smart Technology: Anhui Oukun New Energy, Sichuang Electronics, and Anhui Shengyun Intelligent Technology; Construction & Engineering: Anhui Runye Construction Engineering and Anhui Yifeng Engineering Project Management; International Trade: Various high-capacity import-export enterprises.

Governor Mang Sineth emphasised that the forum reflects the enduring "ironclad friendship" and comprehensive strategic partnership between Cambodia and China.

He underscored the strong synergy between the Pentagonal Strategy of the Royal Government of Cambodia – led by Prime Minister Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet – and China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) spearheaded by President Xi Jinping. This alignment is pivotal in advancing the "Diamond Hexagon" cooperation framework, accelerating the "Industrial and Technological Corridor," and developing the "Fish and Rice Corridor."

During a comprehensive investment presentation, Governor Mang Sineth detailed Preah Sihanouk’s status as Cambodia’s premier economic engine, anchored by its strategic deep-sea port, manufacturing hubs, and tourism appeal. The province currently hosts seven operational Special Economic Zones (SEZs).

To guide future growth, the Royal Government of Cambodia is implementing the "Preah Sihanouk Provincial Master Plan as a Model Multi-Purpose Special Economic Zone (2025–2038)." Developed in collaboration with the Urban Planning and Design Institute of Shenzhen (UPDIS), the master plan envisions transforming the province into a major international gateway for Southeast Asia; a modern regional industrial and financial centre;  and a green, sustainable, and smart city within ASEAN.

To accelerate capital inflows, the Governor highlighted the "Special Programme to Promote Investment in Preah Sihanouk Province 2024," an initiative launched by Prime Minister Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet that offers aggressive incentives for foreign businesses:

1. Tax Exemptions: A three-year exemption from income tax and minimum tax, alongside state-absorbed customs duties and taxes on imports of construction materials and production equipment; 2. Streamlined Administration: Fast-tracked, transparent processing for construction permits, business licenses, and regulatory approvals.

By K. Rithy Reak