Preah Sihanouk’s deputy governor said the province’s distinctive potential would help it strengthen its position as an investment, trade, transport and services centre in Cambodia and the region, offering a competitive environment for investors across sectors.
Deputy Governor Em Pheap spoke at the Cambodia–China investment exploration programme at Ajuna Solitaire Hotel on the afternoon of March 18, 2026. He said the government had extended the Special Programme to Promote Investment in Preah Sihanouk through the end of 2027 to encourage further investment.
Participants included Tourism Under Secretary of State Hang Sandap, Information Under Secretary of State Ouk Kimseng, private-sector representatives, provincial department heads and city and district authorities.
The deputy governor also described a planned four-month visa-exemption policy for Chinese citizens from June 15 to October 15, 2026, as a further opening under the Cambodia–China Tourism Year 2025–2026 framework.
He said these measures reflected the government’s commitment to strengthening bilateral diplomacy, trade, investment, tourism and other promising areas of cooperation.
Tourism Under Secretary of State Hang Sandap said that under the Hun Manet government’s Pentagonal Strategy Phase 1, tourism was regarded as an economic backbone and an on-site export, helping local livelihoods through jobs and poverty reduction.
The presentation put Cambodia’s 2025 international arrivals at about six million, including approximately 1.2 million Chinese visitors, and described this as evidence of Chinese visitors’ confidence in Cambodia.
Officials expected the programme to provide a platform for networking and closer investment cooperation between Cambodian and Chinese investors.
He added that the Hun Manet government was taking firm action against cybercrime and unlawful scams, and was committed to eliminating them through stronger law enforcement and close cooperation with international partners, including China.
Written by Pai Sokhim.
Photographs by Keo Dara.
