Economic Update
Cambodia's economy continues to show its resilience to the European debt crisis and global slowdown. Most economists are predicting 6.2 - 6.6% growth in 2012, rising to 6.4 - 7.0% in 2013. Inflation is expected to stay within 5% in 2012.
Financial Sector
Cambodia's financial services sector is proving itself to be among the world's healthiest and most dynamic. The banking sector achieved 31% Y-on-Y loan growth and 23% deposit growth at midyear. Taiwan's Cathay United Bank joined the long list of foreign banks here after acquiring 70% of a small local bank. Cambodia's microfinance institutions (MFIs) are growing even faster than its banks, with 43% loan growth and a negligible NPL rate of just 0.25% for MFIs at midyear. Some MFIs are even starting to add ATMs and a few are applying to upgrade into banks. The Kingdom has opened its new life insurance industry, and global giants like Manulife and Prudential are moving in. The Cambodian Stock Exchange commenced trading in April with its first IPO, Phnom Penh Water Supply Authority, in which Leopard Cambodia Fund participated. A local real estate firm, two garment producers, two port operators, and a government telecom company are reportedly preparing their IPOs.
Tourism
Tourism is robust with arrivals surging 27% Y-on-Y to 1.76 million visitors in the first half, with the majority of the tourists coming from within Asia. The operator of the Phnom Penh and Siem Reap Airports, is planning to expand capacity at those hubs to accommodate 4 million passengers annually.
Construction
Cambodia's previously somnolent construction industry has finally snapped back to life, recording 36% Y-on-Y growth in 1H 2012. Residential construction in particular is picking up. Condominium unit supply reportedly rose 22% since the start of the year, and by year-end, apartment units are expected to grow by 28% as 734 new units from 40 projects reach completion. In spite of the rising supply, even stronger demand for apartment living has pushed up rental prices by 5% for Grade A units and 8% for Grade B units over the past year. Other property sectors are also growing; CBRE predicts local shopping center space to triple in 5 years. (See Travel Notes below for additional construction coverage.)
Exports
Cambodia's exporters are the sector most exposed to the West's economic problems. Export growth moderated to 12% in 1H 2012 as local garment factories gained a larger slice of a shrinking global pie. Following a series of factory strikes the minimum monthly wage for garment workers was raised to $73. Agricultural exports slumped, with local rice exports failing to gain traction while commodity prices softened. Rubber exports rose 5% by volume in 1H 2012 but fell 28% by value following a substantial price correction attributable to the global slowdown. Cambodia's government announced a suspension on issuing economic land concessions to private companies after several protests by affected villagers led to violence.
Foreign Investment
China granted a $250 million loan to rehabilitate National Road 6, which runs from Phnom Penh northwest to Siem Reap and Banteay Meanchey, and a $102 million loan for a new dam in Battambang province. A China investor will reportedly invest $400 million into a 300MW coal-fired power plant in Kampot province. UK-based investors announced plans to build a $20 million rice mill in Oddong district. A Russian-Cambodian partnership will launch nationwide digital satellite television service in September, bringing access to 60 channels of nonstop entertainment to 70% of Cambodia's population.
US Corporations Visit Cambodia
The US is finally starting to notice Cambodia's business potential. In July, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton led a record-sized delegation of 200 US executives from corporations such as Boeing, Chevron, DHL, Oracle, Coca-Cola, GE and Google, to the US-ASEAN Forum in Siem Reap.
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