The Royal Government of Cambodia and the United States Mission to Cambodia reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral economic relations during the 4th Cambodia-U.S. Public-Private Sector Dialogue held here on Wednesday.
The dialogue was co-chaired by H.E. Sun Chanthol, Deputy Prime Minister and First Vice President of the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC), and Ms. Bridgette L. Walker, Chargé d’Affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Phnom Penh.
The meeting convened senior Cambodian officials, including H.E. Keo Rottanak, Minister of Mines and Energy and Third Vice President of the CDC, alongside representatives from relevant ministries. The U.S. side was represented by Mr. Casey Barnett, President of the American Chamber of Commerce in Cambodia (AmCham), delegates from the US-ASEAN Business Council (US-ABC), and key American investors operating in the Kingdom.
In his opening remarks, Deputy Prime Minister Sun Chanthol emphasized that the dialogue serves as a critical mechanism to address operational challenges faced by U.S. investors.
He stated that the forum embodies the Royal Government’s commitment to fostering a transparent and supportive business environment, aligned with the guiding principle of Prime Minister Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet: “Think Together, Act Together, Take Responsibility Together.”
“This dialogue reflects our shared commitment to forging stronger government-business relations and deepening the overall cooperation between Cambodia and the United States,” said H.E. Sun Chanthol. “It demonstrates the mature and collaborative spirit that defines our strategic partnership.”
The Deputy Prime Minister provided key updates on Cambodia’s economic performance, highlighting a notable surge in bilateral trade volume and the approval of new investment projects for 2025. He also briefed the forum on the ongoing progress toward ratifying bilateral trade arrangements.
To further enhance government-private sector engagement, H.E. Sun Chanthol announced a new initiative to host regular working breakfast meetings with international chambers of commerce. He explained that these informal gatherings would allow for more frequent exchanges of information, enabling the Royal Government to stay abreast of emerging challenges faced by investors in a rapidly shifting global context.
For her part, Ms. Walker expressed her appreciation for the collaborative spirit of the dialogue. She underscored the shared commitment to reviewing investor challenges and formulating appropriate solutions, with the ultimate goal of enhancing Cambodia’s investment climate and expanding the footprint of U.S. enterprises in the Kingdom.
Representatives from the U.S. private sector voiced strong optimism regarding the government’s receptiveness. Drawing on positive outcomes from the previous three dialogues, where actionable responses were provided, investors expressed confidence in the trajectory of mutual economic, business, and trade cooperation. The dialogue serves as a platform to ensure continuous follow-up and build trust within the American business community, encouraging further U.S. investment in Cambodia.
